BANGOR, Maine — Bangor police took three people into custody from a home at 27 Webster Ave. a little over an hour after a nearby Rite Aid was robbed Monday afternoon for the fourth time in six months.
Bangor police officers and members of Bangor’s special response team surrounded the house and evacuated nearby neighbors and residents at Bangor Efficiency Apartments at 513 Hammond St. before entering the home.
Two men and one woman were taken into custody, with one of the men later arrested. John D. Harmon, 27, of Dover-Foxcroft was charged with Class B felony robbery and transported to Penobscot County Jail.
“My neighbor knocked on my door and told me to look outside,” said Brandon McPhail, who lives in a first floor apartment at Bangor Efficiency. “There were members of the SWAT team out there with big guns, so I shut and locked my door.”
Police units and the special response team were dispatched to the north end of Webster Avenue and the apartment building about 70 minutes after a 4:52 p.m. robbery at the Rite Aid located at the corner of Union Street and Fourteenth Street.
This was the fourth robbery to occur at this Rite Aid location in the last six months and the second in the last 10 days.
The heavily-armed police response came after a gray sedan reportedly used in the robbery was seen in the area of 513 Hammond St. Officers, some wearing camouflage fatigues and carrying machine guns, shut down the northern end of Webster and entered the house, taking three people into custody.
“I can tell you the action at Webster Avenue and 513 Hammond is connected to the robbery,” said Bangor police Sgt. Paul Edwards Monday evening. “We are currently interviewing people of interest.”
The as-yet unidentified man and woman were still in custody, but hadn’t been charged Monday night.
“I looked out and a guy was pointing at me and waving me out, so I came out and they told me to put my hands on my head and walk backwards toward them,” McPhail said. “They put me on the ground and put handcuffs on me until they got everyone out.”
Police left the apartment around 6:15 p.m. but were still at the Rite Aid, which remained closed for the rest of the evening.
Kim Tozier, a Lowell resident who works in Bangor, was in the Rite Aid when the robbery occurred.
“He just bolted out of the store and I heard them say to lock the doors. I could tell he had pills in his bag because they were shaking,” she said. “He was holding them over his head.”
Russell Street resident Glenice Fitzpatrick saw the male suspect run by her house in a rather unorthodox way.
“He was acting odd. He had a red knit cap on, had his hands up over his head, and was making weird noises, but wasn’t really saying anything,” she said.
Edwards said no one was hurt during the robbery.
“One suspect went into the store demanding drugs. No weapons were mentioned or displayed,” Edwards said.
A Levant resident who preferred not to give her name was also in the store during the robbery.
“I was just getting some grocery items, and I saw a guy running past me, which I thought was peculiar — with medications in his hand — and just as he approached the door, they yelled to lock the door,” she said. “He tried to go out the in door, but it was locked, so he had to go out the other side.”
The woman said she didn’t see the man from the front, but that he was about 6 feet tall, wearing a red cap, dark jacket, jeans and a bandana.
“I came in for some Halloween candy. I think I’ll get my candy at convenience stores now,” she said. “Actually, on my way here, I thought, ‘I’ll run in there real quick on my way home. I hope it doesn’t get robbed while I’m there,’ because it seems to be a common theme. I guess I jinxed myself.”
She’s not the only one feeling jinxed.
“The last time I was here, I needed some milk and soda, so I figured I’d stop at the Rite Aid and there were all these police officers lined up out here,” said Josiah Benjamin of Bangor, referring to the Sept. 29 robbery. “Today I saw not a lot of traffic and lots of police cars and said, ‘Here we go again.’”
Several customers who stopped in to either pick up prescriptions or make purchases immediately asked if the store had been robbed again when they saw the signs on the doors and the police cars outside.
Benjamin said he finds it more an annoyance than a worry, although he did admit feeling a bit more uneasy about being in pharmacies.
“I’m not going to single out this pharmacy. I think this is just bad luck that they got robbed twice in a very short period of time,” he said. “Now when I come into a pharmacy I wonder if I should watch the other customers.”
Regular customer Robert Wylie of Hermon had a slightly different take.
“It makes me think I should use the drive-through more often,” he said.
This place is going to hell in a hand basket.
How many murders took place in Bangor today? How many stabbings? How many mall shootings? How many vehicles where stolen? How many high speed car chases took place? How many people where mugged today?
Yes, a pharmacy was robbed but that doesn’t mean Bangor is going to hell in a hand basket.
but that pharmacy is
I know, you can never find a hand basket in there.
no it dont but the public need to let them know we dont want to go to their franchise
So don’t shop at Rite-Aid. I don’t go into that location often but this robbery is not going to stop me from doing so in the future or from going in any other Rite-Aid in the Bangor area.
i wont and a lot of others wont till they sort this out have to hit them in the pocket book to get action dont even care if they close they dont give a damm about you me anyone it is a corporation
joe6000 how is RiteAid to blame?
they dont care
“they dont care”
And this is evidenced how? What would you have RiteAid do joe6000? Your blaming the victim here. Would you also blame the rape victim for the rape?
Ok Kevin I know Bangor is not Detroit, MI but after looking at some statistics I think citizens have reason for concern.
With a crime rate of 57 per one thousand residents, Bangor has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes – from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One’s chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 18. Within Maine, more than 99% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Bangor.
One thing to be proud of is that we are safer than 6% of the cities in the US. The murder rate is almost twice the national average, theft is more then twice as high. The good news is that rape, assualt and motor vehicle theft is lower than the national average.
We can ignore it or we can work at fixing things. We did not have this much crime 10 or 20 years ago. Going to hell in a hand basket is not necessarily an incorrect statement as Mike S. stated because we are constantly getting worse.
Maine is the safest state to live in but a lot of people seem to forget that fact and yes, crime has increased over the past 10 or 20 years. That should not surprise you, at all. Bangor has grown a lot in the past 20 years but sadly the people of Bangor have not.
A lot of people in Bangor and Maine have lived very sheltered lives when it comes to crime and freak out and think the sky is falling when a pharmacy is robbed.
I’ll say it again. Feel free to move to another state where real crime takes places on an hourly basis. I feel very safe living in Bangor and the majority of people should but people have to use a little common sense.
Lock your doors, lock your vehicles and pay attention to your surroundings.
I don’t buy it at all, Kevin. Your ideas of “safest” are nothing but relativism. The amount of crime in this city of 35,000 is ridiculous. And yes, there are more crimes committed in larger places, but PER CAPITA, we are having far too many violent crimes and crimes involving drugs in the past ten years. And no end in sight. Triple homicides, burning cars and home invasions are crimes as serious as any crimes committed anywhere.
I don’t know that there is a magic bullet to stop it, but admitting that it’s a genuine problem and not denying it is a good place to start.
Feel free to move away.
You’re gonna give me permission to move? How kind of you. Did you come up with this response all on your own? Try being part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
my parents live in mass wont say what town but it is the size of bangor and bangor had more robberies this year than they have in 10 years that is no lie what is going on they live on the south shore this is just crazy
open a dunkin dounuts in all of them problem solved no pun intended but it will work trust me
Finally a post with some statistics rather than skewed opinions.
I am no way disagreeing with Kevin, I just wanted to mention some statistics. Bangor does have problems and yes there are places a lot worse off, I have seen some over the years. Do we sit back and forget about it no…..
But where are the statistics from?
http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/me/bangor/crime/
and obviously those are not this year’s rates that will be undoubtedly higher.
Can I ask you a personal question….? How old are you?
42
Kevin – I have to disagree. I walk downtown occasionally. I am wondering when I am going to be jumped down there. Also, my brother is in a class for his concealed weapons permit. Two weekends ago they had a Bangor PD officer talking with them. He told them he doesn’t feel safe downtown and has started carrying on his off duty hours. The officer just came back from some training in NYC and he said he didn’t feel unsafe at all.
My fix to this issue is that there needs to be bullet proof glass rooms that you have to be let in electronically by the pharmacist and the door is lock while you are in there. You rob the place and you might as well try to consume the product then.
I have walked in downtown Bangor for many years and have never worried or thought for a moment I was going to be jumped, ever.
As for your story about a Bangor PD officer just starting to carry off duty. I call 100% BS.
There is also no such thing as bullet proof glass. Only bullet resistant and your idea will never work.
Well unfortunately it isn’t. If I knew the instructors name I would let you know so you can get in touch with them. I apologize about the mis-naming.
You say earlier you have been here since 2000; I have lived here in the Bangor area for 37 years. I see how things have changed. I personally lived by Acadia and witnessed daily meth-heads beating each other up on the sidewalk. I moved out of that area as fast as I could. My work also took me to Acadia weekly. Ever felt unsafe doing your job?
Yes, Maine is by far the one of the most safest states to live in but realize this, Bangor isn’t as safe as it was 12 years ago when you first moved here. Want proof? Look at the number of concealed weapons permit holders over the years. ( http://www.pressherald.com/news/concealed-firearms-permits-up-sharply_2010-06-06.html ) While they can’t determine if it is from gun rights vs safety we Northern Mainers don’t worry about gun rights because we will always have our guns. “I” feel it is for safety.
I am glad you feel safe here but is that form from where you came from vs living somewhere you entire life?
I have never felt unsafe doing my job anywhere in Bangor and that includes the trips I made to Acadia often back in 2000/2001. I have also never seen a fight, ever outside of Acadia on the sidewalk and I drive past that area often.
I have never felt unsafe anywhere in Bangor and there are not many places in Bangor I have not ventured into. Even when I have to make trips into the so called bad parts of Bangor I have never once worried about my safety.
And because you are wondering. I grew up in what most people would call bad areas. I grew up around drug dealers, people that would beat you up for your shoes or call you out for looking at them the wrong way. I’ve seen people get curbed stomped and have the crap beat out of them for pretty much no good reason.
I also have been in my share of fights and I’ve have a knife held to my throat because some older kid thought it would be a fun thing to do and yes, I cried like a scared little baby. I got laughed at, called a lot of names but I was able to walk away alive that day but then again I was only 15 years old when that happened but I dealt with that kind of BS daily.
So yes, I am a tad used to real crime and real life. I’ve lived it, not watched it from a window.
I know of one very outstanding police officer for the Bangor Police Department who said, “It would be so easy just to walk away.” Don’t think he would be saying it if we were all peaches and cream. Bangor’s getting worse.
there are areas such as Hammond/Union that are not safe to walk after dark. there is a increasing number of pharmacy robberies and while Bangor PD quick response today should send a message to normal persons, your not dealing with normal, they are desperate. it will probably spread to other pharmacies and sooner or later someone is going to get hurt
This is an all out war on drugs . The problem is more insurgents spring up every day.
and they are beating the heck out of us.
This is getting ridiculous!
When you consider how many pharmacies Bangor has the number of robberies that have taken place are very low.
That’s stupid.
How is the truth stupid?
Edit: I’m waiting sally102 for you to explain how it is stupid but I have a feeling you cannot and hence, no reply. As for those that have given you a like, you can also make an attempt to tell me how what I stated is stupid.
We didn’t have this amount of pharmacy robberies in Bangor last year. So are we to just sit back and do nothing about it because in your opinion the amount of robberies that have taken place are very low? What would you suggest?
sally the problem is not confined to Bangor.
“2012 Pharmacy robberies in Maine nearly double last years totals”
http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=215471
There is nothing you can do about it other than not shop at Rite-Aid. They, the company are the ones that need to take action. There are plenty of things they could do to deter the criminals but they have yet to take those steps.
When I moved to Maine is 2000 I was shocked that the local banks did not have armed security and one could jump over a counter with ease and the local banks are still this way. I’m still surprised more banks in Bangor are not robbed because they are soft targets but then again, they don’t have the drugs these people seek.
Rite-Aid is also a soft target but then again so is Walgreens, Shaws, Hannafords, Millers and a host of other pharmacies but they have not been targets. Why Rite-Aid has been the major target I’m not sure but they have been.
In 2011 Maine had a total of 24 pharmacy robberies and I’m sure that number will be higher by the end of this year but again, there is nothing you and I can do about it other than boycott the stores.
The number of robberies in Bangor though is still very small compared to the number of pharmacies in the Bangor area. I’m not going to run around screaming the sky is falling, because it is not.
sorry im not following. how does boycotting a retail business for being robbed by loser drug addicts teach them a lesson? somehow because Maine/Bangor has allowed and maybe even encouraged these people to come and enjoy the free methadone clinics and easy welfare rite aid has to spend extra money beefing up security? that same security has been fine until now. the only thing that will do is create another reason for prices to go up. maybe you understand things better tho. you seem really smart.
he is right i said it also and prices will not go up
It doesnt. Kevin just seems to know all, ignore him.
i have been in maine since the early 80s i was not shocked banks have open windows that is how life should be also you can bring your gun with you anyone remember the video of the knuckel head who tryed to rob a gun shop granny let him have it along with 6 others he just got out of jail i think it is going to happen at rite aid then the thuggs relatives will sue that is when they will wake up when granny pulls the trigger on a druggie always takes a tragedy to get results
Rite-aid is not that busy a Pharmacy, I think that could be the reason!!!
Kevin rescued some freak messed up on something who stole a van and crashed it right in front of him… the universe is trying to tell him something, yet he still insists “The sky isn’t falling”….guess we’re all just delusional.
He did not crash right in front of me. I heard the crash and nothing more and then a group of us came together and helped rescue a man who would have burned to death if we had not acted. Yes, I know how terrible it is to rescue another human that we knew nothing about at that time. How dare us not take action and save a life. We should have all assumed he was drunk loser and let him burn to death.
It’s good to take action, but we need to really start talking preventative. It’s getting too dangerous.
And how do you suggest we do so? Everyone wants to take action but nobody is willing to do so.
Not sure either, but talking about it is a good start. “Acceptance is the first step.” Me personally, I’m sick of finding needles everywhere I go. I would like to see people make it to the city council meetings to voice their concerns, seems how they are broadcast online, it gives a great chance for people to come together.. and they don’t disable the comments like bdn.
And how many will show up? I doubt many. They will just post comments and nothing more.
this was a failed attempt to reply to you kevin, not sure what’s going on with the forever precarious comment section…
I thought you were comments and nothing more until I read about you saving someone’s life here. Each thing has it’s own time I guess. I don’t know how many will show up, but I do know that there are a lot of people out there who would like to see things go differently and that’s a start.
How many pharmacy’s are there in Bangor and how many robberies in the last year? Just wondering if you have the stats for that.
I don’t have stats but there the number has to be close to 30, if not over. Sadly the majority of these robberies take place at Rite-Aids as this one has been hit more than once but I can understand why it has. It offers many escape routes on both foot and vehicle.
As for the total number that have taken place in Bangor it is still a very small number compared to the total amount of pharmacies in Bangor.
Not specific to Bangor but:
“The number of pharmacy robberies in Maine went from two in 2008 to 21 in 2010. In 2011, there were 24 pharmacy robberies. This year police
officers say the number could be twice what it was in 2010. As of
September, there have been 38 pharmacy robberies across the state in
2012.”
http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=215471
The Pittsfield RiteAid has been robbed 3 times this year. I suspect due to the location just off I-95.
I do not think what yousaid was stupid. You just make many assumptions. If you want to make a good argument support it with facts. I would support you 100% if you presented facts. http://www.cityrating.com/crime-statistics/maine/bangor.html. This provides crime stas for Bangor. However it can be twisted to support anyone’s view point. http://police.portlandmaine.gov/crimestatistics.asp. Portland Maine does a nice job with stats. If you want to prove the methadone clinics are to blame then compare Bangor and Portland. There are three clinics in Portland Maine, yet no increase in Pharmacy robberies? Why? There are clnics in Lewiston and Waterville, why no robberies Waterville South? Right, they are all coming to Bangor (sarcasm intended).
Eight Pharmacies listed for City of Bangor of which three have been robbed within the last ten days.
There are a lot more than eight pharmacies in Bangor.
I stand corrected after review I found 16 listings.
And there is a lot more than 16.
Pharmacy robberies in Maine have risen from 2 in 2008 to 43 and counting in 2012. The trend is frightening.
No, it is not.
Actually Kevin loulou is more correct than wrong.
When this article was written in mid September there where 38 pharmacy robberies. Since then there have been 4 robberies or attempted robberies in Bangor and 1 in Pittsfield (that one pharmacy just off I-95 has been hit 3 times this year).
“2012 Pharmacy robberies in Maine nearly double last years totals”
“The number of pharmacy robberies in Maine went from two in 2008 to 21 in
2010. In 2011, there were 24 pharmacy robberies. This year police
officers say the number could be twice what it was in 2010. As of
September, there have been 38 pharmacy robberies across the state in
2012.”
http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=215471
I for one sure am glad that the city of Bangor allowed 3 methadone clinics in town so crime like this wouldn’t happen. Before these methadone clinics came to town crime was so bad right?
Bring a couple thousand junkies to your city and this my friends is what happens. Awesome, wicked awesome.
(do you sense the sarcasm)
I know you are being sarcastic but honestly. Take away the methadone clinics and people would blame the casino for the increase, take that away and people will say Maine buses them into the state and so on and so on.
That may be true Kevin but this is more then a strong hunch as to why this is exploding in Bangor. These clinics have brought the drug addicts, reformed or not, into town. That in my opinion is causing many of these problems and robberies. I can look at it from both sides but when I personally weight the pros and cons to the citizens of Bangor, not the junkies, I feel there are way more cons. We could have a novel for dialog but my belief is they have to go.
But you and I both know they are not going away so we need to look for other ways to combat the problem. Rite-Aid could do a lot to prevent these robberies but they so far are refusing to do so.
People could boycott Rite-Aid but I doubt that is going to happen. It is easy to complain in the comments that something has to be done but most people will do nothing and that is fact.
Wait, sooo, boycott the victims??
What are they refusing to do? Have an armed guard in the premises?
Makes a lot of sense Boycott the victims. If you’re saying don’t go there because it’s not safe I understand ,but if you’re saying they are doing something wrong you are just being ridicules.
Did you miss where I stated that a boycott is not going to happen?
An armed guard is not going to happen, not in Bangor, Maine. That would turn off a lot of people. Nor are they going to install bullet resistant glass because again, that would turn off a lot of people.
They are not going to take any steps to make sure they no longer get robbed but this is Bangor, Maine and people would get turned off by excessive security.
Other states have excessive security in place but we cannot have that in Maine because people will get turned off.
People in Maine want security but they are not willing to give it up if the proper security was placed in action. Rite-Aid could do two simple things to stop the robberies but they won’t.
Armed guard will not do any good unless it is an ex-marine both willing and able to shoot to kill the motherf*ck*rs. That and if given complete immunity from prosecution and lawsuits by the perp and their family.
must be a inside job connection
So, it’s Rite-aid’s fault that they got robbed?
No, it is not their fault but they could do a lot to prevent it from happening and until they do, it will continue to happen.
I’d rather they break into Rite Aid than do home invasions on Bangor families in their search for drugs.
that would be better they would quit in a heartbeat unless you are a sissy death for drugs i dont think so oh you must be from a liberal state
Does the concept of “periods” exist for you?
What CAN Rite-Aid do to combat this problem? If the scum is there they will continue to do this, nothing short of Rite-Aid reforming their business plan and stop selling prescription drugs will change things for Rite-Aid. If it’s not Rite-Aid they will move on to Brooks, If not that then Hannaford, if not that then Millers. Get it straight Rite-Aid is not the issue. The scumbag addicts are the problem.
Rite-Aid has been the target of choice. I know they are not the problem.
Right. It’s called location,location,location.
16 guage
Just curious about the 16 gauge. How did you come up with that? I have one that my dad gave me 100 years ago but I don’t think they even make them anymore.
of coures they do are you kidding
I m not a shotgun aficionado. I really didn’t think that gauge was made anymore probably just because I haven’t seen it anywhere. I am glad it is though, the more guns the better.
I agree. The first thing that popped into my head when I read the headline was, “Well if the clerk had a shotgun behind the desk, maybe they wouldn’t get robbed so often.” In most cases I doubt the clerk would even have to use it.. but to simply point it and say “get the hell out.” Scare tactic can do wonders. On the off chance it actually is needed, well it’s self defense at that point.
“What CAN Rite-Aid do to combat this problem?”. Florida has started a program to prohibit the sale of all opioids by pharmacies, thus deterring drug abusers from robbery attempts. If we had one central pharmacy in Maine under direct State control(notice, I did not say ‘run by the State’) and all opioid scripts had to be filled at the central pharmacy that would make the stuff harder to get(albeit at the inconvenience of legitimate users). Florida has also prohibited MDs from dispensing opioids thus making it harder for junkies to get.
Time release safes, staggering inventory. In the State of Wasington this method dropped robberies by 50% in one year. It isn’t all about drug addicts. Oxy yields $1.00 a mg on the street. So one bottle is worth around $8,000. Take a few and sell a few.
I have not seen a person currently in treatment rob a pharmacy. I ve acess to those statistics. Everyone is just assuming they are methadone patients.
Really? You have access to that? Well champ you show me yours and I’ll show you mine. I have some too.
I don’t know about that. The methadone clinics came in under the radar, they are now on it. Once enough people get educated on the negatives about methadone and their interpretation of rehabilitation the city can make decisions to get them out of here. It certainly isn’t like the junkies come here for the beauty of Bangor, it’s exclusively for the juice. These things could be located in TWP -39 and the same number of people would go. Bangor was just run by fools that thought this was a good idea. Sure pharmacies can still be robbed but unless something big, real big, is done to get in the way of the root of the problem, methadone being a biggy, I am sadly afraid my friend it is going to get much, much worse.
So what do we need to do to get rid of the fools? Bangor also has to receive a huge kick back for allowing the clinics and I doubt they are willing to give that up.
Is it going to get much worse? I most likely will but if we want to correct it we need to get together as a community and make an attempt to make things better. Nobody at the current time is willing to do that. They just want to make comments and nothing more.
I’m willing to take a stand but it is going to take a lot of us to make it happen.
I have heard there are big kickbacks to the city but I have yet to find that number on a budget anywhere. I guess I will personally start there.
Regarding the rest of your comment, me too, and I totally agree.
I don’t have first-hand knowledge, but don’t believe the City of Bangor enjoys any financial interest in the clinics. You might want to ask the councillors who voted FOR them, like Pat Blanchette and Gerry Palmer just what they were hoping would happen.
“The greatest threat to liberty lurks in the minds of men, well-meaning; but un-knowing”. Alexis D’Toqueville.
However, I do know that the State of Maine receives an “overhead payment” when tapping into certain funds provided by Washington, so one answer is to look at what the Baldacci Administration was hoping to be paid as the clinics came up for approvals state-wide during his administration.
I seem to recall Prince John’s administration sending a badly-burned Ellsworth High School student to Boston Burn Center (a very fine facility) at an expense of around $300,000 versus the FREE Shriner’s Burn Hospital (also a very fine facility) equally nearby; which included something around $30,000 as a kick back to the State under federal reimbursement protocols.
The student was well treated in either event; just the taxpayers got stuck for a whole lot as a result of that one decision.
cvs in mass has big sighn no narcotics on site you have to bring prescrition come back when they call or they will mail it to you
What do you suggest be done? What is the stand you are willing to take? Let us know what that stand is and you may find that there are a lot of us who will join you to make it happen.
Kick backs? You & Bush fan are comical. You know, I think the US Military is involved. I think the clinics are just some front for military testing of methadone on the population. It might even be a middle east owned corporation associated with terrorists. You really should not support Bush fan, he makes unsupported statements.
Does anyone know why Portland, a city of much greater size, has three methadone clinics, and Bangor, with far fewer people, has the same number – – or both did, last I knew? Seems like “we want Bangor to be a ‘destination’!” is more than just about entertainment and shopping!
because Bangor serves a large geographic area
I’m curious to know why on earth someone should boycott Rite-Aid???
They shouldn’t but they can if they desire too. I have no plans of doing so myself.
The problem is also exploding in areas where there are no clinics. It is a statewide (and nationwide) problem.
Back up with the facts……………is the rate of pharmacy robberies more then last year? The clinics were here last year. What about the previous ten years? What recent legislation orrelates with the increase in robberies? Acadia opened in 2000. I don’t remember pharmacy robberies increasing anytime before 2012. Gov. LePage did three major things recently right before the increase in robberies. 1. Limited the time one can be on pin killers, 2. Decreased funding for treatment, 3. placed treatment limits on methadone & Suboxone treatment. At the same time DEA has increased its efforts to place limits on supply. All of this is needed. However if you are going to attack methadone clinics do so with facts.
FACT is. I don’t need the facts to know where these junkies are coming from. I have eyes. These “clinics” (Legalized crack houses) have been around a while, too long, and much of the spike in traffic and high crime is coming from the associates of the junkies in “Treatment” the ones that have lowered their life to the point of giving up to be put on methadone life support treatment. These methadone clinics were supposed to curb these type of crime instead it ballooned it. Keep drinking the kool aid champ.
We see only what we want to see when our anger influences us. Show the spike, show the statistics. Prove that those crimes were committed by those peole attending the clinics. Show the link to associates. Show us, I gave you statistics. It is perfectly fine that you do not accept those statistics. However your points have no supporting numbers. Once you do that show us the sucess or unsucessful rate of people in these programs.
Granted I’m not suggesting I”m totally supportive of the clinics. However if you are going to “blame” someone present facts.
The clinics have been there since 2000, 12 years! yet the pharmacy robbery rate just recently balloned. I guess it took 12 years for all the “junkies” to move in?
Fail, Kevin.
You have it wrong.
The drug suppliers at the methadone clinics are making too
much money to ever quit now.
And with the blessing from The State , why, they would be foolish to go elsewhere.
Jackpot, caa kaching !! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Ive been around casinos AND drug ” treatment ” centers.
I”ll take casinos any day of the week
And I’ll bet you 3 to 1 odds that most regular folks would rather
take a chance with casinos than drug emporiums : aka methadone clinics.
So , take a breath, and face the facts :
Methadone Clinics draw in drug abusers and their followers.
3 clinics increase the odds by a factor of , wait for it, 3 fold , if not more.
Do the math , son.
The numbers dont lie, in this case.
Sad to say , but the slow learners in Bangor seem to think that
if you put in 3 sinkholes , instead of one , it will get better that much faster.
How did they come up with that ??
How ’bout we put a methadone clinic in your trailer park??
Would that smooth things out ?
Enough already, smell the coffee, Kevin.
Being an apologist for failed ” feel good concepts” that have proven
not to work, aint working.
The only people wronger than you, are the pharmaceutical companies, with
their highly addictive version of slow miserable death and their
promoters , at all levels.
This cant go on much longer.
I’m mad as hell and I won’t take it anymore.
Can you make what you wrote readable?
And since you won’t take it anymore what are you going to do or suggest to do to correct it other than post a comment?
Kevin, In your high and mighty position of human superiority can you please enlighten the croud here as to “WHAT YOU SUGGEST” rather than just sitting and bashing every idea that everyone else mentions. You are not offering a single solution either, so I dont see how your comments here are constructive in any way.. Get out of your cave and put your higher knowledge to good use for the city of Bangor…
I stated before if I was the CEO of Rite-Aid I know what I would do, but I am not.
A lot of those living in Bangor do not want an armed presence when they walk in a store. They do not want bullet resistant glass between them and the pharmacist.
The above I am used to, well used to be used to seeing but in Maine it is rare you ever see such a thing. People in Maine want security but don’t want to become like other states that do have such security.
When someone can simply walk up to the counter and say I have a gun, knife or even nothing and demand drugs without any sort of resistance they are going to continue to do so.
Putting up bullet proof glass or adding an armed guard isn’t going to stop the druggies from getting their fix in Bangor. Even if they shut down all the pharmacies in town, the druggies and dealers will stay. They have too many customers. (Methodone Addicts) living in Bangor.
Has anyone ever told you that you are not a very smart person?
If you think putting up bullet proof glass at a pharmacy is going to stop the drug addicts from committing crimes in Bangor, you’re the one who needs an IQ check.
your 100% right !! a start would be a more extensive drug task force, to police 95! getting the big drug dogs from Maine as well as other states ! bringing drugs in!! SHUT down the enabling Meth clinics!! ASAP!!
And just exactly are you going to do about it,if you are not going to take it any more?
DAHH
Do you have ANY empirical evidence that can link the methadone clinics to the rash of pharmacy robberies or are you just making a leap of faith?
Lived in Bangor very long?
Care to answer the question asked Mr. Sawyer?
You still don’t answer the primary question. If the methadone clinics are to blame why the sudden increase in 2012? Acadia has a had metadone clinic since around 2000. I think Discovery House has been around snice 2004.
I hadn’t heard any of those arrested were also methadone patients here. I won’t be surprised. I just haven’t heard anything yet, sounds like you have.
HIPPA
And its Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act…….HIPAA
HIPAA has specific exclusions when it comes to knowledge of crimes, violence, etc….
Protected Health Information (PHI) such as name, address, DOB and SSN are not protected when it comes to criminal acts that a health care provider has knowledge of. That knowledge can be either past, current or future crimes and is NOT protected from disclosure to law enforcement, etc…
So since its private medical information no one knows for sure if the robbers are also methadone clinic patients.
Joe Public doesn’t but some people do know yes by either self admission or by other means.
Right? People who are trying to get straight don’t even go to the na/aa meetings because they say it’s nothing but a prime place for people to hook up and swap their free drugs.
listen, the methadone clinics were in Bangor years before the sudden increase pharmacy robberies. Th fact is the methadone clinics have little to do with it. If methadone clinics had something to do with it these robberies would have been ocurring at this rate years ago. Did you ever link the increae in robberies correlate with the current policies coming from the Governor? At least if they are going to the clinics they aren’t stealing…..
put a drop hatch in the floor,, empty it every month.
totally nuts. how do they get away with it. i think they are playing a game. it is always fun at first but sooner or later it will all catchup. i wonder if this is a inside job. why is always riteaid. one place that has not been hit is miller drug. there are 4 miller drugs in bangor. not one has been hit . the drug issue is getting out of control. i understand the economy is causing people to do desperate things . the cost of gas heating oil
They are not doing this because it’s fun. They are desperate and mental. And it’s not the economy. It’s drug addiction, plain and simple.
You seriously wonder if this is an inside job? Alrighty then…
They get drugs because they are mental they are mental because they get drugs. Ugh.
I am pretty sure the cost of heating a home is NOT the reason for people robbing the pharmacy!!!! The bad economy does NOT make people rob and steal!!! Being poor does not mean being dishonest.
The reason may not be the economy but the dire straits our societies are in does not help our people. we are human beings and when we feel bad we look for something to help us feel better some shop some are addicted to sex, some are kleptomaniacs others are addicted to substances. As an ex addict i know the desperation all too well. These pharmacies need to be designed as does a bank or even a convenience store in urban areas with bullet proof glass to protect the employees most importantly and secondly the drugs. These are some of the most powerfully addictive substances known to mankind so imho they should be protected as such…..It is widely known that when poverty rates go up so does crime and addiction rates. and to forty6ntwo, if it were plain or simple im sure so would the solution be. I think that even having made a statement like that you can agree that there is no plain or simple solution to such a complex dilemma.
The addiction rate in our state and country is nothing short of tragic.
The drugs are ruining our state and also putting our families safety in jeopardy. I for one would like to say thank you to the law enforcement officers of our communities who put their lives literally on the line each and every day for us. We would be plain and simply ;) truly on the edge of societal breakdown had we not these brave men and women on the right sides protecting our freedoms and families. This is a sad reality we live in. The lack of rehabilitation facilities available in our state is not helping the situation.Even if one wants help they cannot get it unless of course they are looking for a replacement based recovery program ie. methadone or suboxone. That is fairly easy to get a prescription for legally. Yet this very rarely helps the addict to recover. Or if you are part of the upper class and can afford sending the addict to a private resort type of rehab. you are S.O.L.
To the top with this one!
The reason behind these robberies is plain and simple. Don’t overthink it. They are drug addicts or dope dealers selling to drug addicts. I did not go into all the possible reasons and causes for the addictions, just that it is addiction that is “causing” all the robberies. Someones addiction. The robbers, the people the robbers are selling it to, etc., etc.
There are some plain and simple solutions, it’s just that they are not legal.
Go back to sleep.
Maybe these places should hire security.. Or maybe the police should spend more time at all the local pharmacies. Better yet get the local judicial system to keep these morons locked up. A lot of people are repeat offenders who had been sentenced to 5, 6, 7, years with all but 12 or 18 months suspended. Obviously these short sentences are not reforming these people because they get out and are right back on the same track. Lets take all the people serving time for Marijuana crimes out of jail so there are more resources to keep these people locked up that are the real problem.
Save every tax payers money take the idots out back and shoot them! They will never smarten up
We don’t have out back, can we take em to Texas Chainsaw Roadhouse?
open a dunkin dounuts in all of them problem solved no pun intended but it will work trust me
let’s open up a few more methadone clinics
Oh come, there really is no connection is there??
*sarcasm*
NO
October 8th 2012 06:22pm
http://www.wabi.tv/news/34112/bangor-police-investigating-rite-aid-pharmacy-robbery
Our crew tells us one woman and two men were taken into custody outside the Bangor Efficiency Apartments.
Police have not said whether the arrests are related to the pharmacy robbery.
“a man wearing a red stocking cap slipped out of the store before employees managed to lock the doors.”You think they should lock him IN? No, SOP is to let the robber get outside, then lock the doors to keep him from getting back in. If he saw the police approaching he might want to go back in and stage a standoff/hostage situation.
And if the perpetrator has a weapon and takes hostages, then what?
You’d think they’d go somewhere outside of Bangor. The PD has locked up every single person who has robbed the pharmacy sans one and I’m sure they are hot on his trail. Looks like the SWAT team just happended to be passing by. Timing is everything.
ok (sarcasim)
Lets take our city back…. enough with these druggies
This is where the newly proposed ordinance needs to step in. The owner of Bangor Efficiency Apartments needs to be run out of town.
read above comment i hear you
Bangor police took three people into custody from a home at 27 Webster Ave.
WRONG!
So tell me how we take it back? It is easy to post a comment and get likes but how do you suggest we take it back? You say enough but what are you going to do to make sure it doesn’t happen again?
Are you going to wait for the next robbery to take place? Which will happen so you can post the same comment and be proud of your amount of likes our are you going to wake up tomorrow and start seeking a solution?
Don’t say shut down the methadone clinics, that is not going to happen. They are here to stay so that is an obstacle you need to work around. We will also have horrible landlords that will rent to anyone, another obstacle you need to deal with.
So lets start a dialogue with how we should take our city back and you need to do that being realistic. Not shouting shut down this and that.
How about we start with voting in some less leniant judges and DA into our local judicial system so when these scumbags get caught (which most do) they actually spend some time in prison and off our streets.
That is nice and all but how does that help the citizens of Bangor take back their city now?
About as much as any comments you have made to correct the issue 0. Most of the immediate resolutions are either illegal or immoral. I for one think more citizens should take matters into their own hands and destroy these scumbags from the ground up but unfortunately society and its laws do not allow for us to take these matters into our own hands and condemn and punish the people for what they are and what they do. Citizen Justice might work if more people would take an interest and volunteer for comunity watches, report suspicious activities, rather than being complacent and just watching things change on a daily basis.
But we live in a world of lawsuits sadly so a lot of people are scared to get involved in such things. As I stated, it is easy to complain with a comment but a lot harder to truly take action.
Again Kevin, your comments offer nothing constructive, you continue to point out every negative item in a suggestion rather than offer constructive ways to move forward.
Keep reading.
Well, it’s not constructive to offer ridiculously unconstitutional, not to mention immoral, solutions.
He is not being negative…he is dealing in reality and fact.
In this string I have read comments about:
“burning the place down” referring to Bangor Efficiency Apartments when they weren’t even involved as near as I can tell. The 3 suspects were arrested at a house on Webster North.
Blaming the “elected judges” when we don’t elect judges in Maine.
Blaming the ACLU when it’s the 8th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that prohibits “cruel and unusual punishment”.
“citizen justice” which in this case would have lead to the burning down of a building not even associated with the crime.
So, how are any of the above “constructive”?
The definition of cruel and unusual punishement has been redefined since the Constitution was written. Who’s responsible for that? Maybe the ACLU in part? I think the Fathers were talking about torture, unsanitary and disease-ridden living conditions, lack of proper medical attention etc.
The definition of what is “cruel and unusual punishment” is set by the SCOTUS.
The key to this whole thing is to go after the irresponsible landlords that are making it possible for losers to find places to live.
I agree but what has to take place for that to happen. How can we make that happen? If we want results we need answers.
then they would be homeless and camping out in kids playgrounds, which i observed this weekend at the playground on Second Street
Anyone that would ever allow thier children to play in that park should have their heads examined….Its was a disgusting place 30 years ago when i lived on 2cd street and it has only gottten worse. Please, parents, never allow your children to play on a playground that is not well lit and that is frequented by addicts and drug abusers.
maybe the neighborhood improved when you moved out
I do agree Bangorian, but that is only going to happen if the city council and the CODE enforcement officer actually starts to do the mandatory inspections that they should be doing. After seeing the styes that people were living in with Section 8 and low income housing, i have a very hard time believing that is going to happen anytime soon. I know of at least 4 slumlords personally, and they never get inspected.
So I take it you have been working to get increased funding for the city to hire more people to do this , right?
Good democratic answer , let’s raise taxes. Just shoot the little crooks , that should discourage a few more of them !
Bull. When someone advocates an increase in government without saying how to pay for it they re being dishonest if they then turn around and cry about tax increases to cover THEIR OWN ideas.
Foolishness….seriosuly? You really think that Code enformcent is going to solve the drug problem in Bangor? If it works maybe the State and Feds should replace law enforcement and hire code enforcement officers…………….
You need to take the time to read all of the posts and what i was responding too before you foolishly attack someone’s opinion. I was responding to Bangorian’s comment about Slumlords giving these druggies a place to work out of and inhabit…and that there have been many buildings that SHOULD have beeen condemned by Code Enforcement if they actually DID their jobs.
And then the bleeding hearts will got the ACLU or even the state to sue the landlords for discrimination.
City welfare department ?
WRONG AGAIN!!
I think if just one of these robbers were met with a .357 and had thier head blown off, the news would travel very fast.
So let us discuss how things can change in the real world, not in your fantasy world.
Good morning Kevin.
Can’t get rid of drugs people need them, but how about having drive up windows only at drug stores, if you can’t get in, you can’t steal drugs.
How about as long as people can insure their adult children up to 27 yrs., make parents responsible for that adult childs behavior also, same punishment.
How about parents start spending more time with their kids including adult kids and find wholesome things for them to do and give them consequences rather than rewarding them for bad behavior.Parents need to set the example.
Have block parties, invite people to learn to do different things from mechanics, to gardening, cleaning up someones yard who can’t, make toys and clothes for the poor, shovel sidewalks in the winter. Keep ’em busy and they stay out of trouble.
Someone is living in a dream world. Kids are on dope cause their parents taught them. Deal with it.
Wow, you are observant, maybe the parents should be disciplined too.
What’s your idea of fixing things because I didn’t see one in your post
there “fixer”.
You are so far off base! I would agree that those parents that smoke in front of their kids tend to smoke too when they are older, but every kid who does drugs doesn’t always come from a family that does drugs. That is just stupid!
This is just absurd! Make parents responsible for the adult childs behavior!? I KNOW JD HARMONS MOTHER!!!!! You know where she is today? WORKING A FULL TIME JOB AND THEN GOING HOME TO RAISE JD’S TWO CHILDREN WITH HER HUSBAND!!!! She is a wonderful grandmother and mother to her other children. How can you blame the parents? Who is going to raise his children if you are punishing the parents. She raised her child to the best of her ability. He needs to take responsibility for his actions not her! Wake up this is the real world, where bad things happen to good people and people don’t always have the best just because they pray and sing kumbya. JD was a good kid that got involved in the wrong crowd. It happens to kids regardless of how wonderful their parents were. BTW JD has a sister who is beautiful and successful and a brother who also has been in trouble but has turned his life around. He has a large family who is loving, caring, and supportive. JD has made his choices regardless of how much his family loves him.
The media would not cover it. The police would scream that citizens should not resist. They should call 911 and let the professionals handle it. If the media covered it it would be written in a negative manner.
Cops are trained and shoot straighter then us! That should make some laugh. Seriously nothing against law enforcement, ‘m just tired of being tod to call 911. Not that it matters, as soon as Hillary Clinton and Obama get done no one will have firearms to protect themselves.
Oh yes I will. “You come for mine, you better bring yours.”
Obama WILL send them and they will bring the guns for which he borrowed money from China !
Judges don’t get “voted in”, they are appointed, by the Governor in most cases and get approved
by the Legislature. Let’s start by telling our state reps. and senators that they need to be more
careful in making appointments. And then try to get the Governor to appoint some who aren’t
just contributors or relatives.
The courts are where it needs to start. You have these drug addict, rapist, murderers, robbers, etc getting a slap on the wrist. They need to spend hard time in a prison that feeds them nasty food, don’t have tv or radio, chain there feet together and make them clean the sides of the road with gaurds ready to shoot if they try to run. Don’t pay for all there medical expences. These people think it is all a big joke they get food and stuff for free and if they sqeal on someone , they get to go home in a week, month, or sometime the same day. Don’t give them suboxien or any other drug to help them get off the drugs they are on. Make them puke there guts out and almost die maybe it will actually teach them. Also, the state needs to stop supporting these people. 90 percent of them live on the state. It is also time for parents to be able to slap there kids butts instead of the state saying it is child abuse. Maybe it is time to go back and history when it was always shoot first, ask questions later. That to me is when our whole world went to hell. I always said there is a diference between a slapped butt and a beating. Give the parents rights back. I feel you would see alot less crime but these kids now a days know they can walk all over there parents and everyone else. It makes me sick.
I agree, make jail what it is suppose to be, HARD TIME. if they get sentenced to 6 years, make them do 6 years PERIOD. I am so tired of reading reports on almost a daily basis of people committing crimes that are repeat offenders, then you look at their past and they have been in trouble with the law numerous, sometimes dozens of times and have never served even a fraction of what they were sentenced to. Of course they are going to do it again, it is a big joke to them to spend 6 months in jail. But then you get some victimless crime that the person spends years in prison, like a medical marijuana patient growing for their own use, this is only an example. I agree with medical marijuana but I do feel that the people trafficking in illegally imported marijuana still need to be punished. The users are not the issue with that drug. On the other hand users of opiates, crack, bath salts, etc.. are the problem, they are the addicts that fuel the fire and steal, rob, and kill for their addiction. And for you people our there that call it a “sickness” or “disease” give me a break. Its a choice. People dont choose to get cancer, or MS. People choose to put a pill up their nose.. I am tired of all the addicst in this state acting like they are the victim because they are sick. I see this everyday with people in my personal life and I have 0 sympathy for them. They are not SICK they made poor choices.
Love your passion, but you are wrong about most of it, and the science proves it. Yes people choose cancer, at least some forms. Skin cancer from baking in tanning booths, lung cancer from smoking. Heart disease from diet choices, the list goes on and on. Drugs alter the brain, not just the high, but the actual biological functioning of the brain, they change it. It can be seen on imaging (MRI/PET) to prove it. Do yourself a favor and get educated on facts, not just stories and observation. Unless you are Superman with x-ray vision, you have no idea what is going on with the biology of the addicts brain.
what is going on in the brain is….. conniving, manipulation, ect. for one thing and ONE thing only DRUGS!!! they may be mental, but they know right from wrong!!
You’re right, but the manipulation, conninving, and all the rest are a result of the changes in the brain and making it scream for more drugs. Use is not a disease, addiction is. Just like the schizophrenics brain functions differently, so too does the addicts brain. It really is biological. It is a disease of choice because people choose to use, but once addicted, it is a brain disease. All you have to do is educate yourself, people a lot smarter than you and I, with a lot more sophisticated imaging equipment have already done the hard work, you just have to read the results.
I know enough about the physical ADDICTIVE properties of opiates but one thing and one thing only makes my statement true. The vast majority of these people CHOSE to start doing drugs far before they were addicted, the addiction “disease as you call it” is a consequence of their CHOICE. Yes cancers, heart disease, and many others can be “LINKED” to choices but many diseases are hereditary or transferred etc..
Addiction can be hereditary too, educate yourself.
Are you really for your taxes to go up?
You are kidding yourself if you think the alternative is not raising our taxes. Look at the amount of manpower it has taken to catch the guy, and to do it all over again in 6 months when he is out and doing it again, not to mention the state paid “treatment” he will receive to get off drugs. It is all raising our taxes. And if you read my post I mentioned lightening up on another group of people that are always getting arrested and jailed for victimless crimes.
This will never happen. Ever hear of the American Civil Liberties Union? These are the people who say we can’t treat prisoners bad and the aren’t going away any time soon.
WRONG! Ever hear of the US Constitution? It is the entire legal basis of the court rulings that prisoners cannot be mistreated and the accused are innocent until found guilty by a court. The ACLU simply brings questions of following the constitution to the courts.
.
Why are you anti constitution? You must REALLY hate the Tea Party.
True, we can’t abuse prisoners but why do we cater to them with the best facilities, food, health care,cable tv, soft beds, recreation area etc. The list goes on. Most are living better than they would if on the outside. Prison should not be a good experience. It is suppose to be punishment.
Your kidding right? Yes Prison is an amazing place. Have you been recently? The new drapes are amazing. Really bring the prison together.
Eighth Amendment. Look it up.
The doctors is where is starts!!
wrong on many levels, it starts with individual responsibility!!!!
61 likes for a total fabrication?
Spanking children is NOT illegal in Maine. Spanking by itself is NOT considered child abuse.
The world was NOT safer in the old west where the standard was shoot first. People, good people with families changed the culture of the west so it was more hospitable to people earning and learning.
Absolutely right.There is no easy solution.
You are wrong. There is an “easy solution” but no one has used it recently.
if we cut their wellfare then they will leave simple they go where the freebies are send them to lewiston they can fight with the somolians
jd, this is one way, but some of these druggies have families too. I don’t want to see whole families suffering.
My own plan would involve changing some laws so that those who commit crimes to support a habit can be sentenced to a locked detox/rehab. Subjects can earn a “continued without finding” type sentence (not currently used in Maine) for not less than three years, which means if they re-offend, they will be sentenced for two crimes, if they choose to go to a rehab facility for at least 30 days. The state would have to fund more rehabs, this is not necessarily the cheapest solution but so far the dollar saving solutions have created more cost in terms human suffering.
Reducing benefits, cutting programs is NOT necessarily the best way to go. Those solutions will make it harder for those with addiction problems to maintain homes and thus, jobs, for those who still maintain jobs. The reason so many of these crimes occur is addiction, so we need to treat the source. Methadone was a very cost effective program compared to long term in patient care and look what that savings has bought us.
In addition, if we suspect drugs are being dealt in a location, we need to report each and every one to the police. They will need more than a simple report, but that is one starting point of an investigation. Remember, dealers are preying not on just our citizens, but many are too young to realize the consequences of what they are about to start.
The recreational use of drugs was never a problem as widespread until we made the drunk driving laws tougher. Legalize drunk driving and these druggies will eliminate themselves !
mass just past a law get caught selling drugs doing drugs loose your section8 and immediately evicted
Section 8 is a Federal program. The law to which you refer is a fedral policy decision (not a law) and it applies to Maine as well as Mass.
Good
You make some excellent points Kevin. Honestly the only way that i believe the average citizen can help is to keep thier eyes and ears open and report suspicious activity to the authorities. Dont be afraid to get involved and just let this stuff happen under your nose. Speak up to the powers that be and let them know what is happening in your neighborhood. With the ease of contacting police anonymously now even through the internet and facebook, there is no reason the police arent alerted to these things going down faster and able to respond faster to get them behind bars. From there the laws have to be changed and the DA needs to be replaced with someone that will not plea every offense down to a misdemeanor. I realize this means more people behind bars, but i would rather pay more taxes to have my streets safe, than to continually deal with this type of people around my home. The unfortunate thing, is that until someone innocent gets hurt in one of these skirmishes, likely nothing more will be done, which is truly sad, but before anyone says there is nothing they can do, Look, Listen, and Report…that is something that we ALL can do.
Legalize the drugs. Hand them out like candy to the druggies. The problem will soon be self correcting. And will even increase business for a while at funeral parlors.
another option…. make it legal to shoot to kill anyone committing a robbery.
Or at least shoot their legs out from under them !
it would save taxpayers a lot of money that can go to the leap fund for those working and still have a hard time
and dont forget the wiggers blasting the base on the radio what is that about
I totally agree with you. Maybe a round table type of public and city government to get together and actually hear suggestings and see what can legally actually be done.
The place to start is to create an economic environment that will bring professional jobs to Bangor. Our city’s obsession with creating a ‘fun town’ of entertainment is both short sighted and counterproductive to true economic development. Look around folks…cities that attempt to use gaming and entertainment as an answer to economic stagnation are rewarded with low paying, unprofessional jobs and crime and drug abuse.
Not gonna happen?
They shut them down in New TYork, simply because they don’t work.
Take it back?
We might start by doing away with public housing, or at least dispersing it so it is spread out over a wider area. We could make it unprofitable to operate places like “efficancy Apartments” by leveling a nuisience tax.
We could put a big fence around third Street, Center Street and Ohio Street (downtown) and call it a jail.
I don’t live in Bangor but saddened to see so much scum invading this city. I think the BPD & state are doing a great job trying to clean up our beautiful state. Maybe someday these losers will get it through their drug infested brains that drugs can take them no where but down.
you can say that again
The healthcare system via MaineCare needs to stop giving these drugs
out for free with their “diagnosis” …no wonder we’re at this point.
dont blame mainecare other insurances do too
bet people don’t gravitate to maine for “other insurances”
Medicaid is nationwide a federal program that states buy into. Whether its MaineCare providing medications to patients in Maine, or any other state doing the same under their Medicaid program. ALL insurance providers cover some/most of the cost on these meds, not to mention it doesnt matter because if their doctor feels they need it they are going to prescribe it.. Dont blame the insurance provider, BLAME the individuals that committ these crimes. On another note, these robberies, illegal distribution of prescription meds, and abuse of them has created a system where doctors fear for their licenses so much that they take certain Rx off the table regardless of need. I feel sorry for the kids these people have ands the lifelong suffering that their parents have caused them, and I hope they catch and lock up EVERY last one of these guys.
You are so right!
I think its about time the doctors that are writing the prescriptions should be checked out also..That is where the source starts in my opinion
Don’t blame just the doctors. We need to point the finger at those stealing the medication from those who legitimately need them and those making a huge sob story for their providers in order to get them. Yes, the providers may be the one writing the scripts, but they’re under pressure to adequately treating someone with pain (if it’s legit). There’s blame on both sides.
Years ago the idea was promoted that no one should have to feel intractable pain. Over the years this has morphed into the feeling that no one should have to feel any pain at all. And even they should not have to even feel discomfort…. We are now paying the price for this change in society and expectations.
There are plenty of doctors out there who will write a script for major painkillers for just about any excuse. and their names are well known in the druggie community.
I agree 100%. I say all the time that people need to expect some sort of pain after major surgery or certain illnesses-it’s the body’s defense mechanism to tell you if you’re overdoing it, and it’s part of healing. Short-term narcotic use is absolutely warrented after most surgery. But after a doctor’s given a prescription for a wk or so of narcotics, there should be no need for refills. There are plenty of other non-narcotic pain killers as well as non-medicine methods of pain relief. Hell, blame the majority of insurance companies who won’t cover chiropractic treatment, massage, acupuncture, Reiki, etc. These are proven methods of pain reduction. People need to know that some pain is OK and that a little pill isn’t the answer.
Hurt myself this summer. I could hardly walk and going up stairs was excruciating to the point I arranged things so I only had to do it once a day. Chiropractor had things straightened out in a few weeks. The only thing I took was a few aspirin. I simply dealt with the pain.
Massage can help, I’ll give the benefit of the doubt to acupuncture. Reiki is pure snake oil and placebo effect.
Tell me where you work as a nurse so I make sure I never go there.
It is all well and good to tell people how much pain they should experiance, but last time I checked physicians made the decissions about how that pain was to be treated.
Do the doctors you work under understand that you are second guessing them?? My guess is no, or you would have to call yourself EX RNinMaine
I agree. I’ve worked in social services and I can’t believe the shape some people are in coming straight from the doctors that treat them.
If these druggies can get them for free why would they steal them ? Don’t blame the doctors , these are recreational users !
It’s sad what’s happening to so many people. http://www.sunjournal.com/news/approved/0001/11/30/half-maine-pharmacy-robberies-year-have-been-rite/1203963 “What makes diverted pills, especially painkillers, so dangerous is that people think because a doctor prescribes the drugs they are safe, Mike Wardrop, the U.S. DEA’s resident agent for Maine, said recently.
“They think if a doctor orders it, it’s OK, but it’s not OK,” he said. “Oxycodone is the same as heroin. It’s in the same family.”
When prescribed drugs are abused, users become addicted and desperate, Wardrop said. “There is no segment of the community that [drug addiction] can’t hit.” A comment from someone on another bdn article from a year ago: “Prescription drugs are still the major and escalating problem here in Bangor. Again tonight, I witnessed a guy walking by my house, snorting something, saw him stuff the ripped open bag into my hedge and continue on. The bag was from a local pharmacy, complete with his name and all his scripts on the receipt. He had Propranolol, Risperidone, Alprazolam. I understand these are MI drugs, but twice a week I pick up other trash from the pharmacy that show scripts for Hydrocodone and other oxi’s and painkillers. They rip the bags open upon leaving the pharmacy, throw the trash on my lawn, snort, and I assume rush home to crush up some more. And I am sick of it. And I want the problem addressed.
I am a taxpayer in Bangor and I don’t understand why the city can’t seem to do anything about this. We are under siege by worthless wannabee gangsta punks, 24/7 and cannot safely go out at night in many neighborhoods and the drug trade is thriving.
Bangor needs to clean up the trash.”
But according to the relatives of the guy they caught for two of the other robberies, these people are the victims because they are addicted to drugs. It’s not their fault. (Sarcasm intended.
They need to keep that bail line at $50,000 or higher and if found guilty tough sentences. No excuses. Good job Bangor Police Department, but they can’t take the city back, you citizens have to do it by getting involved and saying, “No more!!!”, then taking the ACTION to back it up.
One, bail can not be used as a form of punishment, In our Great country we are innocent until proven guilty. You can not set a high bail in order to keep someone in jail, simply because they are still innocent of the crime. Second we can get tough sentences, but over 50% of our people in jail are related to drugs. Are you willing to pay more in taxes?
It was done. :) When they get the message there will be no need for higher taxes; and they WILL get the message. Trust me.
I feel that these fine young people need the help and vision that they would receive at The Acadia Hospital. These are simply misguided people who need help, a caring environment, and treatment. !!!
Every pharmacy needs to shoot all robbers in the head…end of robbery problem.
change the name to rob me aid no wellness card needed
go to community pharmacy it is safer i wont step foot in any right aid sooner or later someone will get killed and it wont be me if everyone boycotts then they will get security i say everyone do the same mabee it will work there is strenth in numbers hit them were it hurts then they will care faith bussell is right enough already
I’m taking my business elsewhere as well. It seems they have FAR more robberies than any other drug store. And their camera systems seem pathetic at best.
i am too
WE HAVE TO STAGE A BOYCOTT RITE AID DAY I TELL YOU IT WILL WORK THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO SEND A MESSAGE
It’s not there fault! Get that through your head!
RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY DONT CARE A WRIGHT OFF AT TAX TIME
its a writght off and they wright off all kindza stuff besidez those rubberies
Write ;)
Please knock it off w/the caps – no brilliant insight here. Use the drive through or mail order scripts and for Pete’s sake don’t advertise to others what drugs you are prescribed. If I owned Rite Aid I would invest in security personnel or even a bullet proof barrier for the pharmacy
section. Sad situation. You can blame the methodone clinics and physicians who prescribe it like candy and all at the tax payers expense. That’s why addicts move to Maine. Glad I don’t live in Bangor/Brewer.
So you own a store and someone decides to rob it and you blame the victim (the store).
Do you also blame the rape victim for being raped?
How is the communinty pharmacy any safer? If someone wants drugs, they will get them wherever they choose.
they are in supermarkets hard to get through those lines you know what i mean lot of people
You cant’ be serious here? If you think a long line is going to stop a drug adict then you have another thing coming.
i think you mabee right the community pharmacy is a nice place to shop and the elederly peoplelike the prices that they have on suppositories and stool sofytenerss not only that they have good deals on viagra i have a pet bird named bruno what is your hname do you like hot dogs one time my cat ate a spider and turnedinto a pumpkin all these druggies need to go bangor is a great place and the community phramacy ios a good place trooo rite aid is also good but hit em where it hurts and stp the crazy drug stuff what time is it have you seen my glasses i dont like chocolate ice cream
I quess you can’t fix stupid oh well have a nice day
Ya, what you said !!
WOW! The place where these people were arrested is the same place Renee Ordway was talking about in her last article. Maybe now Bangor will do something about that area????
location, location, location. that’s why the Rite Aid keeps getting nailed
little harlem
Such as what? If the place is up to code what is Bangor going to do about it? You could bring in private security but I doubt the owner of the place would do such a thing and then they are limited to what takes outside only.
The healthcare system via MaineCare needs to stop giving these drugs out for free with their “diagnosis” …no wonder we’re at this point.
I was thinking the same exact thing!
So sick of drugs.
Bad Boy, Bad Boys, Bad Boys Whatcha gonna do when they come for you
And, bad girl, bad girl, whatcha gonna do…whatcha gonna do when they come for you.
edited
Lets hope that if these people are found guilty that they lock them up for their full sentance.. Of course that wont happen. After all the hard work of the Bangor PD to catch a lot of criminals our courts continue to be leniant. I for one would not be happy as a local Police Officer to see the injustice done every single day buy our local judicial system. LOCK THEM UP!!
Good, maybe now she will get a pair of pants that fit her.
I would be willing to wager that we are supporting some of these perps with our tax money at present, depriving those truly in need of the resources they need to move forward. I trust BDN’s investigative reporting staff will take a look at the level of public assitance those arrested have been receiving.
How those Hollywood Slots treating you now??? Paul LePage loved the idea….big tax savings!!
And this has what to do with Hollywood Casino????
Hollywood Casino is probably the safest place in Bangor. Better cameras than rite-aid.
Good work Bangor PD!
I hope they lock them up for a very longtime!
Webster Ave. NORTH is the location.
Its really sad, I grew up in my childhoos on 14th street between Union and Ohio, it was always a nice quiet working class neighborhood. Im really glad I dont live right in town anymore with the amount of crime that has been happening in the last few years.
why do low life get into these places when i grew up normal familys got in to save for a home you had a two year limit not lifetime tenure now only drugies and illeagals have first dibs thank you liberals for destoying our culture then say we need more police failed policys from bleeding hearts make me sick i say make lawmakers live there for a week mabee they will change their toon
First of all, more on the story would be nice. Second of all… Losers.
Wow! The AH’s they arrested certainly do not look like respectable citizens. I used to enjoy going down to Bangor to do some shopping…not anymore. That city is now reminding me of NYC where I worked for many years in the 80’s. They need to lock those bad guys up and throw the key away.
I would like to know how many of these drug users were put on drugs since grammar school to mellow them as children, then got cut off as adults.
That happens more than people think. When they turn of age then the drugs are shut off. A drug addict without their drugs.
Sad it might be time to consider bullet proof glass at the pharmacy like they do at at liquor stores in the cities with just a small hole to pass items to customers. Drug addicts will never stop crime to get drugs so time to make it harder. It is a shame that poor innocent people are scared by these robberies and sadder that young people are wasting their lives with drugs and it only leads to incarceration on the tax payers buck. Yes we all need to be aware of those around us and it is time to stop these crimes. I know that I am always cautious when getting my prescriptions because I could be robbed on the way to my car. I carry a concealed weapon legally and I know why because one never knows what a drug addict will do for their next high including robbing me an elder lady with a disability. It may also be time for pharmacists to carry also because most of these crimes are not done by anyone without a weapon so maybe a gun staring back at them would be eye opening for them and anyone else thinking of robbing our pharmacies. I agree with Kirk below that i time to take our cities and towns back.
Nice job, Bangor PD, and also Brewer PD. Nice to see pros at work, and hopefully, we can get a handle on these stupid acts by druggies.
Pharmacies should have “robbery packs.” Fill oxy bottles with horse laxatives or those pills they use to chemically castrate rapists. Then you just wait for hilarity to ensue.
how about sianide pills just kill them they wont bee back
…
I kind of like the idea of a laxative. Problem is they may sell the laxitive and not get the benefit.
Pharmacists using a dart gun? You can’t be serious. If the robber does have a gun and sees the dart gun and shoots the Pharmacist then what? Using a dart gun is like bringing a slingshot to a gun fight!
very crummy. the landlords will have to get tough to keep these people on drugs out. unfortunately they will ruin it for everyone else trying to find a place to live
I don’t live in Bangor but it sure seems that the people on the street are different than they used to be. I never gave it a thought going to Bangor for groceries, shopping etc. I still go but not as often and never after dark. Young groups of people are loitering and hanging around the doors to shops & at the mall. Where do they all come from and why are they always in packs. My husband & I are retired and older now and we feel anxious and nervous going past these groups. The language is vile and the attitude of some is quite threatening. We will shop and do our errands in smaller venues in the future. I know that things can happen anywhere and anytime but people are going to have to be more alert in the future of their surroundings.
It is getting rougher. I keep a dog because it’s a method to scare away potential burglers. One of them has a bark that would make someone think twice about breaking in.
Haven’t these people noticed that most of these robbers/drug addicts are eventually getting caught. It would be so much safer (and better for Bangor) to just take a oneway bus ride to Florida.
Fl doesn’t house, feed and heat them like we do and give them free drugs while we are doing it and pay them mileage to and from to get it. The formula that Bangor has established is bringing this to town.
They had machine guns. Wow, I didn’t know police carried machine guns which are usually in a military inventory and used as a heavy suppressive weapon with automatic fire. Here’s a little tip for the 12 year old reporter fresh out of college. It’s called a rifle and if you really want to get the hair raised up in you’re readers necks call it a Assault Rifle. Good job to the PD. Another group fails to get away.
Andrew Neff has been around for a while. He’s hardly a rookie.
Well then maybe he should do more research. I am also very aware of how the media works regardless who the reporter may be since I have released many stories to this paper over the years. What is interesting is when you release a written statement or document and the story does not reflect what is in the document. Which leads me to say “Story”. Facts are facts. Those are not Machine Guns.
Joe, I think you may have a good point in there somewhere. But please. USE. SOME. PUNCTUATION. I’m begging you.
Methodone = druggies invited to town = crime. City Council knew this would happen. Why didn’t they care? Oh, that’s right. They were listening to the people that profit from Methodone clinics!
To take our city and AMERICA BACK,WE HAVE TO STAND TOGETHER AND ACT!
From the photo, it is apparent that the major problem in Bangor is not drugs or transients, but the inability of dumb white kids to dress themselves. Sugar, if your pants have animal faces, stripes, or polka dots, they are probably sleepy-time clothes.
hahahaha. too many people don’t know the difference today
“Two men and one woman were taken into custody, with one of the men later arrested.”
“The as-yet unidentified man and woman were still in custody, but hadn’t been charged Monday night.”
Uh, that would be two arrests. An arrest occurs when the police take a person into custody and the person is not free to leave. No charges (which can be filed only by the district attorney) are necessary for an arrest.
they would have to be in their right minds, which clearly they are NOT….only wave length getting
through is the word DRUGS!!! and where am I gonna get them! and Bangor has not seen thing yet!!!!
Bullet proof plexiglass and a inside bank drawer would go along way to curbing this violence. These are not gun toting criminals. They are just desperate for a quick high. The pharmacies really do need to take better steps to protect the public and their workers.
The pharmacists need to start substituting high strength laxatives for oxy’s. Then just kick back and wait for the perps to show up at the ER with what little brains they have having from their rectums.
They do not carry machine guns, please do not contribute to the Media labeling of guns in the USA. Just as we can buy assault riffles at Wallmart now? Makes me laugh…..Great job Bangor PD. You guys rock!!!
The “three Stooges”……dumb, dumber, dumbest…..
the sad part is, there are so many other medications available but they start them out ont he ones they CAN get addicted to. Sometimes you have to live with a certain amount of pain and discomfort but these idiots don’t want to have to deal with anything, not pain, bills, life…so then we have this kind of result. Make the physicians stop prescribing such things AND make the pharmaceutical companies liable for the addiction level of their meds. Because we KNOW human beings aren’t going to police themselves at all.
Give them 25 years each of hard time & make them serve every single day & then order them to pay back the state for the incarceration or go back to jail for some more time.
Just wont learn!!!!
Jackas*es. Each and every one of them.
Do you think we have a prescription pill problem in the area?
Magic words again…….Hammond St.
I grew up to see a lovely neighborhood drugstore turn from the picture of a friendly small town America, know your neighbor store, into a fenced in battleground. These changes were ugly to watch and uglier to adapt to. This was years ago in a galaxy far far away.
Now, we see an even worse situation here. It is not just the gangsta’s anymore that are threatening our towns and cities. It’s the people next store who have been raised with no values, honor or conscience. Sadly, Bangor is not the only city or town that is being diminished by this plague and, it is sad to say that the plague is not just drugs. The drugs, violence and dishonesty are symptomatic of the breakdown of personal responsibility in a world where negative influences are in the faces of our children day in and day out and often glorified by some of the entertainment industry and some of the media.
Treating our drugstores like battlegrounds is a partial answer but, this plague starts in the home where the lessons of personal value, respect and community responsibility appear to have been lost.
I would love to hear some rational answers and suggestions to stop the decay of our communities.
they need to stock some special pills for the robbers only. When they take them you will know who the robber is.
They need to stock some “special pills” for the robbers. You will soon find out who the robber was..
The war on drugs is going swimmingly, isn’t it? When are we as a society going to learn?
Incarcerate them? We have gone that route for 30+ years, it hasn’t worked. Look at what we have wrought, we have one of the highest percentages of population incarcerated worldwide. Is this something to be proud of? It costs us about $1000/day to incarcerate people, what do we gain?
Look at our expenditures on law enforcement. We have a militarized police force to deal with these people. In the last 30+ years has the problem improved with all of the expenditures on law enforcement? You look around your neighborhoods and answer that one.
Create public nuisance laws for landlords of places like the Bangor Efficiency Apartments? Ok, sure. You throw all of these people out on the street and they will pop up in a different neighborhood doing the same things.
We will get this right eventually, once we have exhausted all other options first.
I think that the pharmacy’s need to do more to protect their employees. These people who do the robberies have a drug problem and if it is accessible to them then they are going to continue to hit the same store. Maybe, this company needs to invest in some protection for their store. Like bullet proof glass or stop keeping the narcotics in the store. What is it going to take for them to make their store safe, someone getting killed? It is sad that Bangor has come to this but, it is happening all over the place. Pills are available no matter where you go. As, for the court system they are never going to change. I’m hoping that these companies start taking their employees lives seriously and start protecting them.
You can point the finger in many directions as to where the blame should lie, but before all that, let’s face it. These are not kindergarten students robbing the pharmacies. They are adults. They had a choice to either live peacefully in their community or become druggies and rob pharmacies.
Always wondered where do the cops go to change into their rough and tough camo gear? How long does this change take? Maybe we need more phone booths again. Oh wait, we can’t do anything yet, we have to wait for the tactical team.
I’m sure they get dressed at the station and I doubt it takes that long. It is not any different than a firefighter getting his gear on to go to a fire. You should be thankful that we have a tactical team, not complaining about their safety gear!!
Perhaps a public forum to address concerns and show there is a zero tolerance. So far, since the triple homocide…Howland beatings and many pharmacy robberies —I have seen the blame game. At least, the people of Howland did try to express their concerns. I have yet to see BPD, council, leaders of our community,and the citizens come up with some sort of agenda.
Yea, let’s legalize pot, but “stop” the druggies. Societies crossroad is here now. Pot is drugs, but only if the voters believe it.
It’s not the pot smokers holding up the pharmacies. They are actually a pretty mellow bunch.
I say that it is about time to only use the drive through of this rite-aid.
Thank you Bangor PD for the clean up every little bit helps.
Time for Rite Aid to invest in a security guard and perhaps send the pharmacists to train at the shooting range. Eventually the investments will pay off.
let the Pharmacist arm themselves…….and splatter some of these scumbags all over the floor…….before some pill head robbery goes wrong….and a whole store full of innocent employees and shoppers are found dead when someone walks in……a lot of good the methadone clinics are doing what a waste of money!
Protecting the pharmacies and pharmacists is a difficult problem. If you put them behind “bullet proof” glass and arm them, it will only be a matter of time until some crazed drug user takes one or more customers hostage and threatens to kill them. Then what will the people behind the “bullet proof” glass do – let the customer(s) die? I think not!
The days of your local neighborhood pharmacy are numbered! A different method of distributing pain killing drugs will be coming.
In the meantime, as a customer be very cautious around any pharmacy whether it is a Rite Aid or Hannaford supermarket!
Good crackdown. Banks hire security, why not pharmacies?
The bottom line is that someone is going to get hurt- or even die- before someone starts coming up with some possible solutions. I know I don’t go inside the drugstores anymore, I use only the drive ups. It’s a darned shame. I have no sympathy for druggies, they got themselves where they are…. and to point fingers at the individual pharmacies is ridiculous, they are the victims. This isn’t happening in just Bangor, although Bangor does seems to be overun with violence and drugs. I grew up in Bangor, and I can tell you that it HAS changed for the worse! It is NOT a safe place to live anymore!
This crap has got to stop before some bystander gets killed. Pharmacists should be trained to use firearms and be instructed to use them when necessary as the courts are to easy on these junkies !
To all those that have suggested “bullet proof glass” or “armed guards” or “armed pharmacists” keep this in mind. A pharmacy is a STORE that employees people and has customers. So you protect the pharmacist and pharm assistants. How do you protect the other employees and customers from being taken hostage or worse?
Stores are taught to not resist, give the robber what they are asking for and do not prevent them from leaving. Seems that over the past several weeks the people that are committing these crimes are being caught, arrested and jailed.
Big props to the BPD .
I know the answer but I am not going to open myself up to the ridicule that is so prevalent on this site.
Maybe Super Petey will come and rescue these 3 Jabones..
I am sure that the following post I make will bring out the folks who say that what I support, violates their privacy, and personal rights, but as a taxpayer, I feel I have a right to take comfort that people who really need help are getting it, and not wasting their money on illegal drugs instead of paying their own expenses. So many people abuse this system. There are those that truly need the help of public assistance, and others that abuse it. I support required initial and then random drug testing in order to qualify for any form of public aid. (mainecare, food stamps, rent assistance, etc) Also, not sure if its already law, but any one with a felony criminal past should be ineligible for public assistance period. Bangor seems to have become over run with drug addicts. I fear that this situation will only get worse unless changes are made. Its becoming clear that the drug problem in Bangor has reached a crisis level. Look how many pharmacy robberies there have been. Look at all of the complaints from home owners who are afraid to even let their children play in their own back yards because of drug addicts disposing of syringes carelessly. The extra police presence in downtown has helped, but my thought is that it has only served to disperse the questionable folks that were congregating there and has spread them throughout the city. This is only masking the problem. Its not fixing it.
given the extreme amount of pharmacy robberies why dont the pharmacists have placebo pills on hand to give these drug robbers….better yet have the placebo pills pre bagged with a GPS chip in the bag? I think pharmacys need better cameras, maybe even web cams linked to the local police stations, or an emergency silence alarm they can hit to alert the police? Clearly something needs to be done to deter the crimes from happening.
I think it is about to get a whole lot worse with the new Maine Care 45 day limit on narcotics (I know there are drug addicts with private insurance too), I know at least one pharmacist that I have talked to is preparing for what he thinks is “about” to happen. I’m not sure what “prepared” meant, and I’m not entirely sure exactly what he mean about “about to happen”, but I have a good idea.
Great work Bangor PD lets take these low life people down and put them away for a long time!