PORTLAND

Man charged with trafficking cocaine from Mercedes vehicle

Police have charged a 21-year-old Portland man, Ian “Night” Nono, with trafficking crack cocaine throughout greater Portland from his Mercedes sport utility vehicle.

Agents with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency have been investigating Nono since early February and undercover agents purchased crack from him on multiple occasions, police said. Nono would tell the agent where to meet him and would arrive in his Mercedes to make the sale, police said.

Agents met with Nono on Tuesday afternoon at Canco Road and Washington Avenue and after completing a sale, he was arrested by agents and Portland police, police said. Nono struggled and tried to run but officers caught him and took him to Cumberland County Jail where he is being held on $10,000 bail, police said.

A search of Nono’s house at 88 Tamarlane led to the seizure of two handguns, ammunition, $3,000 in suspected drug proceeds and suspected counterfeit money, police said. One of the guns had been stolen in Clearwater, Fla.

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Police expect to file additional charges against Nono and others.

AUGUSTA

Attorney General warns of phone scammer claiming to be from BMV

Maine Attorney General Janet Mills is warning Mainers of a phone scam in which a caller claiming to be from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles demands payment.

Mills said Tuesday the scam has been ongoing for several weeks. The caller threatens people with arrest or license suspension unless they make an immediate payment.

The scam is similar to another one in January, Mills said in a press statement. She said government agencies do not call to demand immediate cash payment, and advises Mainers never to give personal information during phone calls they do not initiate.

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The scammers apparently use technology that alters their real phone number and makes it appear to be from the bureau.

Bill to restore rebates for solar panels fails in Maine Senate

The Maine Senate has failed to muster enough support to revive a bill that would have restored a program that provides rebates for residents who install solar panels.

In a 22-13 vote on Wednesday, the bill fell two votes short of the two-thirds majority support it needed to overturn Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s veto. The House voted to override the veto on Tuesday.

The measure, which environmental groups lobbied heavily for this session, would have provided $1 million for the program until 2016. It also would have allowed the funds to be used to help low-income residents buy heat pumps.

LePage and GOP lawmakers objected to the bill because it would have added 60 cents a year to residents’ electric bills.

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SANFORD

Firefighter, resident transported to hospital after apartment fire

One civilian and one firefighter were transported to a local hospital following a Wednesday afternoon fire that broke out in a High Street apartment building.

Lt. Harold Smith said the firefighter and the man, who lived in the second-floor apartment where the fire started, were treated and released from Southern Maine Health Care in Sanford for unknown injuries.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office was notified and is investigating the cause of the fire at 87 High St., located in a densely populated neighborhood not far from Sanford’s downtown.

The fire, which started in a living room area around 4:30 p.m., caused extensive smoke damage to the apartment.

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Police respond to reported home invasion by pair of armed burglars

Sanford police responded to a reported home invasion on Milton Avenue on Wednesday, according to a dispatcher.

Two burglars showed a stun gun and a billy club, the dispatcher said.

It was not immediately known if anyone was hurt or if property was stolen.

CARMEL

Driver uninjured when his potato truck crashes into several trees

A Maine potato truck driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into several trees off of Interstate 95 in Carmel.

State police say 49-year-old driver Scott Rand was not injured in the crash, which occurred at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. It was unclear why Rand lost control of his vehicle, which came to rest in the median. The potatoes were off-loaded to another truck on Wednesday.

Police said the truck sustained about $15,000 in damage. Rand, of Sherman Mills, was cited for a log book violation.


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