Retired Police Sergeant Confesses to Obstructing Maine School Threat Investigation
A retired New York State Police sergeant from Maine has admitted to being the individual who attempted to obstruct a critical police investigation into a serious school threat, according to authorities. Mary Conmee, a 63-year-old resident of Orrington, Maine, revealed her involvement during a conversation with the Daily Mail, where she mistakenly believed the responding officers were Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
Confrontation During Critical Investigation
On Wednesday, Brewer Police Department officers arrived at a residence to locate and safely contact a person of interest regarding threats of intent to kill school staff and others at local educational institutions. During this sensitive operation, Conmee deliberately drove to the scene and began interfering with police activity.
Authorities reported that she repeatedly sounded an air horn, refused lawful orders to leave the area, and shouted expletives at officers. Conmee later claimed to the Daily Mail that she didn't actually obstruct the investigation, stating 'I stayed in my car and had a blow horn' before abruptly ending the call. When contacted again, she declined to comment further.
ICE Confusion and Political Background
During the confrontation, Conmee shouted that she 'didn't want ICE' in her neighborhood, revealing her mistaken belief about the officers' identities. This incident occurred on the same day President Donald Trump ordered ICE agents to begin rounding up Somali migrants in Maine as part of a federal enforcement operation.
Conmee's social media presence shows a history of speaking out against ICE and the Trump administration. Her Facebook page contains numerous posts criticizing the agency, including sharing an AI-generated image of an ICE agent involved in a recent Minneapolis shooting and memes expressing opposition to Trump. In one December post, she shared content suggesting Trump's presidency should be 'annulled' with 'no library, no portrait, no titles, no honors.'
Legal Consequences and Broader Context
After police determined the original person of interest was not responsible for the school threats, they turned their attention to Conmee's disruptive actions. Authorities stated that her interference created a real risk to investigating officers and hampered legitimate law enforcement operations. As a result, she was summonsed for disorderly conduct and obstructing government administration.
This incident occurs amid heightened tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in Maine. The state has received thousands of asylum refugees from African countries in recent years, with a substantial Somali community established since the early 2000s. Federal agents are currently conducting operations in Portland and Lewiston, Maine's two largest cities, under initiatives like 'Operation Catch of the Day.'
Community Impact and Official Responses
Local officials report that ICE enforcement actions are causing fear within immigrant communities. Portland city council member Pious Ali, an immigrant from Ghana, noted that approximately a quarter of immigrant students have stopped attending school due to these concerns. He emphasized that immigrants 'work in our hospitals, they work in our schools, they work in our hotels, they are part of the economic engine of our community.'
Maine's Democratic Governor Janet Mills has stated that aggressive immigration enforcement violating civil rights is 'not welcome' in the state. Meanwhile, the US attorney's office in Maine has warned citizens against impeding federal law enforcement officers, noting that such actions constitute federal crimes that will be prosecuted fully.
The broader national context includes ongoing protests in Minnesota following the death of Renee Good earlier this month and the Department of Homeland Security reporting more than 3,000 arrests in that state under 'Operation Metro Surge.' The extension of immigration enforcement operations to Maine, a rural state with approximately 1.4 million residents, suggests continued emphasis on deportation agendas despite widespread pushback from various communities and officials.
