Winterport

Two more suspects arrested in robbery of pot grower

Four people have now been arrested in connection with a September armed robbery in which police say three of them dressed as law enforcement officers as they robbed a medical marijuana grower in Winterport.

Maine State Police this week arrested two more suspects in the Sept. 21 robbery.

Two men were arrested Oct. 1.

Arrested this week were Kerry Hurd, 45, accused of being one of the three thieves dressed as police, and April Jones, 28, who allegedly drove the getaway vehicle, according to Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

The licensed medical marijuana grower they are accused of robbing had security cameras on the property that recorded the three men dressed in outfits with police logos.

The security camera images clearly showed two of the three people who took an armload of mature marijuana plants.

Scott Roberts, 35, and Jeffrey Hurd, 47, both of Glenburn, turned themselves in after police released the images and asked for the public’s help in identifying them.

Kerry Hurd, who is Jeffrey Hurd’s brother, was arrested Thursday by the U.S. marshals and state police in the parking lot of the Hannaford store in Bucksport.

He was taken to the Waldo County Jail on charges of robbery, impersonating a public servant, trespass and theft by unauthorized taking.

Jones, of Orneville Township, was arrested at her home Monday. Police said Jones is Roberts’ girlfriend.

Jones was taken to the Piscataquis County Jail on charges of robbery and theft by unauthorized taking.

Casco

Fire at park service facility appears to be accidental

The fire that destroyed the state park service’s regional headquarters at Sebago Lake State Park on Wednesday appears to have been accidental, although the damage is so extensive it’s hard to know for sure.

Investigators with the State Fire Marshal’s Office were called in to determine the cause of the fire. The building is used by four or five employees during the winter months. The fire started in the center of the L-shaped building, fire officials said. It was spotted by someone who lives on the opposite side of the Crooked River, which runs along the park.

Sgt. Joel Davis said the official cause of the fire is undetermined because of the damage but that the fire’s origin “doesn’t look out of the ordinary.” He said the fire started in the area of some 20-year-old heat tape, used to prevent pipes from freezing, which had been plugged in recently. There also were some electrical components in the area where the fire started that could be to blame, he said.

Several fire departments responded to fight the blaze, and were able to put it out fairly quickly, officials said, but the damage was too extensive to save the structure. There were no injuries.

South Portland

Man found in car believed to have committed suicide

Police are attempting to notify the family of a man found dead Friday morning in a car parked in a parking lot near the Maine Mall in South Portland.

Police said the man, who was from the Freeport area and in his late 50s or early 60s, apparently committed suicide.

A manager at Hannaford Plaza, which houses Hannaford and T.J. Maxx, noticed a car that had been parked in the lot for a few days, police said. The manager checked on the car Thursday night and saw a man inside who appeared to be asleep. The following morning, the man was still there and police were called at 8:45 a.m.

The workers told police that the car had been there a few days, but others noted that it had left the parking space at times and then come back.

Police said they are withholding the man’s name until family members have been notified.

BATH

BIW gets $21 million contract for work on Navy destroyers

Bath Iron Works has been awarded a $21 million contract to continue work on a class of U.S. Navy destroyers.

U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree said in a statement Thursday that it was a modification of a previously awarded contract for construction of DDG 51 destroyers.

Pingree, a Democrat who represents the 1st District, said the shipyard was already the lead designer for the DDG 51s and the additional contract will allow Bath to provide engineering and support for follow-up work on the destroyers at the Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

BANGOR

City officials approve year-round outdoor dining

Fork? Check. Spoon? Yep. Parka? Good call.

The city of Bangor, one of the coldest cities on the East Coast, has approved year-round outdoor dining.

“I’ve certainly enjoyed a hot cup of coffee outside, when it’s sunny, it’s winter and there’s snow everywhere,” said Caitlin Brook, Bangor’s downtown coordinator. “There’s really nothing better than that.”

The average high temperature in January is 27 degrees.

The City Council on Monday approved a process for restaurants to get permits for dining spaces on city sidewalks and other outdoor public places. Brook said she anticipates most restaurant owners will wait until spring, but the option for winter dining is available.

One permit would allow al fresco dining from April to October while the other would run year-round, Brook said. Bangor has seen a resurgence of its West Market Square business area. Brook said the city could emulate the success other cold-weather spots, such as Quebec City, have had with winter outdoor dining.

– From staff and news services