MOUNT DESERT — It’s not unusual for undigested seeds to sprout in the sludge at the town’s sewage treatment facilities. But last week, employees noticed a strange weed growing among the bumper crop of tomato plants at the Northeast Harbor facility and called police.

Through an Internet search, Chief Jim Willis was able to determine that the exotic intruder was Datura, a plant commonly known as Jimson weed. Datura is reportedly a hallucinogenic plant that is sometimes smoked or consumed by recreational drug users. Although Datura is not illegal in Maine, Chief Willis points out overdoses from using the plant are extremely common. The plant will be destroyed.

A Mount Desert man was arrested Sunday on theft charges after he was allegedly caught on security cameras stealing lottery tickets.

Dominic Diguardia, 50, was charged with the theft of $55 in tickets from the Somesville On the Run store. Police said the loss was discovered shortly after Mr. Diguardia left, precipitating the review of security footage.

A caretaker told police Sunday that someone has tampered with his employer’s boat in Seal Harbor. Instrument panel covers had been removed from the vessel and the batteries were dead, the caretaker reported.

Driver inattention is to blame for a single-vehicle crash Saturday in Northeast Harbor.

Police said Benjamin Lukens, 73, of South Portland was driving a 2005 Ford on Sargeant Drive when he began searching for an item inside the vehicle. The Ford drifted off the road and hit a ledge, sustaining about $5,000 in damage.

A wallet containing credit cards and about $100 in cash was reported taken Oct. 3 from a backpack hanging on a door at the coin-operated showers in Otter Creek. The owner of the wallet told police he was showering when the theft occurred.

Cara Nichols, 33, of Bar Harbor was arrested Oct. 2 on charge of operating after suspension and violating bail conditions. She was additionally summonsed on a charge of possessing a usable amount of marijuana.

Southwest Harbor

Vehicles parked at the Pemetic Elementary School parking lot were vandalized last week.

According to Officer Jed Philpot, four vehicles were deliberately scratched with a key or other sharp object. The vandalism occurred during the late afternoon on separate days and is under investigation, the officer said.

A message left on a former girlfriend’s answering machine led to the Oct. 4 arrest of a Southwest Harbor man.

Richard Stanley, 52, was arrested on charges of violating his bail conditions and for failure to sign a summons. He was additionally summonsed on a charge of possessing a useable amount of marijuana.

Police said Mr. Stanley’s bail conditions include that he have no contact with the former girlfriend and not use or possess illegal drugs.

Conrad Strout, 17, of Southwest Harbor was summonsed Sunday on a charge of operating a motor vehicle with windows tinted darker than allowable under state law.

Josiah Bright, 59, of Delray Beach, Fla. and Joseph Demers, 54, of Newington, Conn., were summonsed last week on charges of speeding.

A Tremont man was summonsed Saturday after reportedly squealing his vehicle’s tires. Jeremy Gilley, 20, was summonsed on a charge of unnecessary acceleration noise.

Money and CDs were reported stolen Friday from a vehicle.

A Main Street resident told police Oct. 3 that a coiled garden hose had been cut in several places.

Trenton

An Ellsworth driver and her passenger sustained minor injuries Saturday when their car’s brakes failed at the intersection of the Goose Cove Road and the Oak Point Road.

According to Trooper Jessica Shorey, the 1995 Pontiac driven by Erin LaSalle, 23, traveled through a stop sign and across the Oak Point Road, where it struck a tree. Ms. LaSalle and her passenger, Brent Hammond, did not require medical treatment, Trooper Shorey said. Damage to the Pontiac is estimated at $3,000.

Maine State Police officers assigned to Troop J will have their annual inspection at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, at the Trenton American Legion Hall. Colonel Pat Fleming will conduct the inspection. Troop J patrols Hancock and Washington counties.

Bar Harbor

David A. Cook, 53, of Alpharetta, Ga., was summonsed on a speeding charge Oct. 3 on Route 3 by Officer Tim Bland.

Officer Bland also summonsed Gretchen L. Liani, 38, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. on a speeding charge Oct. 3 on Route 3.

Officer Soren Sundberg arrested Dennis Ayres, 45, no town listed, and charged him with operating without a license (OWL).

Michael F. Andrews, 43, of New York, was summonsed on an OWL charge Saturday.

Robert T. Hanscome, 16, no town listed, was summonsed Saturday on a charge of violating his intermediate license.

Officer Eric McLaughlin arrested Alexander Day, 24, of Bar Harbor, on a warrant Oct. 2; Mr. Day failed to appear in court on a criminal mischief charge.

Brian Greenleaf, 23, of Bar Harbor, was arrested on a warrant Sunday. He was wanted for failing to appear in court on a charge of operating after suspension (OAS).

Richard Melasecca turned himself in at the police station Oct. 4. He was wanted on a warrant for failure to appear in court.

Scotty L. Moran, 43, of Haysville, Kan., was arrested Oct. 4 by Officer Timothy Bland and charged with operating while under the influence (OUI) of alcohol.

Paul Lazareth, 46, of Mount Desert, was arrested Monday by Officer Tim Bland and charged with OUI.

A Southwest Harbor doctor called police Oct. 3 to request an officer meet him at the Mount Desert Island Hospital. An irate patient was reportedly following the doctor across the island. Sgt. David Kerns warned the man to have no further contact with the doctor.

A woman reported her makeup bag, which contained cash and the prescription drug Percocet, either lost or stolen on Monday.

Two vehicle owners reported their cars had been keyed while parked in the Old Police Station Parking Lot on Oct. 2.

Money was reported stolen from the “poor box” at Holy Redeemer Church on Mount Desert Street on Oct. 3.

Police confiscated boards from skateboarders’ Oct. 3 after they were reported skating in the Village Green.

A deer was reported prone in the travel lane on Route 2 on Oct. 4. Upon investigation, police found a large beaver and moved it out of the road.

Reported lost this week: a burgundy canvas bag; a brown leather wallet; several credit cards; a Nissan key; a Vivitar camera; a Samsung Digimax L85 camera; a black flip phone; an orange cat; a black-and-white longhaired cat; and a wedding and an engagement ring set.

Reported found this week: a large black wallet; a small black wallet; a plastic multi-colored purse; American Express and Discover cards; a hospital ID card; a passport; a beagle; a boxer; shopping bags from the Christmas and Sunrise gift shops; a black mountain bike; a blue fleece; a silver iPod; and a small journal left somewhere on MDI.

Acadia National Park

Darren Cross, 29, of Northeast Harbor was arrested by rangers on Oct. 4, on a charge of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol (OUI). He also was summonsed on charges of driving without a license and having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.

On Oct. 5, a male juvenile was arrested by rangers on charges of disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana.

A woman bicycling around Eagle Lake fell and broke her elbow on Oct. 6. Rangers report the woman was able to get the hospital on her own.

Several facilities in the park are closing for the season. Seawall Campground, as well as the restroom in the picnic area, are now closed. Blackwoods Campground remains open.

Restrooms at Pretty Marsh and Wildwood Stables also are shuttered for the winter.

The gate has been shut to bar vehicular access to the parking area at Lakewood until spring.

From the issue of 10/11/07. For the latest police news be sure to pick up this week’s Mount Desert Islander available on newsstands Wednesday afternoons.