Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Would-Be Trick-or-Treater
Arrested
Russell A. Arbo, 24, of Lisbon Falls, was arrested at the Rite Aid at
713 Congress Street, after police say he assaulted the Loss Prevention
Officer of the drugstore, who was trying to detain him.
Arbo was seen taking some items from the store and became
combative when stopped outside. Police were called around 7 PM on
September 16th, and Officer Jay Twomey resolved the problem by
arresting him.
According to police, Arbo had the following items in his possession
that were stolen from the store: markers; fake Halloween blood; glow-
in-the-dark makeup; Krazy Glue; a novelty necklace; and a Halloween
mask.
He was searched incident to arrest, at which time some narcotics
were also found in his possession.
He was charged with theft, assault, and unlawful possession of
schedule drugs.
-Marge Niblock
Monday, September 28, 2009
Union Plans Protest Demonstration
Against Possible Closing of Station A Post
Office
The American Postal Workers Union is planning a demonstration on
Friday, October 2nd to protest the possible closing of the Station A
Post Office on Congress Street in the West End. The local post office
is on a national list of post offices being considered for closing by the
United States Postal Service. No date has been set for a closing of the
facility.
A has been at its current location at 622 Congress Street for 30 years.
It was previously located on the site of what is now the Portland
Museum of Art. The local postal station houses 740 postal boxes, of
which only 390 are currently rented. At one time, there was a two-
year waiting list to rent a mailbox at Station A, but a decrease in
businesses in the area over the years has lessened demand. The
station's major services now include cashing Social Security checks
and selling money orders to the many elderly, disabled, and low-
income people living in the neighborhood. The USPS lists lack of
profitability and overhead costs as reasons for possibly closing the
facility.
The protest demonstration will be held on Friday, October 2nd, from 8:
30 AM to Noon, in front of Station A. Signs, water bottles and coffee
will be provided. Protest organizers urged supporters to contact local
postal officials and elected officials.
Portland Campaign Disclosures Rematerialize
By COLIN WOODWARD
Earlier this year, I broke the story that Maine municipalities had been
systematically destroying the campaign finance disclosures for local
candidates on the faulty advice of state officials. As a result, state
legislators quickly changed the relevant law to ensure these records
are retained -- and that the relationship between city officials and
developers, unions, activists, and lobbyists can be again be traced over
time. (The whole story can be read at colinwoodard.blogspot.com)
Unfortunately, many records were destroyed. In Maine's largest city
-- Portland -- the City Clerk's office reported they had destroyed all
disclosures -- electronic or physical -- prior to 2006.
Or had they?
The City has quietly posted a gigantic PDF of the 2005 disclosures of
city council candidates -- documents previously reported destroyed in
response to a open records law request. The rediscovered records
restore public access to the campaign donors of longtime councilor
Cheryl Leeman (who ran uncontested in 2008), recently-elected
councilor John Coyne (who ran for school board in 2005), and former
mayors Ed Suslovic and Jim Cohen (who now sits on the Portland
Charter Commission.) (Maine State Pier watchers: a preliminary
review suggests no long-term relationship between Ocean Properties
and any of these individuals.)
So how were the 2005 disclosures misplaced, and is there any chance
others will resurface? City Clerk Linda Cohen (a champion,
incidentally, of the legislation that fixed the original problem) said they
had been previously overlooked in a drawer, but that no older ones
have survived. "That's it," she said. "We don't have any older ones
than that."
If you have access to reports prior to 2004 and would like to share
them with the public, feel free to contact me at colin@colinwoodard.
com
WHITE HEART CLOSES
The White Heart, the popular lounge on Congress Street in downtown
Portland, closed after Saturday night, September 26th.
A spokesperson for the bar said that the bar would reopen under new
ownership, but declined to give a date for the re-opening. The bar
wished to express its appreciation to all its patrons.
The official announcement of the closing was made on the bar's
MySpace page. The bar opened originally in March, 2006.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Vaccine Delay Postpones Portland Schools’
Flu Clinics
A plan to offer free, seasonal flu shots to all children in the Portland
Public Schools this fall has been postponed due to a distribution
problem. The delay is caused by increased early demand for the
seasonal flu vaccine and the need to disseminate the H1N1 vaccine.
The School Department is moving forward with our plan to offer free
H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccinations to all students in early
November. The seasonal flu shots originally were scheduled for
October. They are one of several measures being taken to help
prevent the spread of seasonal flu and H1N1 virus, also known as
swine flu. Other measures include:
* Reminding children to wash their hands often and thoroughly and to
cover their nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing.
* Sending staff and children home from school if they have influenza-
like illness: a fever of more than 100 degrees, or one or more of the
following symptoms: cough, muscle aches or gastrointestinal
symptoms.
Students and staff will be told to remain at home until they are fever-
free for 24 hours without the use of medication. To find out more,
please visit a special section of the Portland Public Schools Web site
(rowea@portlandschools.org.)
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Fun at the Landfill
Free hot dogs, popcorn, games
Here’s an invitation that doesn’t come along every day: gather the
family together (including Fido) and drive out to the landfill for lunch
and a day of fun and games.
Ecomaine, the non-profit waste disposal operation owned by 21
municipalities, is hosting a free “open house” event that will include:
hotdogs, popcorn, games, a model airplane flight demonstration, a
remote radio broadcast, dump trucks and, most importantly of all, an
explanation of the environmental science behind a modern landfill.
The public is invited to the 240-acre site off outer Congress Street on
Saturday, October 10th from 10:30 am to 1:00 p.m.
The purpose of the event is to show how science is used to operate an
ecologically sound landfill. Most people aren’t even aware of the
location because the landfill has no offensive odors or flocks of
seagulls circling overhead. Dogs are welcome, but must be leashed at
all times. For a list of activities at the open house event, go to
www.ecomaine.org or call ecomaine at 207-773-1738
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Deering High School Senior
Identified as Crash Victim
Portland Police are continuing to investigate a fatal accident that
occurred on Brighton Avenue at Capisic Street at approximately 2:35
AM on September 20th. The victim has been identified as Guy Kitoko,
18, a senior honors student at Deering High School.
The accident involved a 2001 Ford Mustang operated by 21-year-old
Yannick Mulongo of Portland, and a 2000 Chevy Impala operated by
31- year old Fartun Aden of Portland. The Ford Mustang was
traveling in-bound on Brighton Avenue when it crossed the center line
and struck the Chevy Impala head-on in the area of Brighton/Capisic.
Several utility poles were also struck in the collision.
Kitoko, the front passenger in the Ford Mustang, was pronounced
dead at the scene. The cause of the accident is still under
investigation, but speed and alcohol appear to be factors.
Police are asking for anyone who may have witnessed the accident to
contact the Portland Police Department Traffic Unit at 874-8532.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Woman Freed After Suspicious Visit to
Munjoy Hill
On September 18th at around 9:45AM, police took a young woman
into custody on Munjoy Hill, after she had entered an apartment
building on Howard Street through the unlocked front door.
The woman then entered an apartment where someone was working
at home, asked for “Alexis,” and was told that no one by that name
lived in the building. The resident in that apartment became suspicious
when the woman entered and remained in another apartment where
that tenant was not at home.
The witness watched the woman leave the building and stated that she
had a “large black bag.” Realizing that a burglary might have occurred,
the neighbor called police and followed the suspect, while relaying
descriptive information to the dispatcher.
The witness stated that the subject tried to hail a cab that was already
carrying a passenger, placed her hands on the door handle, and said to
the driver: “I’ll give you ten dollars to take me to the bottom of the
hill.” The cab driver refused to let her into the vehicle, and police
arrived and took her into custody.
She was interviewed at detective headquarters, but was then released
without being arrested.
-Marge Niblock
Debate Over Motorcycle Noise Issue
Continues
The Portland City Council on September 9th decided that an
amendment that could change the way police enforce the City's noise
ordinance in relation to motorcycles needs fine-tuning, and returned it
to the City's Public Safety Committee for further review.
All motorcycles manufactured after December 31, 1982, are required
by federal law to be equipped with mufflers that bear an
Environmental Protection Agency exhaust system label. The label
certifies that the muffler meets EPA noise standards. The amendment
to the ordinance regarding noise on public ways requires all
motorcycles that are parked, used or operated within the city to bear
the EPA label.
Currently, the City’s ordinance prohibits the operation of a motorcycle
in such a manner that the public’s attention is drawn to the source of
the noise. It also specifically prohibits the operation of a motorcycle
with a straight pipe exhaust system with a cutout, bypass or similar
device, or an exhaust system that does not meet the requirements of
Maine Law.
The amendment allows for a more straight-forward, objective method
of addressing noise emissions from motorcycles. The cities of Boston
and Denver have enacted similar ordinances.
UMaine to Sell Property at High and Danforth
The University of Maine has put on the market its property at 66-68
High Street, at the corner of High and Danforth Street. The university
ignited a controversy in 2007 when it announced plans to put a
parking lot on the corner of the property, which is the site of a green
space and several mature pine trees. The university dropped the plans
for the 14-car lot after neighborhood protests and a lack of support
from the City's Historic Preservation Board.
The property consists of a freestanding three-story, 30,000 square-
foot, brick building located on a half-acre acre of land in the heart of
downtown Portland.
Previously occupied by The University of Maine and affiliated tenants,
the property is well suited for a number of redevelopment scenarios,
according to developers, including residential rental or condo units.
The property is assessed at $1.4 million.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Another Bank Robbery in Portland
For the second time in less than three weeks, a bank robber has
struck in Portland.
At approximately 1:35 PM today, the Portland Police Department
responded to a reported robbery at the Key Bank at 1106 Brighton
Avenue.
A lone black male entered Key Bank and approached the tellers,
demanded cash and stated that he had a weapon. The man took an
undisclosed amount of cash and fled on foot.
There was one customer in the bank. No weapon was seen and no
one was injured.
The suspect is a black male, mid to late twenties, approximately 6’2”
in height, medium build, wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, white t-
shirt and a navy baseball cap with a white logo.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Portland Police
Detectives at 874-8596
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
City Officials Hold Summit to Quell
Bickering
Several high-level City officials, including Mayor Jill Duson and City
Manager Joe Gray, held a meeting on September 11th, to sort out the
latest dispute between City Councilor Dan Skolnik and various City
employees and public officials
.
Skolnik publicly castigated Gray when Gray failed to appear at a
Public Safety meeting on September 8th, calling Gray’ actions
“discouraging, highly unprofessional, and unacceptable.”
Skolnik has also had run-ins with the City’s Finance Director,
Communications Director, Chief of Police, and fellow City
Councilors. The outcome of the September 11th meeting has not been
made public
.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Threat of Taser Use Ends Several
Confrontations in City
It has been a month since Tasers hit the Portland streets on August
13th,and the results so far have been rewarding to the police. And the
weapons have yet to be fired.
There have been five occasions where Tasers were deployed,
effectively ending confrontations that could have turned violent or
even deadly.
The first incident on August 13th - the first day officers were
equipped with Tasers - involved a large man who was agitated and
had been combative with police previously; he is also deaf.
By means of words on paper, Officer William Stratis made the man
aware of the fact that a Taser would be used if he didn’t calm down,
causing him to do as he was told.
On August 22nd at 10:15 PM, police received a report from the 100
block of Grant Street causing them to investigate a possible gross
sexual assault. When they tried to enter an apartment, regarding a
report of a woman screaming, three hostile males responded and
refused to let them in.
When an officer displayed his Taser all three men cooperated. A
fourth male was attempting to climb out a window, was prevented
from doing so, and was arrested on an outstanding warrant.
On August 25th at 6:30 PM, a man was being treated in the
emergency room of Maine Medical Center after threatening to commit
suicide. Police were called after he threatened staff and the security
force. When the Taser was displayed by an officer who told the man
to sit down, he did so, allowing restraints to be placed on him.
After a foot chase at 2:30 PM on September 2nd involving a subject
who had outstanding warrants against him, the man found himself
cornered in a fenced-in backyard on Spring Street. Due to his refusal
to surrender when ordered to do so, a Taser was drawn by an officer,
at which time the man complied and put his hands behind his back.
This man was wanted for revocation of his probation.
The last incident occurred on September 5th on Cumberland Avenue,
involving a man threatening suicide, who had exited a building with a
knife in his hand. He refused to drop the knife until the Taser was
pointed at him.
When people see the Taser’s red-dot laser sighting device, the
realization that the weapon is ready for use encourages compliance,
say police. The X26 Taser carried by officers in Portland has a video
camera activated when the safety is turned off, in anticipation of its
being put to use, recording the event even before the firing of the
weapon. -Marge Niblock
Friday, September 11, 2009
Purse Thief Arrested
Peter Hoyt, 38, of Portland, was arrested at midnight on September
1st for a crime he allegedly committed a few weeks prior.
On August 12 at 10:50 PM police received a report that a white male
had entered the bar of the Front Room restaurant at Congress and
Howard streets on Munjoy Hill and stolen a customer’s purse.
A witness who was a restaurant employee told officers that the man
was seen going to the back area of the business where he grabbed
someone’s coat. She said she confronted Hoyt and was pushed out of
the way by him. She saw he had a purse and tried to grab it from him
but was unable to do so.
A struggle ensued, after which Hoyt fled without relinquishing the
purse; the employee wasn’t hurt during the altercation. An
investigation into the incident led to the identification of Hoyt as the
thief. When arrested, he was charged with theft, assault, and misuse
of identification.
-Marge Niblock
Thursday, September 10, 2009
West End Demands Bigger Police Presence
Members of the West End Neighborhood Association voted on
September 9th to begin a petition drive to demand that the West End
Community Policing Center be moved to either the Reiche Community
Center or to a nearby, equally visible location. The Center is currently
located at Harbor Terrace, a senior housing development on Danforth
Street. Members of the group will start collecting signatures on the
petition at the annual WENA picnic at Harbor View Park on Saturday,
September 12th.
The move comes after months of negotiations with the City and the
Portland school administration about relocating the Center on the
grounds of the Reiche School. There is some resistance within the
Reiche School administration to having uniformed police and police
activity on school grounds.
However, WENA members and residents in the area from Longfellow
Square to Brackett Street to May Street feel that a more visible police
presence is necessary to combat a wave of robberies, burglaries and
muggings that have plagued the area over the past several months.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Bayside Neighbors Alarmed at Wave of
‘Nuisance Crimes’
Residents expressed alarm at Bayside’s Neighborhood Watch
Committee meeting on September 8th, where the agenda was to work
toward a resolution of many long-simmering issues.
Portland police officer Karl Geib discussed the problems caused by
having a huge transient population in the neighborhood who are there
to make use of the agencies located in Bayside. He stated that the
neighborhood is trying to live harmoniously with this group and
understands their problems; however, the discontent of residents has
been growing due to commission of many nuisance crimes affecting
the area’s quality of life.
The fact that the District Attorney’s Office has decided to no longer
prosecute many of these crimes has added to a growing discontent in
Bayside. Drinking in public, criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, and
obstructing public ways are some of the minor crimes no longer being
prosecuted due to lack of funding in that office. One idea mentioned
was to request that Bayside be made a “special zone,” allowing these
crimes to be prosecuted when occurring in this area.
Watching the escalation of these crimes is causing neighbors to raise a
cry of alarm now. Public drinking and the high number of “layouts”
associated with that, and use of backyards and sidewalks as public
toilets are common problems. Access to public bathrooms was high
on the wish list of neighbors. Availability of high-alcohol-content
products that are abused by chronic inebriates was another topic of
intense discussion.
Mary-Ellen Welch, Midtown Police Community Coordinator, has a
packet of letters from residents expressing their frustrations with
existing conditions.
Representatives from Preble Street Resource Center and the Oxford
Street Shelter were in attendance at the September 8th meeting, and
were asked about raising the threshold for people using their services,
and neighbors’ expectations for behavior of those clients.
A letter to the parties involved will be sent inviting them to a meeting
on September 29th. Chief James E. Craig met with neighbors after his
arrival in Portland, and gave them a list of things they should do
before meeting with him again. They feel it is now time for the next
meeting, and are planning to invite City Councilors, the District
Attorney’s Office, and area agencies, to participate in a public
discussion of the issues and concerns, with suggestions from
residents on possible solutions.
-Marge Niblock
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Man Burglarizes Car While Owner Holds
Yard Sale
Portland police arrested Jeffrey Ferrante at 2:30 PM on Sunday,
September 6th in Jimmy’s Trading Post on Congress Street, where he
was charged with a motor vehicle burglary and felony theft.
A witness called police after seeing Ferrante enter an auto in the
parking lot of 633 Congress Street, while the car owner was
reportedly holding a yard sale in the lot next to Geno’s bar. Ferrante
was seen going through the car and the glove box, after which he
exited the car, crossed the street, and entered the pawn shop.
When officers arrived at Jimmy’s Trading Post, they found Ferrante
in possession of three rings, and were then able to locate the victim.
The rings had been stolen from the car, say police.
-Marge Niblock
Marshall: Energy Program Equals 900 Fewer
Cars in City
The City is reviewing a series of energy conservation projects
designed to save money in energy and maintenance costs, and take
advantage of limited funding options available. The projects selected
will be implemented under an energy savings performance contract
where the energy savings pay for the much-needed capital
improvements.
The preliminary findings of a comprehensive energy audit of 55 City
buildings and City-owned street lights will be presented to the Portland
City Council at a workshop to be held Wednesday, September 9th.
Once the projects are implemented, the City of Portland will reduce its
carbon footprint by approximately 34%, averting the release of 5,600
tons of CO2 emissions annually, the equivalent of taking more than
900 cars off the roads of Portland, according to West End City
Councilor Dave Marshall, Chair of the Energy and Environmental
Sustainability Committee.
Based on the preliminary findings of the audit, the City has more than
400 hundred energy conservation measures to consider implementing
for their 55 buildings. Measures ranged from simple traditional
conservation efforts such as energy efficient lighting, fuel switching,
and weatherization, to more capital intensive improvements such as
significant boiler, roof and HVAC improvements. Renewable
measures, like solar thermal projects, are also suggested as an efficient
energy alternative for several buildings.
A Performance Contract is an alternative way to fund major capital
projects and still remain budget neutral. It generates savings in
reduced utility costs by bundling together several energy conservation
measures that help pay for each other despite the varying paybacks of
the individual energy conservation measures. These savings are
guaranteed by Ameresco, with whom the City is entering the contract,
and will fund the project through debt service, which means the
energy services project will pay for itself through the savings it
achieves. The performance contract with the City of Portland is the
largest in scope and size to be undertaken within the State of Maine.
The City will review the recommendations made and decide what
measures they want to include in the energy savings performance
contract. Once the measures are selected, the measures will be refined
and a final audit will be issued to the City for consideration.
Monday, September 7, 2009
City to Address Motorcycle Noise Issue
The Portland City Council on September 9th will consider an
amendment that could change the way police enforce the City's noise
ordinance in relation to motorcycles.
All motorcycles manufactured after December 31, 1982, are required
by federal law to be equipped with mufflers that bear an
Environmental Protection Agency exhaust system label. The label
certifies that the muffler meets EPA noise standards. This amendment
to the ordinance regarding noise on public ways requires all
motorcycles that are parked, used or operated within the city to bear
the EPA label.
Currently, the City’s ordinance prohibits the operation of a motorcycle
in such a manner that the public’s attention is drawn to the source of
the noise. It also specifically prohibits the operation of a motorcycle
with a straight pipe exhaust system with a cutout, bypass or similar
device, or an exhaust system that does not meet the requirements of
Maine Law.
The amendment allows for a more straight-forward, objective method
of addressing noise emissions from motorcycles. The cities of Boston
and Denver have enacted similar ordinances.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Man Arrested in Attempted Eat and Run
Portland police arrested David McGlashing, 54 and charged him with
assault, criminal threatening, felony theft, and violation of conditional
release after they received a call from the Ben Kay restaurant on India
Street on August 29th at 6:48 PM, regarding a man refusing to pay.
Restaurant management told police that McGlashing came in and
ordered food and wine worth approximately $46. After consuming his
meal, McGlashing said he had no money to pay for it.
As he tried to leave, the staff told him to stay, saying they were calling
the police. When they tried to keep him on the premises, he swung at
them and missed. McGlashing was detained by staff members, but
before the arrival of police officers, he made verbal threats to the
staff, saying “I will kill you, you bastards!”
On May 10th, police arrested McGlashing in the parking lot of
Cumberland Self-Storage at 258 Commercial Street, at 7:40 AM..
When police encountered him, he was so intoxicated he was unable to
walk. He had been recorded on video at 4:57 AM, inside the
premises of the Portland Lobster Company, 180 Commercial Street,
where he had gained entry to the building, forced open a cooler, and
stole three bottles of Kendall Jackson
wine. -Marge Niblock
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Brann Starts Portland Dems Rebuilding
Reb Brann was elected Chair of the Portland Democratic City
Committee at a meeting at the Reiche Community Center on
September 2nd, and immediately began the process of reorganizing
and rebuilding the local political organization.
Brann, who stepped down from the group's Treasurer post to take
over its leadership, unveiled a division of labor document, defining the
responsibilities of the Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary over
the next year.
Other officers elected include William Nelligan, Secretary, and Burt
Wartell, Treasurer. Steve Gordon will remain the groups’ Vice Chair.
Brann said the group will focus on re-organizing, including recruiting
new members, improving the group’s website, fundraising, and
communications.
The group will also work with the Maine Center for Economic Policy
to defeat the TABOR II tax cap proposal which will be on the ballot in
November.
Two local Democratic candidates spoke at the September 2nd meeting
- Charles Bragdon, District 1 City Council candidate, and Jenna
Vendil, District 1 School Committee candidate.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
New Crime Lab Already Paying Dividends
By MARGE NIBLOCK
In early June of 2008, eight agencies signed papers signifying their
participation and proportionate sharing of the costs for a Regional
Forensic Crime Laboratory. On August 26, 2009, after reconfiguring
and adding to the existing Portland Police Department’s building at
109 Middle Street, officials representing the Metro Regional Coalition
celebrated the opening of the state-of-the-art crime lab’s completion.
Members of the coalition are Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland
County, Falmouth, Scarborough, South Portland, Westbrook,
Windham, and Yarmouth. Representatives from all of the communities
were present, in addition to Attorney General Janet Mills, City
Manager Joe Gray, and Nick Mavodones and Cheryl Leeman of
Portland’s City Council.
Jim Cohen was Portland’s Mayor and Tim Burton was Police Chief
when the idea for a regional coalition was first brought up. Deputy
Chief Joe Loughlin said both men had “the vision and perseverance to
get started on this.” And the culmination of that vision is the $1.5
million forensics laboratory that opened for a tour after a packed
auditorium heard about its inception from Chief James E. Craig.
Loughlin called the new lab “quite amazing,” compared to the one of
earlier years, which he likened to a “high school chemistry crime lab.”
He said this lab represents the “culmination of great effort.” Loughlin
held a plaque dedicated to Burton and Cohen, which will be hung in
the building, and he read a letter from Chief Burton, now serving the
Odessa, Texas, Police Department.
Detective Sergeant Robert M. Martin is the supervisor in charge of the
new lab. One of the new pieces of equipment that Martin is
particularly excited about is the Automated Fingerprint Identification
System (AFIS) that allows police technicians to examine prints with
almost 100-times magnification. It was referred to as an “invaluable
machine.”
In the past fingerprints had to be checked individually, a painstaking
job of trying to match whorls and indentations and various patterns
individually. The new machine makes that all much easier, and on its
first day in operation, six sets of prints were confirmed that were tied
to various Portland crimes. Many more have been matched since then.
Police can now make use of national fingerprint databases and have
access to the latest technology for latent fingerprint recovery. Martin
says the machine gives “a good return.”
Officer Victor Cote is one of Portland’s evidence technicians, who
“enjoys science and using your brain.” He’s been very happy doing
this job for the past five years, and having this brand-new facility will
increase his positive feelings.
Westbrook Police Department’s David Finocchietti has worked as an
evidence technician since 1998. Another fan of the job, he says, “It’s
like putting a puzzle together.” He’s thrilled by all the space available in
the new lab. He says space is a big problem in Westbrook. The huge
table in the center of the room in which I was speaking to Finocchietti
was a case in point. He explained that a table of this sort is necessary
to lay things out for photographic purposes. He said, in the case of a
rape, there might be pillows and bedding, and this huge table would
make things so much easier for photographing large items.
Finocchietti stated that he’d probably be coming down to Portland’s
spacious lab several times each week.
Having the new lab in operation will reduce the pressure on the
resources of the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory in Augusta.
NEWS for August 2009
Would-Be Trick-or-Treater
Arrested
Russell A. Arbo, 24, of Lisbon Falls, was arrested at the Rite Aid at
713 Congress Street, after police say he assaulted the Loss Prevention
Officer of the drugstore, who was trying to detain him.
Arbo was seen taking some items from the store and became
combative when stopped outside. Police were called around 7 PM on
September 16th, and Officer Jay Twomey resolved the problem by
arresting him.
According to police, Arbo had the following items in his possession
that were stolen from the store: markers; fake Halloween blood; glow-
in-the-dark makeup; Krazy Glue; a novelty necklace; and a Halloween
mask.
He was searched incident to arrest, at which time some narcotics
were also found in his possession.
He was charged with theft, assault, and unlawful possession of
schedule drugs.
-Marge Niblock
Monday, September 28, 2009
Union Plans Protest Demonstration
Against Possible Closing of Station A Post
Office
The American Postal Workers Union is planning a demonstration on
Friday, October 2nd to protest the possible closing of the Station A
Post Office on Congress Street in the West End. The local post office
is on a national list of post offices being considered for closing by the
United States Postal Service. No date has been set for a closing of the
facility.
A has been at its current location at 622 Congress Street for 30 years.
It was previously located on the site of what is now the Portland
Museum of Art. The local postal station houses 740 postal boxes, of
which only 390 are currently rented. At one time, there was a two-
year waiting list to rent a mailbox at Station A, but a decrease in
businesses in the area over the years has lessened demand. The
station's major services now include cashing Social Security checks
and selling money orders to the many elderly, disabled, and low-
income people living in the neighborhood. The USPS lists lack of
profitability and overhead costs as reasons for possibly closing the
facility.
The protest demonstration will be held on Friday, October 2nd, from 8:
30 AM to Noon, in front of Station A. Signs, water bottles and coffee
will be provided. Protest organizers urged supporters to contact local
postal officials and elected officials.
Portland Campaign Disclosures Rematerialize
By COLIN WOODWARD
Earlier this year, I broke the story that Maine municipalities had been
systematically destroying the campaign finance disclosures for local
candidates on the faulty advice of state officials. As a result, state
legislators quickly changed the relevant law to ensure these records
are retained -- and that the relationship between city officials and
developers, unions, activists, and lobbyists can be again be traced over
time. (The whole story can be read at colinwoodard.blogspot.com)
Unfortunately, many records were destroyed. In Maine's largest city
-- Portland -- the City Clerk's office reported they had destroyed all
disclosures -- electronic or physical -- prior to 2006.
Or had they?
The City has quietly posted a gigantic PDF of the 2005 disclosures of
city council candidates -- documents previously reported destroyed in
response to a open records law request. The rediscovered records
restore public access to the campaign donors of longtime councilor
Cheryl Leeman (who ran uncontested in 2008), recently-elected
councilor John Coyne (who ran for school board in 2005), and former
mayors Ed Suslovic and Jim Cohen (who now sits on the Portland
Charter Commission.) (Maine State Pier watchers: a preliminary
review suggests no long-term relationship between Ocean Properties
and any of these individuals.)
So how were the 2005 disclosures misplaced, and is there any chance
others will resurface? City Clerk Linda Cohen (a champion,
incidentally, of the legislation that fixed the original problem) said they
had been previously overlooked in a drawer, but that no older ones
have survived. "That's it," she said. "We don't have any older ones
than that."
If you have access to reports prior to 2004 and would like to share
them with the public, feel free to contact me at colin@colinwoodard.
com
WHITE HEART CLOSES
The White Heart, the popular lounge on Congress Street in downtown
Portland, closed after Saturday night, September 26th.
A spokesperson for the bar said that the bar would reopen under new
ownership, but declined to give a date for the re-opening. The bar
wished to express its appreciation to all its patrons.
The official announcement of the closing was made on the bar's
MySpace page. The bar opened originally in March, 2006.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Vaccine Delay Postpones Portland Schools’
Flu Clinics
A plan to offer free, seasonal flu shots to all children in the Portland
Public Schools this fall has been postponed due to a distribution
problem. The delay is caused by increased early demand for the
seasonal flu vaccine and the need to disseminate the H1N1 vaccine.
The School Department is moving forward with our plan to offer free
H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccinations to all students in early
November. The seasonal flu shots originally were scheduled for
October. They are one of several measures being taken to help
prevent the spread of seasonal flu and H1N1 virus, also known as
swine flu. Other measures include:
* Reminding children to wash their hands often and thoroughly and to
cover their nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing.
* Sending staff and children home from school if they have influenza-
like illness: a fever of more than 100 degrees, or one or more of the
following symptoms: cough, muscle aches or gastrointestinal
symptoms.
Students and staff will be told to remain at home until they are fever-
free for 24 hours without the use of medication. To find out more,
please visit a special section of the Portland Public Schools Web site
(rowea@portlandschools.org.)
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Fun at the Landfill
Free hot dogs, popcorn, games
Here’s an invitation that doesn’t come along every day: gather the
family together (including Fido) and drive out to the landfill for lunch
and a day of fun and games.
Ecomaine, the non-profit waste disposal operation owned by 21
municipalities, is hosting a free “open house” event that will include:
hotdogs, popcorn, games, a model airplane flight demonstration, a
remote radio broadcast, dump trucks and, most importantly of all, an
explanation of the environmental science behind a modern landfill.
The public is invited to the 240-acre site off outer Congress Street on
Saturday, October 10th from 10:30 am to 1:00 p.m.
The purpose of the event is to show how science is used to operate an
ecologically sound landfill. Most people aren’t even aware of the
location because the landfill has no offensive odors or flocks of
seagulls circling overhead. Dogs are welcome, but must be leashed at
all times. For a list of activities at the open house event, go to
www.ecomaine.org or call ecomaine at 207-773-1738
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Deering High School Senior
Identified as Crash Victim
Portland Police are continuing to investigate a fatal accident that
occurred on Brighton Avenue at Capisic Street at approximately 2:35
AM on September 20th. The victim has been identified as Guy Kitoko,
18, a senior honors student at Deering High School.
The accident involved a 2001 Ford Mustang operated by 21-year-old
Yannick Mulongo of Portland, and a 2000 Chevy Impala operated by
31- year old Fartun Aden of Portland. The Ford Mustang was
traveling in-bound on Brighton Avenue when it crossed the center line
and struck the Chevy Impala head-on in the area of Brighton/Capisic.
Several utility poles were also struck in the collision.
Kitoko, the front passenger in the Ford Mustang, was pronounced
dead at the scene. The cause of the accident is still under
investigation, but speed and alcohol appear to be factors.
Police are asking for anyone who may have witnessed the accident to
contact the Portland Police Department Traffic Unit at 874-8532.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Woman Freed After Suspicious Visit to
Munjoy Hill
On September 18th at around 9:45AM, police took a young woman
into custody on Munjoy Hill, after she had entered an apartment
building on Howard Street through the unlocked front door.
The woman then entered an apartment where someone was working
at home, asked for “Alexis,” and was told that no one by that name
lived in the building. The resident in that apartment became suspicious
when the woman entered and remained in another apartment where
that tenant was not at home.
The witness watched the woman leave the building and stated that she
had a “large black bag.” Realizing that a burglary might have occurred,
the neighbor called police and followed the suspect, while relaying
descriptive information to the dispatcher.
The witness stated that the subject tried to hail a cab that was already
carrying a passenger, placed her hands on the door handle, and said to
the driver: “I’ll give you ten dollars to take me to the bottom of the
hill.” The cab driver refused to let her into the vehicle, and police
arrived and took her into custody.
She was interviewed at detective headquarters, but was then released
without being arrested.
-Marge Niblock
Debate Over Motorcycle Noise Issue
Continues
The Portland City Council on September 9th decided that an
amendment that could change the way police enforce the City's noise
ordinance in relation to motorcycles needs fine-tuning, and returned it
to the City's Public Safety Committee for further review.
All motorcycles manufactured after December 31, 1982, are required
by federal law to be equipped with mufflers that bear an
Environmental Protection Agency exhaust system label. The label
certifies that the muffler meets EPA noise standards. The amendment
to the ordinance regarding noise on public ways requires all
motorcycles that are parked, used or operated within the city to bear
the EPA label.
Currently, the City’s ordinance prohibits the operation of a motorcycle
in such a manner that the public’s attention is drawn to the source of
the noise. It also specifically prohibits the operation of a motorcycle
with a straight pipe exhaust system with a cutout, bypass or similar
device, or an exhaust system that does not meet the requirements of
Maine Law.
The amendment allows for a more straight-forward, objective method
of addressing noise emissions from motorcycles. The cities of Boston
and Denver have enacted similar ordinances.
UMaine to Sell Property at High and Danforth
The University of Maine has put on the market its property at 66-68
High Street, at the corner of High and Danforth Street. The university
ignited a controversy in 2007 when it announced plans to put a
parking lot on the corner of the property, which is the site of a green
space and several mature pine trees. The university dropped the plans
for the 14-car lot after neighborhood protests and a lack of support
from the City's Historic Preservation Board.
The property consists of a freestanding three-story, 30,000 square-
foot, brick building located on a half-acre acre of land in the heart of
downtown Portland.
Previously occupied by The University of Maine and affiliated tenants,
the property is well suited for a number of redevelopment scenarios,
according to developers, including residential rental or condo units.
The property is assessed at $1.4 million.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Another Bank Robbery in Portland
For the second time in less than three weeks, a bank robber has
struck in Portland.
At approximately 1:35 PM today, the Portland Police Department
responded to a reported robbery at the Key Bank at 1106 Brighton
Avenue.
A lone black male entered Key Bank and approached the tellers,
demanded cash and stated that he had a weapon. The man took an
undisclosed amount of cash and fled on foot.
There was one customer in the bank. No weapon was seen and no
one was injured.
The suspect is a black male, mid to late twenties, approximately 6’2”
in height, medium build, wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, white t-
shirt and a navy baseball cap with a white logo.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Portland Police
Detectives at 874-8596
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
City Officials Hold Summit to Quell
Bickering
Several high-level City officials, including Mayor Jill Duson and City
Manager Joe Gray, held a meeting on September 11th, to sort out the
latest dispute between City Councilor Dan Skolnik and various City
employees and public officials
.
Skolnik publicly castigated Gray when Gray failed to appear at a
Public Safety meeting on September 8th, calling Gray’ actions
“discouraging, highly unprofessional, and unacceptable.”
Skolnik has also had run-ins with the City’s Finance Director,
Communications Director, Chief of Police, and fellow City
Councilors. The outcome of the September 11th meeting has not been
made public
.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Threat of Taser Use Ends Several
Confrontations in City
It has been a month since Tasers hit the Portland streets on August
13th,and the results so far have been rewarding to the police. And the
weapons have yet to be fired.
There have been five occasions where Tasers were deployed,
effectively ending confrontations that could have turned violent or
even deadly.
The first incident on August 13th - the first day officers were
equipped with Tasers - involved a large man who was agitated and
had been combative with police previously; he is also deaf.
By means of words on paper, Officer William Stratis made the man
aware of the fact that a Taser would be used if he didn’t calm down,
causing him to do as he was told.
On August 22nd at 10:15 PM, police received a report from the 100
block of Grant Street causing them to investigate a possible gross
sexual assault. When they tried to enter an apartment, regarding a
report of a woman screaming, three hostile males responded and
refused to let them in.
When an officer displayed his Taser all three men cooperated. A
fourth male was attempting to climb out a window, was prevented
from doing so, and was arrested on an outstanding warrant.
On August 25th at 6:30 PM, a man was being treated in the
emergency room of Maine Medical Center after threatening to commit
suicide. Police were called after he threatened staff and the security
force. When the Taser was displayed by an officer who told the man
to sit down, he did so, allowing restraints to be placed on him.
After a foot chase at 2:30 PM on September 2nd involving a subject
who had outstanding warrants against him, the man found himself
cornered in a fenced-in backyard on Spring Street. Due to his refusal
to surrender when ordered to do so, a Taser was drawn by an officer,
at which time the man complied and put his hands behind his back.
This man was wanted for revocation of his probation.
The last incident occurred on September 5th on Cumberland Avenue,
involving a man threatening suicide, who had exited a building with a
knife in his hand. He refused to drop the knife until the Taser was
pointed at him.
When people see the Taser’s red-dot laser sighting device, the
realization that the weapon is ready for use encourages compliance,
say police. The X26 Taser carried by officers in Portland has a video
camera activated when the safety is turned off, in anticipation of its
being put to use, recording the event even before the firing of the
weapon. -Marge Niblock
Friday, September 11, 2009
Purse Thief Arrested
Peter Hoyt, 38, of Portland, was arrested at midnight on September
1st for a crime he allegedly committed a few weeks prior.
On August 12 at 10:50 PM police received a report that a white male
had entered the bar of the Front Room restaurant at Congress and
Howard streets on Munjoy Hill and stolen a customer’s purse.
A witness who was a restaurant employee told officers that the man
was seen going to the back area of the business where he grabbed
someone’s coat. She said she confronted Hoyt and was pushed out of
the way by him. She saw he had a purse and tried to grab it from him
but was unable to do so.
A struggle ensued, after which Hoyt fled without relinquishing the
purse; the employee wasn’t hurt during the altercation. An
investigation into the incident led to the identification of Hoyt as the
thief. When arrested, he was charged with theft, assault, and misuse
of identification.
-Marge Niblock
Thursday, September 10, 2009
West End Demands Bigger Police Presence
Members of the West End Neighborhood Association voted on
September 9th to begin a petition drive to demand that the West End
Community Policing Center be moved to either the Reiche Community
Center or to a nearby, equally visible location. The Center is currently
located at Harbor Terrace, a senior housing development on Danforth
Street. Members of the group will start collecting signatures on the
petition at the annual WENA picnic at Harbor View Park on Saturday,
September 12th.
The move comes after months of negotiations with the City and the
Portland school administration about relocating the Center on the
grounds of the Reiche School. There is some resistance within the
Reiche School administration to having uniformed police and police
activity on school grounds.
However, WENA members and residents in the area from Longfellow
Square to Brackett Street to May Street feel that a more visible police
presence is necessary to combat a wave of robberies, burglaries and
muggings that have plagued the area over the past several months.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Bayside Neighbors Alarmed at Wave of
‘Nuisance Crimes’
Residents expressed alarm at Bayside’s Neighborhood Watch
Committee meeting on September 8th, where the agenda was to work
toward a resolution of many long-simmering issues.
Portland police officer Karl Geib discussed the problems caused by
having a huge transient population in the neighborhood who are there
to make use of the agencies located in Bayside. He stated that the
neighborhood is trying to live harmoniously with this group and
understands their problems; however, the discontent of residents has
been growing due to commission of many nuisance crimes affecting
the area’s quality of life.
The fact that the District Attorney’s Office has decided to no longer
prosecute many of these crimes has added to a growing discontent in
Bayside. Drinking in public, criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, and
obstructing public ways are some of the minor crimes no longer being
prosecuted due to lack of funding in that office. One idea mentioned
was to request that Bayside be made a “special zone,” allowing these
crimes to be prosecuted when occurring in this area.
Watching the escalation of these crimes is causing neighbors to raise a
cry of alarm now. Public drinking and the high number of “layouts”
associated with that, and use of backyards and sidewalks as public
toilets are common problems. Access to public bathrooms was high
on the wish list of neighbors. Availability of high-alcohol-content
products that are abused by chronic inebriates was another topic of
intense discussion.
Mary-Ellen Welch, Midtown Police Community Coordinator, has a
packet of letters from residents expressing their frustrations with
existing conditions.
Representatives from Preble Street Resource Center and the Oxford
Street Shelter were in attendance at the September 8th meeting, and
were asked about raising the threshold for people using their services,
and neighbors’ expectations for behavior of those clients.
A letter to the parties involved will be sent inviting them to a meeting
on September 29th. Chief James E. Craig met with neighbors after his
arrival in Portland, and gave them a list of things they should do
before meeting with him again. They feel it is now time for the next
meeting, and are planning to invite City Councilors, the District
Attorney’s Office, and area agencies, to participate in a public
discussion of the issues and concerns, with suggestions from
residents on possible solutions.
-Marge Niblock
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Man Burglarizes Car While Owner Holds
Yard Sale
Portland police arrested Jeffrey Ferrante at 2:30 PM on Sunday,
September 6th in Jimmy’s Trading Post on Congress Street, where he
was charged with a motor vehicle burglary and felony theft.
A witness called police after seeing Ferrante enter an auto in the
parking lot of 633 Congress Street, while the car owner was
reportedly holding a yard sale in the lot next to Geno’s bar. Ferrante
was seen going through the car and the glove box, after which he
exited the car, crossed the street, and entered the pawn shop.
When officers arrived at Jimmy’s Trading Post, they found Ferrante
in possession of three rings, and were then able to locate the victim.
The rings had been stolen from the car, say police.
-Marge Niblock
Marshall: Energy Program Equals 900 Fewer
Cars in City
The City is reviewing a series of energy conservation projects
designed to save money in energy and maintenance costs, and take
advantage of limited funding options available. The projects selected
will be implemented under an energy savings performance contract
where the energy savings pay for the much-needed capital
improvements.
The preliminary findings of a comprehensive energy audit of 55 City
buildings and City-owned street lights will be presented to the Portland
City Council at a workshop to be held Wednesday, September 9th.
Once the projects are implemented, the City of Portland will reduce its
carbon footprint by approximately 34%, averting the release of 5,600
tons of CO2 emissions annually, the equivalent of taking more than
900 cars off the roads of Portland, according to West End City
Councilor Dave Marshall, Chair of the Energy and Environmental
Sustainability Committee.
Based on the preliminary findings of the audit, the City has more than
400 hundred energy conservation measures to consider implementing
for their 55 buildings. Measures ranged from simple traditional
conservation efforts such as energy efficient lighting, fuel switching,
and weatherization, to more capital intensive improvements such as
significant boiler, roof and HVAC improvements. Renewable
measures, like solar thermal projects, are also suggested as an efficient
energy alternative for several buildings.
A Performance Contract is an alternative way to fund major capital
projects and still remain budget neutral. It generates savings in
reduced utility costs by bundling together several energy conservation
measures that help pay for each other despite the varying paybacks of
the individual energy conservation measures. These savings are
guaranteed by Ameresco, with whom the City is entering the contract,
and will fund the project through debt service, which means the
energy services project will pay for itself through the savings it
achieves. The performance contract with the City of Portland is the
largest in scope and size to be undertaken within the State of Maine.
The City will review the recommendations made and decide what
measures they want to include in the energy savings performance
contract. Once the measures are selected, the measures will be refined
and a final audit will be issued to the City for consideration.
Monday, September 7, 2009
City to Address Motorcycle Noise Issue
The Portland City Council on September 9th will consider an
amendment that could change the way police enforce the City's noise
ordinance in relation to motorcycles.
All motorcycles manufactured after December 31, 1982, are required
by federal law to be equipped with mufflers that bear an
Environmental Protection Agency exhaust system label. The label
certifies that the muffler meets EPA noise standards. This amendment
to the ordinance regarding noise on public ways requires all
motorcycles that are parked, used or operated within the city to bear
the EPA label.
Currently, the City’s ordinance prohibits the operation of a motorcycle
in such a manner that the public’s attention is drawn to the source of
the noise. It also specifically prohibits the operation of a motorcycle
with a straight pipe exhaust system with a cutout, bypass or similar
device, or an exhaust system that does not meet the requirements of
Maine Law.
The amendment allows for a more straight-forward, objective method
of addressing noise emissions from motorcycles. The cities of Boston
and Denver have enacted similar ordinances.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Man Arrested in Attempted Eat and Run
Portland police arrested David McGlashing, 54 and charged him with
assault, criminal threatening, felony theft, and violation of conditional
release after they received a call from the Ben Kay restaurant on India
Street on August 29th at 6:48 PM, regarding a man refusing to pay.
Restaurant management told police that McGlashing came in and
ordered food and wine worth approximately $46. After consuming his
meal, McGlashing said he had no money to pay for it.
As he tried to leave, the staff told him to stay, saying they were calling
the police. When they tried to keep him on the premises, he swung at
them and missed. McGlashing was detained by staff members, but
before the arrival of police officers, he made verbal threats to the
staff, saying “I will kill you, you bastards!”
On May 10th, police arrested McGlashing in the parking lot of
Cumberland Self-Storage at 258 Commercial Street, at 7:40 AM..
When police encountered him, he was so intoxicated he was unable to
walk. He had been recorded on video at 4:57 AM, inside the
premises of the Portland Lobster Company, 180 Commercial Street,
where he had gained entry to the building, forced open a cooler, and
stole three bottles of Kendall Jackson
wine. -Marge Niblock
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Brann Starts Portland Dems Rebuilding
Reb Brann was elected Chair of the Portland Democratic City
Committee at a meeting at the Reiche Community Center on
September 2nd, and immediately began the process of reorganizing
and rebuilding the local political organization.
Brann, who stepped down from the group's Treasurer post to take
over its leadership, unveiled a division of labor document, defining the
responsibilities of the Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary over
the next year.
Other officers elected include William Nelligan, Secretary, and Burt
Wartell, Treasurer. Steve Gordon will remain the groups’ Vice Chair.
Brann said the group will focus on re-organizing, including recruiting
new members, improving the group’s website, fundraising, and
communications.
The group will also work with the Maine Center for Economic Policy
to defeat the TABOR II tax cap proposal which will be on the ballot in
November.
Two local Democratic candidates spoke at the September 2nd meeting
- Charles Bragdon, District 1 City Council candidate, and Jenna
Vendil, District 1 School Committee candidate.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
New Crime Lab Already Paying Dividends
By MARGE NIBLOCK
In early June of 2008, eight agencies signed papers signifying their
participation and proportionate sharing of the costs for a Regional
Forensic Crime Laboratory. On August 26, 2009, after reconfiguring
and adding to the existing Portland Police Department’s building at
109 Middle Street, officials representing the Metro Regional Coalition
celebrated the opening of the state-of-the-art crime lab’s completion.
Members of the coalition are Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland
County, Falmouth, Scarborough, South Portland, Westbrook,
Windham, and Yarmouth. Representatives from all of the communities
were present, in addition to Attorney General Janet Mills, City
Manager Joe Gray, and Nick Mavodones and Cheryl Leeman of
Portland’s City Council.
Jim Cohen was Portland’s Mayor and Tim Burton was Police Chief
when the idea for a regional coalition was first brought up. Deputy
Chief Joe Loughlin said both men had “the vision and perseverance to
get started on this.” And the culmination of that vision is the $1.5
million forensics laboratory that opened for a tour after a packed
auditorium heard about its inception from Chief James E. Craig.
Loughlin called the new lab “quite amazing,” compared to the one of
earlier years, which he likened to a “high school chemistry crime lab.”
He said this lab represents the “culmination of great effort.” Loughlin
held a plaque dedicated to Burton and Cohen, which will be hung in
the building, and he read a letter from Chief Burton, now serving the
Odessa, Texas, Police Department.
Detective Sergeant Robert M. Martin is the supervisor in charge of the
new lab. One of the new pieces of equipment that Martin is
particularly excited about is the Automated Fingerprint Identification
System (AFIS) that allows police technicians to examine prints with
almost 100-times magnification. It was referred to as an “invaluable
machine.”
In the past fingerprints had to be checked individually, a painstaking
job of trying to match whorls and indentations and various patterns
individually. The new machine makes that all much easier, and on its
first day in operation, six sets of prints were confirmed that were tied
to various Portland crimes. Many more have been matched since then.
Police can now make use of national fingerprint databases and have
access to the latest technology for latent fingerprint recovery. Martin
says the machine gives “a good return.”
Officer Victor Cote is one of Portland’s evidence technicians, who
“enjoys science and using your brain.” He’s been very happy doing
this job for the past five years, and having this brand-new facility will
increase his positive feelings.
Westbrook Police Department’s David Finocchietti has worked as an
evidence technician since 1998. Another fan of the job, he says, “It’s
like putting a puzzle together.” He’s thrilled by all the space available in
the new lab. He says space is a big problem in Westbrook. The huge
table in the center of the room in which I was speaking to Finocchietti
was a case in point. He explained that a table of this sort is necessary
to lay things out for photographic purposes. He said, in the case of a
rape, there might be pillows and bedding, and this huge table would
make things so much easier for photographing large items.
Finocchietti stated that he’d probably be coming down to Portland’s
spacious lab several times each week.
Having the new lab in operation will reduce the pressure on the
resources of the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory in Augusta.
NEWS for August 2009
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