OLD ORCHARD BEACH

Police looking for suspect who robbed Rite Aid store

Old Orchard Beach police are looking for a man who robbed a drugstore Thursday night.

The man entered the Rite Aid on Saco Avenue about 6:45 p.m., said he had a handgun and demanded prescription drugs from a pharmacist, police said. The man left the store after he was given drugs.

The robber is described as about 30 years old, 6 feet to 6-foot-3, with a fair complexion and muscular build. He wore red sweatpants with writing on them, a dark jacket or sweatshirt, and a ski mask, police said.

Police are looking for a late 1990s, two-tone silver Dodge Caravan with damage to the front passenger side fender and possible damage to the door in connection with the robbery.

Anyone with information is asked to call 934-4911, ext. 7.

BATH

Officer uses Taser against man carrying baseball bat

Bath police said they used a Taser to subdue a possibly suicidal man Friday.

Police said they were told the 22-year-old man was walking toward Bath Shopping Center shortly before 2 p.m. Friday and that he had told others he had nothing to live for and wanted to be arrested.

Cpl. Michelle Small said she saw a man matching the person’s description carrying a baseball bat on Court Street, and when she stopped her cruiser next to him, he smashed the mirror on the passenger side. She got out of her cruiser and was joined by another officer, Shaun Cavanaugh. Both officers tried to talk to the man and told him several times to drop the bat, police said, but when he threw it at Cavanaugh instead, Small used her Taser to subdue him.

The man was taken into protective custody and driven to Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick. While there, he punched Cavanaugh in the head, police said. Cavanaugh was not injured, according to police.

Police said the case is being reviewed and charges may be filed.

CHINA

Winslow woman charged with stealing from team

A Winslow woman already facing charges she stole from the town’s wrestling booster club is now also accused of stealing from a China field hockey team.

The new accusations against Wendi Willette, 41, were made public Friday. Willette was arrested in October on charges of bilking the Winslow Wrestling Booster Club of more than $10,000.

Thursday’s indictment, handed down in Kennebec County Superior Court in Augusta, revealed Willette is also alleged to have stolen money from the China Girls Field Hockey Team in September.

Willette was involved with the field hockey program, which is offered through China’s recreation department. Town officials released a statement in November saying she was no longer involved with the program.

LEWISTON

Longtime lawmaker Craven will not seek re-election

A longtime Maine lawmaker, Sen. Margaret Craven, will not seek re-election so she can take care of her ailing husband.

The Lewiston Democrat said Thursday that representing the people of the city has been “a joy.” She promised to continue to work for the city’s working people and most vulnerable residents.

Craven was first elected to the Senate in 2008 after serving three terms in the state House of Representatives, the Sun Journal reported. She is Senate chairwoman of the Health and Human Services Committee and a member of the Government Oversight Committee.

During her tenure, Craven was an advocate for economic development, long-term care, services for people with developmental disabilities, early childhood intervention and substance-abuse prevention.

Lewiston state Rep. Peggy Rotundo called Craven “tireless.”

– From staff and news services

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