Bangor, Maine News Update: January 10, 2019

State Police say a man in his late 60’s was killed Wednesday afternoon when he was struck by a pickup while walking along Mud Creek Road in Hancock. Officials say the man was about a mile from the Route 1 intersection and was wearing dark clothing. His name has not been released, pending notification of next of kin.

An Old Town Police officer who was put on administrative leave after a fatal shooting in November is back to work. Few details have been released about the incident involving Officer Joseph Decoteau, other than that there was an armed confrontation with driver Adrian Bunker of New Hampshire during a traffic stop in the middle of the night.

A charter boat captain from Camden, who was on trial in the Virgin Islands for seaman’s manslaughter, has been acquitted. Rick Smith was accused of not searching for his crewman, David Pontious, after he acted erratically, attacked Smith, and then jumped overboard. He wasn’t charged in the case until 2 ½ years after the crewman’s death.

A free training session will be held in Bangor next week to bring awareness to human trafficking. The meeting will be hosted by Penquis Sex Trafficking Action Response Team, Partners for Peace, and Rape Response Services, and will include an overview of human trafficking  and how to respond to it. The event will be held from 5 to 7 Monday night at the Bangor Public Library.

Governor Janet Mills has commissioned a highway sign that says ‘Welcome Home,’ which was the focus of her inauguration speech. The sign will replace one put up by former Governor Paul LePage that said ‘Open for business.’ Mills says instead of her predecessor’s focus on bringing businesses to Maine, she wants to make everyone feel welcome, sending the message that it’s a great place to call home.