BANGOR, Maine — A routine drunken driving stop Sunday night turned into something more when the passenger in the vehicle began arguing with police, Bangor police Sgt. Paul Edwards said Monday.
The passenger, Perry Thornley, 46, of Bangor, “became irate” after Newman Brooks, 34 of Millinocket was arrested at around 6:30 p.m. for operating under the influence of intoxicants, the sergeant said.
Thornley was asked to calm down and, after repeated warnings, was arrested for disorderly conduct, Edwards said.
“He actually had to be subdued with pepper spray,” the sergeant said.
Afterward, Thornley also was charged with refusing to submit to arrest.
The van, operated by Brooks, was initially stopped because Brooks was driving too close to another vehicle, Edwards said. Brooks, who has two prior OUI convictions on his driving record, was charged with Class C felony operating under the influence after he failed a field sobriety test given by Officer Jamie Fanning.
He also was charged with operating beyond license restrictions, namely consuming alcohol and getting behind the wheel, Edwards said.
Thornley has a lengthy criminal history, according to court listings printed in the Bangor Daily News.
Since October 2009, he has had three convictions for disorderly conduct, four criminal trespassing convictions, four convictions for violating his conditions of release and a conviction for theft by unauthorized taking.
In addition to his drunken driving convictions, Brooks also was convicted of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer and theft of services in the last two years, the court listings state.
Both men were taken to the Penobscot County Jail after their arrests Sunday and remained there Monday afternoon, a jail official said.