by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Maine State Police report 36-year-old Darren Laney Jr. of Big Lake Township has been arrested and charged with murder in the stabbing death of his father, 62-year-old Darren Laney Sr. 

Just before 11 a.m. today, Thursday, March 10, an emergency call to Washington County Regional Communications Center reported the stabbing. Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit North was called to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.

 by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

On Thursday, Jan. 27 at 09:20 a.m., the Machias Police Department responded to a call in reference to a vacant property located on Beal Street in Machias that had been reportedly broken into. Upon arrival, MPD Officers found a rear door that had been kicked in and a vehicle displaying Massachusetts registration plates parked behind the residence.

Machias officers entered the property and contacted five suspects inside the residence. As a result of the investigation, 100 grams of cocaine base were seized.  

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Following extradition from Virginia where he was arrested Jan. 11, Paul DeForest of Lubec today made his initial court appearance via Zoom. DeForest is charged in the murder of 58-year-old Eva Cox, also of Lubec. Cox was found deceased in the locked trunk of a car.

The Maine State Police today released the following information concerning the arrest of Paul DeForest of Lubec, suspected in the murder of Eva Cox. 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Nathaniel Kerruish, 23, of East Machias, on Jan. 5 was indicted by a grand jury with charges of felony murder and burglary class B, according to the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit - North and Washington County Jail.

Kerruish was directed to report to the jail on Jan. 5 and was released the same day on $2,500 bail.

Kerruish is the first local person indicated in the Nov. 4 shooting of 17-year-old Brandin Guerrero, whose body was found on High Street in Machias. 

The following information was Dec. 30 released by the Maine State Police.

On Sunday, Dec. 26, at approximately 8:52 pm, a 911 call was received from 47 Tranquility Lane in Perry reporting a male subject had been shot. Police officers from Pleasant Point PD and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office as well as EMTs arrived at the residence to find the victim, 50-year-old Jason “Cowboy” Aubuchon of Eastport, had been shot.

Aubuchon was transported to Calais hospital where he was pronounced dead.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Chad Sands, 34, of Addison, has been captured and taken to Washington County jail after leading local law enforcement on an overnight manhunt that ended after dawn when Sands was captured in Columbia.

According to Washington County Chief Deputy Michael Crabtree, deputies were dispatched at 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 27, after a woman reported a domestic dispute in Addison.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Maine Marine Patrol Officer Matthew Carter acted in self-defense and in defense of third parties when he applied deadly force during a 2017 Machiasport encounter, according to Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey, who today issued his summary and findings on the case.

State Police Spokesman Steve McCausland released the following information this afternoon.

Maine Drug Enforcement (MDEA) says three men were arrested on drug charges in the Washington County Town of Trescott overnight that evolved into a police standoff. As part of an ongoing criminal investigation, MDEA and Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies served a search warrant at the home of Mark Fields on County Road in Trescott Wednesday evening

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency says four people have been charged with selling heroin in Washington County.

Arrested and charged with Class B, Unlawful Trafficking in Heroin were; Ashley Doten (32) of Indian Township - Bail set at $25,000.00; Ralph Francis (27) of Indian Township - Bail set at $25,000.00; Marcus Horry (35) of Logan, West Virginia. Bail set at $50,000.00; and Raymond Neptune (29) of Indian Township - Bail set at $25,000.00.