The Maine Marine Patrol is asking for the public’s help in finding whoever sank a Tenants Harbor fisherman’s lobster boat three times in the past seven weeks.
Anthony Hooper’s 35-foot-long lobster boat, Liberty, was sunk for the third time sometime between Friday evening and Saturday morning, according to Maine Marine Patrol spokesman Jeff Nichols.
Nichols said Monday the last sinking doesn’t appear related to the sinking of another lobster boat, owned by Joshua Hupper.
Three men from midcoast Maine were arrested in September – the most recent arrest coming Friday – in connection with the sinking of Hupper’s 36-foot boat.
Nichols would not say whether the sinkings were part of an ongoing dispute between lobstermen, who are known to be territorial.
But Hooper told WCSH-TV that he was being deliberately targeted. He said the first time it happened, someone got on his boat, cut hoses and opened valves, causing the vessel to sink in 35 feet of water.
“Certain fishermen think they own everything,” Hooper told the Portland TV station. “It’s someone who has no morals or conscience.”
When asked if he had provoked another fisherman, Hooper denied that he had.
“I’ve done nothing. I get up in the morning. I haul my traps and I go home,” said Hooper, whose girlfriend had a baby 10 days ago.
Nichols said Hooper notified authorities Saturday morning that his boat had been sunk again. The first sinking happened between the evening of Aug. 16 and the morning of Aug. 17. The second occurred between the evening of Sept. 28 and Sept. 29.
All three sinkings happened in Port Clyde, where Hooper moors the Liberty.
“Every time this has happened, Mr. Hooper has raised the boat, repaired it, and put it back on the water,” Nichols said.
On Friday, the Maine Marine Patrol announced that Officer Brandon Bezio had arrested Alan Norwood, 47, of Tenants Harbor on charges of aggravated criminal mischief in connection with the sinking of Hupper’s lobster boat this summer. Arrested last month in connection with the same incident were Vincent Hilt, 22, of Vinalhaven and Devin Meklin, 20, of Warren, on felony charges of criminal mischief and theft.
Anyone with information about the sinking of Hooper’s boat is encouraged to contact a local Maine Marine Patrol officer or the Maine State Police at (800) 452-4664. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the investigation.
Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:
dhoey@pressherald.com
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