KENNEBUNK

Man wanted on assault charge turns himself in

Additional Photos

Belly dancers Emma Holder, left, and Rosa Noreen perform during the A Dash of Diva: Girls’ Night Out in Portland. A portion of the event’s proceeds will be donated to the Maine Women’s Fund and the Press for Higher Education Scholarship Fund. Tim Greenway/Staff Photographer

A Woodside Drive man, wanted after an alleged instance of domestic violence earlier this month, turned himself in at the York County Jail early Saturday.

Police said they had an active arrest warrant for Jonathan Trayes, 21, after an incident at his home Oct. 9. Police said they were called to Trayes’ home by a woman who said he had assaulted and threatened her.

According to police, the woman said Trayes had taken a shotgun and fired it while outside the house and then made threatening remarks about the shotgun to the woman.

Police at the time thought Trayes was still armed and in the house. They tried to contact him, but after six hours, they decided to go in when they determined Trayes was not there.

The warrant charged aggravated reckless conduct, domestic violence assault and violation of conditions of release. At the time of the incident, Trayes was out on bail on an aggravated criminal mischief charge after allegedly scratching several vulgar words into the side of a car with a key in September.

Trayes’ bail was set at $5,000 cash. 

Man in wheelchair struck by car on Route 1

A man in a wheelchair was struck Saturday morning as he tried to cross Route 1, police said.

The man, whose name was not released, was hit as he was crossing Route 1 from Pleasant Street toward Brown Street, police said. A car entering Route 1 southbound from a side street hit the man, who was described as in his mid-40s, according to police.

The man was taken to Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford for treatment of minor head injuries, police said. The man was expected to be released from the hospital Saturday.

Police said the accident is still under investigation, but no charges are expected to be filed.

AUBURN

Teenager dies after being ejected from his car

A Leeds teenager died Friday night when the car he was driving flipped on Stone Road, partially ejecting him from the vehicle.

Police said early Saturday that 17-year-old Madison Daigle died after losing control of the 1995 Volkswagen Jetta he was driving.

Another 17-year-old male passenger was treated and released from Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.

The accident remains under investigation, according to a release issued by Deputy Chief Jason Moen of the Auburn Police Department.

“Preliminary investigation shows that Daigle was not wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash and excessive speed is a factor in the crash,” Moen said. “Auburn investigators are being assisted by an accident reconstructionist from Lewiston Police Department.”

HARRISON

Driver in fatal crash is subject of investigation

A 17-year-old South Paris girl who was driving a vehicle that was involved in a fatal crash Thursday night in Harrison is now the subject of a criminal investigation, police said.

Excessive speed may have contributed to the crash that killed Thomas McLendon, 18, of Oxford, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.

A second passenger, Jacob Hill, 20, of Waterford, suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken by helicopter to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. He was listed in serious condition Friday afternoon, but on Saturday his condition was upgraded to critical.

A third passenger, Timothy Coffin, 21, of Waterford, was taken to Bridgton Hospital with serious injuries. He was treated and released.

McLendon was a rear-seat passenger and one of four people in a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer that veered off a curve on Waterford Road around 8:20 p.m. Thursday.

The vehicle lost control on a curve as it was headed north on Waterford Road. It crossed into the southbound lane and left the road, striking several trees.

McLendon was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police have not released the name or address of the girl who was driving the vehicle because she is a juvenile.

The driver also was taken to Bridgton Hospital, with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

An accident reconstruction team from the Windham Police Department is assisting the sheriff’s office with the investigation.

AUGUSTA

Baldacci heralds railways as economic boon to state

Gov. John Baldacci says rail service is important to Maine, and the state will reap further economic and environmental rewards from action it’s taken to improve railways.

In his weekly radio address, Baldacci said that the state’s completion of a deal to purchase the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway in Aroostook and Penobscot counties avoids the potential loss of 750 to 1,000 jobs.

That came on top of news that Maine received a $10.5 million federal grant for upgrades along the lines.

Baldacci said the state is also investing in other rail lines, including the Downeaster passenger service, around the state.

The governor said the improvements save time and money, reduce pollution and ease the state’s reliance on oil.

PORTLAND

Maine DEA charges three in prescription drugs scheme

Maine drug agents say three men have been charged in a scheme to mail prescription drugs from Florida to Maine and resell them.

According to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, Robert Merriam, 50, and Jason Parsons, 32, both of Presque Isle, and 23-year-old Joseph Bolda of South Daytona, Fla., have been charged with aggravated trafficking in oxycodone.

The DEA began investigating reports several months ago of Merriam receiving painkiller shipments by mail from Florida and reselling them.

Earlier this month, agents intercepted a package with 750 oxycodone tablets destined for Presque Isle, while also intercepting a package with $4,600 cash that allegedly had been mailed to Bolda.

In all, police say, more than 20 shipments of drugs were mailed.

Guardian Angels in town to launch local chapter

Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, will be in Portland today to launch a Portland chapter of the Guardian Angles.

The nonprofit organization plans to organize crime patrols and assist police. Volunteers are unarmed.

Five city residents are beginning the training process to become Guardian Angels, said Miguel Fuentes, national director for the group.

He said the group is setting up a chapter because Portland resident Charles Maxwell has done the leg work to organize one.

Sliwa will begin training at 3 p.m. today on the corner of Grant Street and Deering Avenue.

The Guardian Angels have 141 chapters in 14 different countries. In New England, the group has chapters in Boston and New Haven, Conn.

Sliwa, who often sports a trademark red beret, started the Guardian Angels in 1979 in New York City to combat widespread violence and crime on the city’s subway system.

Sliwa today has a morning talk show on WNYM in New York.  

Mills praises court ruling on state’s campaign finance

Maine’s attorney general says she’s delighted the Supreme Court has turned down a request to block key portions of a state campaign finance law that provides matching funds for candidates and a $750 limit on contributions to candidates for governor.

The court acted Friday on a challenge from Respect Maine Political Action Committee and a Republican state lawmaker.

Attorney General Janet Mills said that in addition to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Libby Mitchell, nearly 80 percent of legislative candidates in Maine — Republicans, independents, Greens and Democrats — run for office under the 10-year-old Clean Election law.

Mills said candidates enjoy the freedom from indebtedness to special interests that otherwise would donate private funds with the intent of influencing the candidate’s vote once elected. 

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