Crime & Public Safety

The era of mass shooting threats and response tactics has now reached Washington County. On September 20, students, parents and staff of the Eastport school system had their morning turned upside down with a school lockdown, evacuation and the presence of armed law enforcement officers.

A series of brazen armed robberies occurred in Machias shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday, September 19. A local man, Devon Andrews, 41, of Cutler, was arrested soon after the robberies.

A Washington County grand jury has indicted a 39-year-old Eastport man for manslaughter in the September 10 death of Maurice Allen Harris of Eastport, finding there is sufficient evidence to charge Hazen McDugald with "recklessly or with criminal negligence" causing Harris' death.

An Eastport man was arrested on September 17 in connection with the September 10 death of 75-year-old Maurice Allen Harris, also of Eastport. Hazen McDugald, 39, was arrested by the Maine State Police on two counts of aggravated assault and one count of violating his bail conditions.

A year after a car crash killed one Grand Manan teen and injured four others, the driver of the vehicle was sentenced on July 15 in a case both Judge Henrik Tonning and defence lawyer David Lutz hope will provide a warning to others.

Methamphetamine (meth) use in Washington County is still at a low number compared to other substances abused; however, meth addiction is noted for its high relapse rate, devastating physical and neurological effects and its toxic and dangerous manufacturing process.