ELLSWORTH — A noose thrown over a utility line in Little Deer Isle on June 19, prompting furor, will not result in any charges because police have not been able to identify a suspect, according to District Attorney Matt Foster.
A noose invokes the history of lynching and is used as a hate symbol to target Blacks.
Blue Hill resident Justin Betts took a photo of the noose hanging from the wire and posted it to his Facebook page. The photo was shared by many residents who agreed with Betts’ comment that it was “completely unacceptable.”
Arborist Jason Lepper of Blue Hill took the noose down early the following morning.
The Maine State Police had been investigating the incident.
It’s not entirely clear what a suspect might have been charged with in connection with throwing a noose over a utility line.
Foster said earlier this summer that one potential charge might be desecration or defacement.
According to the Maine Criminal Code, “A person is guilty of desecration and defacement if he intentionally desecrates any public monument or structure, any place of worship or burial, or any private structure not owned by him.”
Jennifer Osborn
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