Routine traffic stop turns up stolen weapon
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — A Presque Isle man possessing a stolen gun was arrested Monday morning after the vehicle he was riding in was stopped for speeding.
A MONDAY MORNING traffic stop in Presque Isle led to a lot more as police confiscated a black High-Point semi-automatic pistol, bullets, a hydrocodone pill and some cash. 
Forty-five-year-old Robert D. Belmain has been charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, theft by receiving stolen property, carrying a concealed weapon, as well as unlawful possession of hydrocodone and was initially arrested on an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court. Belmain was transported to the Aroostook County Jail for processing.
Forty-five-year-old Robert D. Belmain has been charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, theft by receiving stolen property, carrying a concealed weapon, as well as unlawful possession of hydrocodone and was initially arrested on an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court.
Belmain was a passenger in a 1998 sedan driven by 23-year-old Stephanie Larsen. K-9 Officer Kevin Reed of the Presque Isle Police Department observed Larsen, who was driving north on Parsons Street, doing 46 mph in a 25 mph zone. Larsen said she was simply giving Belmain a ride to the store.
After collecting Larsen’s information, Reed asked Belmain for identification. Belmain said he didn’t have any but gave Reed his name. Reed then had dispatch query Belmain, and while deploying K-9 Dozer, dispatch advised Reed that Belmain had an active warrant for his arrest.
Reed searched the car and found a hydrocodone pill on the passenger seat and after looking under the seat, found a black High-Point semi-automatic pistol. Reed removed the gun and its magazine and cleared the firearm.
“The magazine was full and the chamber was empty,” said Reed.
While leaving the MPG parking lot with Belmain seated beside him, Reed said Belmain overheard Officer Brian McQuarrie query the pistol’s serial number over the radio to see if it was stolen.
“Robert spontaneously stated that the gun was stolen from Ashland,” said Reed, who then called the Ashland Police Department and found they did not have a record of the stolen firearm matching the description or serial number of the .40-caliber weapon. “While in the booking room, without prompting or question, Robert stated that he doubted the gun had even been reported as stolen yet.”
The Ashland and Presque Isle police departments are working to locate the owner of the gun.
Because Belmain was on bail for a motor vehicle offense, he was also charged with violation of conditions of release and transported to the Aroostook County Jail for processing.
Police are asking County residents to ensure that their firearms are secure and accounted for. Persons with any information concerning the stolen and unreported black .40 caliber High-Point handgun should contact the Presque Isle Police Department at 764-4476 or the Ashland Police Department at 435-6626.
