BAR HARBOR — A Bangor man was arrested Saturday night on a charge of arson after allegedly trying to burn down a woman’s apartment.

Christopher Smith, 36, allegedly piled a bunch of clothing and bedding onto an air mattress and lighted the pile on fire while in the Compass Harbor Village apartment of an acquaintance, according to Lt. James Pinkham.

Mr. Smith, who might have entered the dwelling through a window, told police that the woman who rents the apartment had invited him over the night before, Lt. Pinkham said. The woman, however, said that she was drunk at the time and didn’t remember doing so.

When Mr. Smith arrived, there was a confrontation. The woman, and another who lives at the apartment, apparently thinking that Mr. Smith had left, went to the pool. They were soon aware of a fire alarm going off, and turned to see smoke pouring from the apartment. Upon entering, they discovered the blaze, and were able to douse it with water before firefighters arrived.

Mr. Smith was gone by the time police arrived, Lt. Pinkham said. They were, however, able to track him to a friend’s house in town, where, at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday he was arrested by an officer from the state fire marshal’s office.

The owner of a local kayak tour company is in hot water following a bizarre incident July 14. Brescian Lander, 34, of Bar Harbor, the owner of Acadia Park Kayak Tours, paddled to the town pier in a panic just after 9 p.m. that night, threw his kayak up onto the dock, and began hollering, asking if anyone had a boat he could borrow, Lt. James Pinkham said. When he received no response, and after a fruitless search at the restaurant next door, he ran down to the boats docked along the pier and started trying to get one started. Finally, Mr. Lander allegedly was able to start a boat and take off, Lt. Pinkham said.

Several witnesses were startled by Mr. Lander’s behavior and assumed that someone must have gone overboard from a kayak somewhere. They notified Officer Brad O’Neil, who had just gotten down to the town dock on other business. A major search operation was immediately launched, which included a contingent from the Coast Guard’s Southwest Harbor station, a search with night vision goggles, Officer O’Neil riding on a lobster boat with a lobsterman, and the take-off of a helicopter from the Coast Guard’s Boston division. No sign of anyone in the water could be found.

At some point, Lt. Pinkham said, Mr. Lander himself contacted the police. He said that he never reported anyone overboard. He said further that the reason he had to take a boat was because he left some very important business papers out on Bar Island, and that he had to retrieve them. He was worried, Officer O’Neil said, that the incoming tide was going to wash his things away. Mr. Lander was summonsed on a charge of unauthorized use of property.

Two days later, on July 16, Mr. Lander called police to ask for help retrieving two kayaks that had floated out to sea during high tide. No officers were available at the time.

Two women were reported walking topless downtown on Monday.

An Island Explorer driver reported Monday that an angry passenger broke a bus window after getting off on the Eagle Lake Road.

Marie Ericsson, 27, of San Antonio, Texas, was arrested Sunday on a charge of operating while under the influence (OUI) on the Eagle Lake Road.

Andrew Kuti-Hellmer. 22, of Southwest Harbor, was arrested July 16 on a charge of operating after suspension. Police remain on the lookout for a young man who was in the vehicle with Mr. Kuti-Hellmer who took off running during the incident. The man had bail conditions that included a curfew, which he was in violation of, police said.

Tyler G. Murphy, 21, of Bar Harbor, was arrested July 16 on a charge of domestic assault at a Lupine Road residence.

A $350 flower planter was reported stolen from in front of a Route 102 office on Monday. Also Monday, a “camp wood” sign was reported damaged and a $300 sign was reported stolen from Route 3 locations.

Two people were reported passed out on Bridge Street early Monday. The couple was warned for trespassing.

Cassidy S. Folts, 21, of Springwater, N.Y., was arrested July 16 on a charge of OUI.

Elliot K. Hafford, 20, of Bay City, Mich., was summonsed Monday on Route 3 on a charge of possession of alcohol by a minor.

A wedding party reported losing one of its members while out on the town on Saturday night.

John L. Reardon, 20, of Stoughton, Mass., and Ryan Johnson, 20, of Bass Harbor, were summonsed Saturday on charges of possession of alcohol by a minor following a disturbance at a Main Street bar.

Adrian Nietz, 34, of Southwest Harbor, was arrested July 15 on a charge of operating after suspension.

A landlord reported July 13 that one tenant had given her pictures of another tenant’s Facebook page that showed that tenant engaged in illegal drug activity.

A group of Russians was reported breaking things on Maple Avenue on July 16.

Yamika T. McGee, 28, of Brandon, Fla., was arrested July 13 on a charge of domestic assault at a Main Street motel.

A Lookout Point Road resident reported July 15 that a stranger had knocked at her door and tried to yank off her screen door. The stranger said that she “just wanted to ask some questions,” according to reports.

An iPod, sunglasses and clothing were reported stolen from a truck parked on Ledgelawn Avenue the night of July 16.

A substantiated noise complaint was registered at the Cadillac Motel on Main Street on Sunday.

An intoxicated female walking in the Eagle Lake Road Saturday night was given a ride home by Officer Soren Sundberg.

A Knox Road resident reported July 15 that her house was broken into. Steel doors to the basement were found unlocked and one broken at the hinge, and a laptop computer was stolen.

Two young men were warned for panhandling on Main Street on July 14.

Three mountain bikes were reported stolen from a Main Street location July 13.

A woman reported July 15 that a computer hacker had changed her passwords to a social networking site, and e-mail, cell phone and banking accounts.

Police issued 17 warnings for speeding and other moving violations this week. Ten minor traffic accidents were reported, three of them involving deer. One summons was issued for failure to provide proof of insurance.

Mount Desert

Police arrested a Bar Harbor teenager Monday after reportedly observing him drive the wrong way on Main Street in Northeast Harbor shortly before 3 a.m. Calvin Tweedie, 19, was arrested on a charge of operating after suspension. Mr. Tweedie was taken to the Bar Harbor Police Department where he was released on bail.

While assisting Bar Harbor police with patrols during the weekend visit by President Barack Obama and his family, Officer Ryan Lawson charged two women with alcohol violations.

Shortly after midnight Sunday, Officer Lawson saw two young women lying on the sidewalk on West Street. In speaking with the women, the officer noted that they both had been drinking. One of the recumbent revelers, Mackenzie Day, 20, of Holden was summonsed on a charge of illegal possession of liquor by a minor by consumption.

Two hours later, Officer Lawson was called to a security checkpoint on Eden Street, where an alleged drunk driver was being held. The driver, Sophie Kelmenson, 21, of Hampden was arrested on a charge of OUI.

A Northeast Harbor resident complained Saturday that there were young people drinking and running around on the lawn at her home on Rock End Road.

Police arrived to find two boys and a girl sitting on the sidewalk. All were younger than 18 and the two boys had allegedly consumed alcohol. The officer summonsed each of the boys on a charge of illegal possession of alcohol.

A 2004 Subaru driven by Jana Silk, 31, of Bar Harbor sustained $5,000 damage Monday after striking a rock wall.

A computer was reported stolen July 16 from the Asticou Inn.

A driver-less car struck a shed July 15 in King’s Trailer Park in Otter Creek. Robert Floyd, 78, had parked his 2002 Ford in his driveway, putting on the emergency brake but not in gear, police said. After Mr. Floyd got out of the vehicle, it rolled across the street and into a shed on a neighboring property.

Damage to the Ford is estimated at $2,500. The shed sustained about $3,000 in damage.

John Truebger, 42, of Rochester, N.Y. was leaving the Otter Creek showers July 14 when his 2002 Chevrolet pickup backed into a parked 1996 Volkswagen owned by Beth Johnson, 22, of Liberty, Penn. Total damage is estimated at $3,500.

Southwest Harbor

A man reported July 13 that an intoxicated driver who failed to stop at a stop sign assaulted him. The complainant, who was walking, claimed he was almost struck by the vehicle. Police located the driver at his home. They reported he was not intoxicated and that it appeared that both men had been fighting and sustained injuries. Police referred the complaint to the district attorney’s office to determine if charges should be filed.

Stephen Sims, 30, of Ellsworth was issued summonses charging him with speeding, possessing a useable amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia on July 15.

People swimming near the Long Pond pump station were ordered by police to get out of the water on Sunday. The area is posted “no swimming.”

Brian O’Connell, no given age, of Bar Harbor was summonsed July 14 on a charge of driving with an expired registration.

David Dressel, 26, of Hancock was summonsed July 13 on a speeding charge.

Trenton

State police arrested James Farley, 22, of Trenton on a charge of assault on July 14.

That same day, Brian Madore, 20, of Trenton was summonsed on a charge of operating after suspension.

Acadia National Park

A team of horses ran wild on the carriage roads near Jordan Pond House on July 18. It took rangers 20 minutes to catch the free-spirited team. The people in the carriage suffered only minor scrapes, rangers said.

Rangers issued tickets to court to several visitors this past week.

On July 13, Ross Rarsons, 27, of Mount Desert was summonsed on a charge of speeding.

John Southgate, 50, no given address, was summonsed on July 17 on a charge of allowing a dog to roam off leash. Also on the 17th, Jeremy Prue, 21, of Wales, was summonsed on a charge of having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle. That same day, Ph Vo, no listed age, of Massachusetts was summonsed on a charge of speeding.

Edward Bischoff III, 23, of Bangor was summonsed on July 18 on a charge of operating an unregistered motorcycle.

For more police & court news, pick up a copy of the Mount Desert Islander.

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