DEDHAM

Burglary suspect nabbed after high-speed chase

Additional Photos

Trooper Tucker Bonnevie arrests burglary suspect Charles Fling of Brewer after tackling him as he ran through the woods in Dedham, following a high-speed chase Monday. Maine State Police Photo

A Brewer man was arrested Monday night after allegedly breaking into a home and leading police on a high-speed car chase in Dedham.

Maine State Police said the incident began when a Holden homeowner discovered his house had been entered and a man was seen on the property with items from the house. After the homeowner called police, Charles Fling, 33, of Brewer fled in his car and refused to pull over for police, according to state police spokesman Steve McCausland.

Fling led an officer on a chase that reached 90 mph before he lost control of his car and it overturned into a ditch on Upper Dedham Road in Dedham, according to police.

Police said Fling then fled from the scene, but was taken into custody a half-mile from the crash site when Trooper Tucker Bonnevie tackled Fling as he ran through the woods.

Fling was charged by Holden police with eluding an officer and likely will face additional charges, according to police.

After the accident Fling was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where he remained Tuesday morning. He was to be taken to the Penobscot County Jail after his release from the hospital, according to police.

PORTLAND

Three with ties to Maine nominated for Tony Awards

The actor Tony Shalhoub and lighting designers Christopher Akerlind and Donald Holder earned Tony Award nominations on Tuesday.

Shalhoub, who graduated as a theater major from the University of Southern Maine in 1977, was nominated for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a play for his work in “Act One.” He’s been nominated for Tony Awards many times, but never won.

“Act One” received a total of five Tony nominations.

Akerlind, who lives in Portland, was nominated for his lighting design for the musical “Rocky.” Holder, who graduated from the University of Maine, was nominated for his lighting design for the musical “The Bridges of Madison County.”

Akerlind and Holder both have won Tonys in the past. Akerlind won for his lighting design on “Light in the Piazza,” and Holder won for his work on “The Lion King.”

Nominations were announced Tuesday and will be awarded June 8 in New York.

“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” led with 10 nominations, and “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” received eight nominations.

Simulated car crash geared toward education of teens

The Portland police and fire departments will respond to a simulated car accident Wednesday morning to show high school students the consequences of destructive decisions behind the wheel.

The accident, which features a two-car crash with a fatality and multiple injuries, is being sponsored by the Portland High School Students Against Destructive Decisions group. The accident will occur at 9:15 a.m. near Portland High School on Cumberland Avenue.

The demonstration is being put on for the school’s sophomores, juniors and seniors.

Local businesses are donating services and vehicles to make the accident appear as realistic as possible. Police and fire officials will respond as they would in a real-life situation.

Cumberland Avenue will be closed from Elm Street to Chestnut Street for about three hours starting at 8:15 a.m.

AUGUSTA

LePage signs bill to create unit for cold case homicides

Gov. Paul LePage has signed a bill to create a unit within the attorney general’s office dedicated to investigating unsolved homicides.

Democratic Rep. Stephen Stanley’s bill signed Tuesday would provide resources to help solve the more than 100 cold cases in the state.

Maine officials are attempting to secure a grant of up to $300,000 from the federal government to help fund the cold case unit.

LePage also signed a bill sponsored by Democratic Rep. Lori Fowle that will fund a part-time prosecutor for the Kennebec County Veterans Treatment Court, which helps veterans who have been convicted of crimes or become addicted to drugs to get the help they need.

Under the program, they must plead guilty, follow a treatment plan and receive counseling.

BRUNSWICK

Fire destroys house, kills two dogs trapped inside

A fire of undetermined origin destroyed a house on Gurnet Road in Brunswick on Tuesday night and killed two dogs that were trapped inside, Fire Chief Ken Brillant said.

Scott Pelkey, the home’s owner, was not there when the fire at 338 Gurnet Road – also known as Route 24 – broke out around 5 p.m. A motorist who was driving by notified authorities.

Brillant said the heavily traveled road, which connects Brunswick and Harpswell, had to be shut down for nearly four hours.

The house was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, Brillant said. He said the roof of the home as well as its floors collapsed.

A Brunswick firefighter suffered back spasms but did not need to be hospitalized.

The fire does not appear to be suspicious, Brillant said.

In addition to Brunswick’s department, fire crews from Topsham, West Bath and Freeport responded to the fire.

DOVER

Two cousins ordered held on bail in man’s shooting

Two cousins charged with shooting a man during a dispute in Dover-Foxcroft earlier this month have made their first court appearance.

Wilbur Joe Corson, 22, and Kyle Corson, 21, were in District Court on Monday to face charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, and reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon in connection with the April 22 shooting of Reginald Melvin.

Both were ordered held on $2,500 bail. They did not enter a plea.

Police say Melvin was beaten and shot in the stomach during a dispute between the parties, who had a history of conflict. The 48-year-old Melvin has since left the hospital.

Relatives of the Corsons told WABI-TV that the cousins acted in self-defense because Melvin was the aggressor and refused to leave their property.

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