SHAPLEIGH

Firefighter killed in crash was distracted, probe finds

A volunteer firefighter apparently was distracted when he rolled his pickup truck in an accident that killed him, an investigation by the York County Sheriff’s Office has concluded.

David E. Remington, 58, of Acton died while responding to a rescue call on Owl’s Nest Road on Jan. 3. Remington was driving his 2005 Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck north on Shapleigh Corner Road when he lost control about a mile from Route 109.

The truck rolled, struck two trees and came to rest on the passenger’s side in a ditch. Remington, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle.

The sheriff’s office said its investigation found no evidence of impaired driving or mechanical failure. It appeared that Remington was distracted while rounding a gradual corner, but it’s not clear why. He was driving an estimated 59 to 67 mph in the 45 mph zone when his vehicle left the road.

BANGOR

Murder suspect who fled psychiatric hospital caught

A murder suspect who escaped from a psychiatric hospital by climbing over a fence apparently swam across a river before being arrested hours later in a neighboring city, police said Wednesday.

William Hall, 29, of Bangor did not resist when officers found him walking down a street at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Brewer, said Bangor Deputy Police Chief Peter Arno.

Earlier, a witness reported seeing someone fitting Hall’s description swim across the Penobscot River.

Hall had been in the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center in Bangor since his arrest June 15. He is charged with strangling Melvin Abreu on June 9 and throwing his body out a window.

Hall was wearing no shoes when he escaped Tuesday night by jumping over a fence and fleeing on foot, authorities said. A state police K-9 unit tracked him to railroad tracks before losing his scent, Arno said.

He was about two miles from the hospital when he was arrested. Witnesses had called police about a suspicious man walking around Brewer without shoes.

Homeless man charged after charging cellphones

Police have brought charges against a homeless man in Bangor who helped himself to an outdoor electrical outlet to charge a pair of cellphones.

A Bangor police officer checking downtown businesses discovered Shaun Fawster, 23, charging his two cellphones in an outlet hidden behind some flowers.

Fawster was charged last weekend with theft of services as well as carrying a concealed weapon after the officer found a folding knife tucked underneath his shirt.

The Bangor Daily News said Fawster was later released from jail. It’s unknown if he had an attorney.

KENNEBUNKPORT

Sanford’s deputy chief named new police chief

Town officials have named a new police chief. Craig Sanford is expected to start the job on July 18, said Town Manager Larry Mead. He is now deputy police chief in Sanford.

Chief Joseph Bruni resigned in March after an investigation into his conduct on Feb. 11, when he was pulled over by one of his own officers who suspected him of driving under the influence. Bruni had been chief for the past nine years and had a total of 30 years of experience in law enforcement.

Mead said the town received 120 applications for the position and interviewed 10 candidates.

“(Sanford) is very organized and he has been successful in his career,” Mead said. “Most importantly, he’s very well respected across the law enforcement community for the work he does.”

Deputy Police Chief Kurt Moses has been interim chief since March.

LEWISTON

Man survives heart attack during heart disease lecture

A cardiologist and a team of nurses are being credited with saving the life of a heart attack victim, but it wasn’t in an emergency room.

Dr. William Phillips was giving a lecture Monday on heart disease at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston when he was interrupted by a man complaining of chest pain.

Phillips asked a nurse to take the patient to the emergency room, but he collapsed. The victim wasn’t breathing and had no pulse.

One of three cardiac nurses grabbed a defibrillator to help restart the man’s heart. Meanwhile, paramedics arrived and took the patient to the emergency room.

Phillips told the Sun Journal the man is now doing fine.

After the interruption, Phillips continued his lecture.

WESTON

Wardens find body of man presumed drowned in lake

Maine game wardens have recovered the body of a man presumed to have drowned in a lake in the Aroostook County town of Weston.

Officials said Leslie Sawyer, 33, of Linneus was boating with a woman Tuesday evening when the vessel took on water after making a hard turn.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said that neither person was wearing a life jacket, and that alcohol was determined to be a factor.

Sawyer didn’t know how to swim. The survivor, Cheryl Sawyer, told rescuers she held her companion afloat as long as she could before letting go of him.

Agency spokeswoman Edie Smith said Sawyer’s body was found in about 17 feet of water at 10:02 a.m. Wednesday. The investigation is continuing.