Counterfeit bills have city on alert

AUGUSTA — City police are urging store owners to be on the lookout for counterfeit bills.

Deputy Chief Jared Mills of the Augusta police said there have been four instances of bills passed during the past week at convenience stores on Northern and Western avenues.

Three of them were $20 bills and one was a $1 bill. Mills said it appears that at least the $20 bills are connected.

“If they look real closely they can tell by the paper,” Mills said.

Mills said many businesses have a pen that detects counterfeit money.

“If something doesn’t seem right they should definitely check it with a pen,” he said.

Police are following up on leads, but the investigations are complicated because the person who passes the bill to the store often has no idea they are using a counterfeit bill.

“A lot of times the person that passes it isn’t the person who made it,” Mills said.

He asked anyone who suspects a bill is forged, or anyone with information, to call police at 626-2370.

Fourth of July enforcement planned

State police plan to step up traffic enforcement through the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland said in a release that troopers will be looking for aggressive, drunk and distracted drivers as well as speeders, texters and those not wearing seat belts. Police will use planes, unmarked vehicles and have additional troopers as part of the effort.

Increased enforcement efforts will continue throughout the summer, McCausland said.

The holiday weekend is one of the most heavily traveled of the year. July and August are statistically the deadliest months for crashes.

The Bureau of Highway Safety reports 53 people have died on Maine roads so far this year, which is up two from last year during the same period.

AUGUSTA

Wednesday at 1:47 p.m., there was an accident in the exit 109 offramp from the southbound lane of Interstate 95.

4:23 p.m., theft was reported on Maple Street.

5:02 p.m., there was an accident at the intersection of Bond and Water streets.

5:42 p.m., disorderly conduct was reported on Glenridge Drive.

6:55 p.m., an assault was reported on Weston Court.

9:56 p.m., disorderly conduct was reported on Green Street.

10:01 p.m., there was an accident on Civic Center Drive.

11:12 p.m., a disturbance was reported on Capitol Street.

Thursday at 12:48 a.m., a disturbance was reported on Oxford Street.

2:13 a.m., there was an accident at the intersection of Water and Bond streets.

5:59 a.m., there was a report of a recent burglary at Dunkin’ Donuts on Bangor Street.

8:23 a.m., there was a report of a burglary from a vehicle on South Belfast Avenue.

8:31 a.m., theft was reported at Bread of Life Ministries’ Family House on Hospital Street.

8:36 a.m., there was an accident on Winthrop Street.

8:58 a.m., there was a traffic complaint on Whitten Road.

9:49 a.m., a disturbance was reported on Glenridge Drive.

10:28 a.m., a disturbance was reported on North Street.

11 a.m., there was a traffic complaint on Lamson Road.

11:01 a.m., theft was reported on Water Street.

12:53 p.m., there was an accident on Medical Center Parkway.

2:05 p.m., firefighters responded to a report of a car fire in the northbound lane of Interstate 95 near mile marker 110. The smoke was from a bad radiator. There was no fire.

3:15 p.m., there was an accident on Memorial Circle.

CHINA

Wednesday at 11:19 a.m., mischief was reported on Sproul Road.

FARMINGDALE

Wednesday at 3:41 p.m., there was a report of suspicious activity on Maine Avenue.

5:26 p.m., there was a report of gunshots on Friendship Lane.

GARDINER

Thursday at 4:43 a.m., an alarm sounded on Commonwealth Street.

HALLOWELL

Thursday at 12:26 p.m., there was an accident on Water Street.

LITCHFIELD

Thursday at 1:56 a.m., there was an abandoned 911 call on Perch Drive.

MONMOUTH

Wednesday at 3:45 p.m., there was a report of bad checks being written on Packard Road.

3:49 p.m., there was a report of bad checks being written on Blaisdell Road.

5:06 p.m., there was a report of suspicious activity on Wilson Pond Road.

5:13 p.m., trespassing was reported on North Main Street.

8:42 p.m., a burglary was reported on Maple Street.

PITTSTON

Wednesday at 8:07 p.m., a child was reported missing from East Pittston Road.

VASSALBORO

Thursday at 8:24 a.m., there was a 911 hang-up on Nelson Road.

SIDNEY

Wednesday at 6:08 p.m., theft was reported on Tiffany Road.

WEST GARDINER

Wednesday at 6:26 p.m., there was an accident in the southbound lane of Interstate 95 near mile marker 103.

Thursday at 4:43 a.m., there was an accident in the southbound lane of Interstate 95 near mile marker 103.

8:14 a.m., theft was reported on High Street.

WINTHROP

Tuesday at 8:13 p.m., there was a report of littering.

ARRESTS

AUGUSTA

Wednesday at 10:19 p.m., Jeremy J. Chrissman, 31, of Augusta, was arrested on charges of domestic violence assault and domestic violence criminal threatening by police responding to a report of a disturbance on Bennett Street.

MONMOUTH

Wednesday at 10:51 a.m., Cherie Ann Coriz-Mascioli, 40, of Waterville, was arrested on a warrant during a traffic stop on Waugan Road.

Thursday at 7:01 a.m., Justin S. Carey, 21, of Litchfield, was arrested on charges of violating conditions of release and operating after suspension during a traffic stop on Annabessacook Road.