Matt Byrne

Portland Press Herald

Matt Byrne has covered crime and public safety for the Press Herald since 2016. It is his second beat since being hired at the Press Herald in late 2012, when he left the Boston Globe's suburban news bureau. Matt grew up outside Philadelphia, moved to Boston to attend Emerson College and now loves living in Maine. When he is not nerding out on court documents or listening to a police scanner, Matt loves to work on old cars, make things out of metal and try new craft beers. Offers to drive your race car, or news tips, are always welcome.

Latest

Published
June 21, 2016

Police arrest 2 in Southwest Harbor on heroin trafficking charges

Arrested and charged with heroin distribution were Andres Martinez of Hudson, N.H., and Ian Jellison, of Southwest Harbor.
Published
June 21, 2016

Dry spring makes southern Maine a hot spot for ground fires

Rainfall was well below normal, fueling the early arrival of burning that can start below the soil and be hard to put out.
Published
June 17, 2016

Fire destroys house in South Portland; 3 escape uninjured

Flames rip through the home on Crestview Drive, which was valued at more than $400,000.
Published
June 16, 2016

Search of Portland Harbor for missing Scarborough man to resume Friday

Police use an underwater robot, divers and side-scan sonar during a 10-hour search around Chandlers Wharf for Matthew Foster, 23, last seen June 10 at an Old Port nightclub.
Published
June 15, 2016

Police divers to resume search for missing Scarborough man today

Matthew Foster, 23, was last seen in the Old Port on Friday night, and police dogs have tracked him to the Chandlers Wharf area.
Published
June 15, 2016

Greenfield man charged with manslaughter in crash that killed brother

Penobscot County sheriff’s detectives charge 22-year-old Nicolas Spencer with manslaughter in the Feb. 24 crash in Milford.
Published
June 14, 2016

Excavator strikes Maine Turnpike overpass, causing $400,000 in damage

The excavator was being towed by a paving company dump truck when it damaged the steel structure in Scarborough.
Published
June 14, 2016

State Fire Marshal’s Office investigates massive fire at Topsham scrap metal business

Flames were not fully extinguished until around 4 a.m. Tuesday at Grimmel Industries, where a fire started about 6 p.m. Monday.
Published
June 13, 2016

Court: Maine educator who won $1 million must prove she is donating money

Nancie Atwell enters a guilty plea after being charged with shoplifting a blouse at Renys.
Published
June 9, 2016

CMP employees pull man from burning pickup in Bridgton

Not only do they help the trapped driver, they help clean up the downed power lines that started the fire.