Cumberland town council chair charged with OUI
Cumberland Council Chair Arrested on Labor Day for Operating Under the Influence
Yarmouth, Maine – The Chair of the Cumberland Town Council, Michael Edes, was taken into custody by the Yarmouth Police Department on Labor Day evening for a charge of operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Police reported the arrest took place at approximately 10:20 p.m. on September 7, 2026.
Edes, 67, who has long served the town in public office, was arrested after a routine traffic stop in Yarmouth. During processing at the police department, the officer declined a breath, blood, or urine test for blood‑alcohol concentration. As a result, he was charged with operating under influence (OUI) and was issued a summons to appear in court in October.
“The Yarmouth Police Department arrested Michael Edes at about 10:20 p.m. on September 7,” said Chief David Gallant in a statement to the press. “He was charged with operating under the influence and is now facing a summons.”
Edes’s legal counsel, Jon Goodman, confirmed the OUI charge but disputed the circumstances. In an email to reporters, Goodman said, “Mike absolutely did not operate any vehicle while under the influence, however, and he looks forward to the opportunity to share his side of the story in court.”
The council chair has been a prominent figure in local and state policing circles. A former Cumberland and Scarborough police officer for 28 years, Edes served as president of the Maine State Trooper’s Association from 1998 until 2014. He currently serves as executive director of the Maine Fraternal Order of Police. In 2025, he was elected to his present three‑year term on the Cumberland Town Council, representing the town at-large. In July of this year, the council named him chair of the board.
At the time of the arrest, Edes could not be reached for comment. The case will be heard in court in October, where he and his attorney will have the chance to present their defense.
The incident comes amid a busy Labor Day weekend, with many residents and officials engaged in community celebrations. It will be one of the first significant legal matters involving a high‑profile local official in the current year.
