Jan. 22 update: The family of Sarah Neal reports that she has been contacted and is safe in another New England state.

The Washington County Regional Communications reported yesterday that the sheriff's office sought contact with 17-year-old Sarah Neal of East Machias, reported missing that day by her family. Neal was listed in the National Crime Information Center database as a missing juvenile runaway.  

A Lubec man pleaded guilty today, Friday, Dec. 9,  in U.S. District Court in Bangor to stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee, witness tampering, and retaliating against a witness.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The Maine State Police this morning report that the Washington County Sheriff's Office was called to a "suspicious" incident in Cherryfield at 9:17 p.m. last night, Thursday, Nov. 17.

"Maine State Police detectives from Major Crimes Unit North were called to assist. Police do not believe there is an ongoing public safety risk," said MSP Communications Director Shannon Moss.

This story will be updated as more information is available.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon 

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office today reported that an eight-hour standoff in Lubec on Tuesday, Sept. 13, was resolved without injury.

According to the SO’s release, a Lubec woman called 911 at 7:41 p.m. reporting that she had been threatened by a neighbor. When Washington County SO Deputies arrived, it was reported that Jacob Elliott, 37, of Lubec had approached the neighbor’s property and threatened to assault and kill members of the household. 

As the result of a joint investigation with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, agents assigned to Maine Drug Enforcement’s Downeast Task Force (MDEA) have arrested a mother and son from East Machias, along with two men from the Bronx, New York, and charged them all with drug trafficking offenses.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

On Tuesday, June 28, local law enforcement responded to a home in Pembroke where a juvenile was reported dead.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office, together with Maine State Police, is conducting an investigation.

Anyone with information related to the death is urged to contact either Detective Travis Willey or Detective William White of the Washington County Sheriff's Office, 255-4422.

This is an active investigation, more details will be released as it develops.

The following was released by the Maine State Police today at 5 p.m.

On Friday, April 29, at approximately 4:45 p.m. the Pleasant Point Police Department and the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit North arrested 38-year-old Donnell J. Dana of Perry and 38-year-old Kailie A. Brackett of Perry for the murder of 43-year-old Kimberly Neptune also of Perry. Neptune was found dead in her home on Thursday, April 21.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A reward of $10,000 is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the death of Kimberly Neptune, 43, of Perry, who was found dead in her home Thursday, April 21. 

Police today named Neptune’s death a homicide. Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit North is investigating Neptune’s death with the assistance of the Pleasant Point Police Department, which has offered the reward. 

The following was released today, April 22, by Maine State Police.

Editor's note: This was just released from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is available. SCD

Working alongside local, county, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement partners, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency’s Downeast Task Force has arrested six (6) people in Washington County on felony drug trafficking charges following a two (2) month investigation into the sale of fentanyl and crack cocaine.