ELLSWORTH

Winter Harbor man charged for leaving gun at L.L. Bean

Police say a loaded handgun found in the bathroom of an L.L. Bean outlet store in Ellsworth was left there accidentally by a doctor.

Ellsworth police have charged Dr. Benjamin Newman, 72, of Winter Harbor with reckless conduct. He was not arrested but will be summoned to court to answer to the charge.

A store employee found the gun in a bathroom late Wednesday morning and called police. Chief John DeLeo says it could have been tragic had a child found the gun.

Police say Newman later contacted the store looking for the gun and was referred to police. He was charged after talking to investigators. Police say Newman told them he took the gun out of its holster to use the bathroom and simply forgot it.

SOUTH PORTLAND

Four charged with robbery after meeting to buy phone

Four South Portland residents face robbery charges after an alleged altercation over a cellphone Wednesday.

Gabriel Sobczak,18; Meadow Collins, 19; Justin Fletcher, 38; and Elizabeth Collins, 52, were each arrested and charged with robbery. Police said an unnamed male victim reported being robbed of cash at the Mall Plaza parking lot.

According to the police, the victim sold the phone on Craigslist to Collins, one of the suspects. Collins made arrangements to meet the victim in the shopping center to make the transaction.

Meadow Collins brought the other suspects, including her mother, Elizabeth Collins, to the meeting. Fletcher assaulted the victim, according to police.

The victim was punched in the head several times and had several open gashes. The injuries were not considered life-threatening and he was treated and released from the hospital, according to police.

Each of the suspects is being held at the Cumberland County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bail. They are expected to appear in Cumberland County Unified Criminal Court on Friday unless they make bail.

ARUNDEL

Six pickup tailgates stolen off trucks at Ford dealership

Police are investigating the theft of tailgates from six pickup trucks at a car dealership. Police say the tailgates were removed from trucks at Arundel Ford’s lot on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

The vehicles were model years 2007 through 2013. Dealership officials estimated the cost of the parts at $10,000 to $12,000 because some of them were equipped with backup cameras. Anyone with information is asked to call the York County Sheriff’s Department.

BANGOR

Police say Craigslist scam is targeting apartment hunters

Police have issued a warning about an apparent scam targeting people looking for apartments advertised on Craigslist.

Police say a woman last week replied to an ad and received a call back from a number that later appeared to be from Nigeria. She told police the man said he wanted the first and last month’s rent, but quickly told her that $200 would do if she could send it to him quickly.

Officials say the woman was suspicious and called a real estate agent friend, who told her that he owned the house she had seen but was listing it through a reputable company.