WASHINGTON, Maine — A man high on bath salts was Tased six times, pepper sprayed twice and kneed in the gut before police were able to arrest him Tuesday. He would have been at court Wednesday, but the Knox County Jail was keeping him in restraints, according to court clerks.
Tony Bartlett, 21, of Washington was holding his baby in a strange standoff Tuesday before being arrested for assault on an officer, endangering the welfare of a child, obstructing government administration, refusing to submit to arrest and disorderly conduct.
Bartlett’s girlfriend called in a complaint of a domestic dispute involving her, Bartlett and the 6-month-old baby boy, according to a police report filed in Knox County Superior Court on Wednesday by Knox County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Michael Sprague. Details about that complaint were not revealed.
When Sprague arrived at the Washington home, Bartlett’s dad allowed the officer inside. Bartlett then came out, the baby in his arms, and demanded the officer leave. He also blocked his girlfriend from leaving the home.
Sprague told Bartlett that he needed to let his girlfriend leave the home so that Sprague could investigate the complaint and the woman was freed. But on her way out, Bartlett slammed the door on the police officer’s foot.
“I turned to Tony and told him to give the baby to somebody else and that he was under arrest,” Sprague wrote.
Instead, Bartlett tightened his grip on the baby. This caused the baby to scream and cry “as though it was in pain and scared,” Sprague wrote in his report.
Because Bartlett wouldn’t give up the baby and seemed to be hurting him, Sprague kneed him in the stomach while Bartlett’s own father grabbed the baby boy. Bartlett continued to fight, so Sprague pepper sprayed him. When that didn’t work, Sprague Tased Bartlett four times — until the Taser wires broke. Sprague reloaded a new Taser cartridge and stunned Bartlett again. When Bartlett continued to resist, Sprague again sprayed him in the eyes with pepper spray. Then Sprague used his stun gun directly on Bartlett’s skin.
“I realized pain compliance was NOT working,” Sprague wrote in the court documents.
Bartlett’s father helped the police officer subdue Bartlett until more police came and arrested him and brought him to a nearby hospital, where he confessed he was high on bath salts, a synthetic drug.
“Tony apologized to me and told me that he was sorry for doing what he did and felt bad. He knew he needed help,” Sprague wrote, concluding his report.
Obstructing government administration? This whole thing sounds strange.
I saw that too..What the hell does that mean? Looks like I have a few phone calls to make tomorrow!
The officer was trying to investigate what was happening at the residence. The offender obstructed the officer (government administration) by refusing his requests and then slamming the door on his foot. More common charge than you would think.
Sounds like something they can charge poor people with but any lawyer who didn’t spend law school doing keg stands could crush like a bug.
Actually more common charge with people who are well off and think they are above the law. It’s written in the books so doesn’t matter how much lawyering you do, the charge sticks.
OK, keep believing that.
Well, there are those of us who see it first hand and don’t need news papers with limited information to base our biases on.
sounds like the officer used the “slammed the door on my foot” gag to move directly to go to jail.
If a cop asks you a question and you tell him to mind his own business you are obstructing government administration. One of those laws that makes an end run around your civil rights.
Depends on what the question is I guess, I have no problem with a cop asking for my identification. I do have a problem if they ask where I’m going if I’m pulled over.
§751. Obstructing government administration
1. A person is guilty of obstructing government administration if the person intentionally interferes by force, violence or intimidation or by any physical act with a public servant performing or purporting to perform an official function.
Thanks for looking up the statute. I guess the cop that I questioned lied to me. I asked why he was giving my friend who was not commiting a crime such a hard time and he replied that I should keep my nose out of it or be arested for obstruction.
Maybe he lied, maybe he didn’t, I wasn’t there. But I would say that the last part was good advice. “In the moment” is never the time to be injecting yourself into a police matter. If they do something wrong, just sit back, keep your mouth shut and you and a couple of lawyers will cash in on it later. You know what they say…he who laughs last…
Probably good advice but I am not the cashing in kind. I would much prefer that my rights are respected. My attitude toward him was not disrespectful “please” and “sir” etc. I don’t think it is unreasonable to expect the same.
These bath salts seem harmless. People should continue to take them without concern. What the hell is wrong with people that continue to take this crap?
Ready? Que the “tasers and pepper spray are bad” people.
I’m all in favor of the officers actions using the taser and pepper spray.
the guy should feel lucky,
If it was one of the town pd’s that responded they would have just shot him.
The police did the right thing and handled it properly.
Poor baby is all I can say.
This story reads much better if you play “Dueling Banjos” in the background.
Kudos to this guys dad! He didnt look the other way and pretend like nothing was wrong like many parents do. He helped by grabbing his grandson and taking him to safety while the officers took his own kid into custody!! I feel for him, must not be easy to see you own kid being pounded on like he was but he did the right thing and protected the baby…thats the main thing!!! Good job Dad!!!
Tasered six times = pepper sprayed two times = kneed in the gut = pig pile on suspect = arrested = Crazy!
That stuff is utter poison.
They are crazy when on that crap,
One of these losers is going to go in the wrong house and die of lead poisoning. It is inevitable.
The police are up against a terrible thing and it has only begun.
NO HUGS FOR THUGS!!~
way to go pops!
Its a wonder the cops didnt shoot him Cops shoot people for a lot less
In Maine they really do refrain from shooting when they could.
According to study after study in this state, the police use deadly force LONG after they are legally and morally justified to do so… Go spout your ignorance somewhere else.
Once the child was out of the way, they should have shot him. Start getting tough with these idiots.
They should shoot for a lot more!!
Bath salts are Back!…….YES!!!!
The dealers are not held until trial. Revolving Door Syndrome of our Courts. Arrest/Book/Bail/Release, rinse and repeat.
Serious restraint used by that officer. If my taser isn’t working after a couple of tries it’s time to up the ante. If he had been able to get that officer’s gun then the consequences would have been awful.
Based on one news article, from bdn..you condemn someone?
No, but really. Doing this junk while holding (or even being remotely near) a baby? He could have easily snapped and killed that child. Easily. Was he actually doing bath salts?
If not, does he have a psych history?
Keep that in mind. This isn’t a little weed that he smokes, giggles, overeats and then naps after taking. This stuff is pure poison and is twice as bad as even Angel Dust is. People have been known to nail their feet to the pavement (and to do other ridiculously crazy things) while taking this stuff for crying out loud. He would either have to be living under a rock, or functually brain dead to not know what 10 kinds of misery this drug can cause. Enlighten us please. What could have possibly caused him to take it in the first place?
He really is lucky that the cops didn’t put a bullet in him. Kudos to the cops who have to deal with these kinds of horrors on a daily basis.
I hope your friend gets some real help before he either kills himself or someone else.
What causes anyone to take this stuff?
It will never cease to amaze me what people will do to escape reality. Never.
It makes me wonder what kind of crud will be invented to eventually replace it – because it’s a given that something else will come down the pike sadly.
No, Tony is a loved member of this community, and a close friend! He was not an addict, and their son was WELL taken care of! I don’t see how so many people can condemn someone based on one news article, it’s astounding their complete trust in the media!
Another outstanding individual who is misunderstood. Much like the armed robber they caught yesterday. I’m sure he’ll be even more loved by the community after this incident.
Also bath salts are not an entry drug. It’s not like this is the first time/first drug he’s ever taken, stop making excuses.
Let’s see, here; under the influence of bath salts (which I’m sure he knows is illegal), domestic assault, assault on an officer, endangering the welfare of a child, obstructing government administration, refusing to submit to arrest and disorderly conduct. What a fine, upstanding role model HE is. Furthermore, I don’t call squeezing a 6 month old baby to a point where he’s crying “well taken care of,” and I’m sure the DHHS would be inclined to agree.
A “loved member of his community?” “Bubba” will also like him in his new community at Maine state prison. As other posters have mentioned, kudos to his father for having done the right thing, and to Sgt. Sprague for handling the situation in the manner that he did.
Because we have met so many of them. Because we are tired of the excuses. We are tired of the enabling by people who want to make excuses.
You’ve got to be kidding! But then again some people thought Jeffery Dahmer was a good boy and he didn’t mean to eat those people!
Another “PRIZE” for those pushing the crap. When are they going to be put away?
He said he was sorry.
My guess would be that the only reason he’s sorry is that he got caught (like most others that get arrested). By his saying he’s sorry, his lawyer will now be able to tell the judge “He showed remorse, your honor.”
he is such a goood boy !
Here is an example of why this state is a mess. Do you know how much this losers is going to cost us taxpayers?
Another salty cracker
Feeling a total disconnect here – this just is not the person we know. Can’t understand it as it is so unlike him, truly. Totally flies in the face of everything we have ever known of him. Not making excuses, just can’t understand what or why and now so many hearts are broken. Glad the baby’s mom called for help and that the dad helped the officers.
I think the person you thought you knew has been a druggie for some time. Most people would not turn to this dangerous drug as a first time user. You might want to rethink how you see people.
Now that’s an interesting concept – “pain compliance”. Never heard it quite put that way. Instead of just Tase me bro, this is one better. Tase me bro – Reloaded. TV’s “Cops” show needs to come up to our area to tape some of this bath salt insanity. Tasers reloaded, pepper spray that doesn’t work, destroyed ER’s…
All I want for Christmas is a Bath Salts story, a Bath Salts story, a Bath Salts story.
Personally i think if it take sa pounding to subdue someone on Bath Salts then so be it. This drug needs to end. Pl know the side effects and keep right on doing it. Maybe a daily journal of whats this drug is all about needs ot be published daily. my kudos to the Bangor police Department for doing there job. If i found out someone was pushing that to my children they better pray fast and furious the police reach them before me.
Don’t Tase me again bro! x 6 hahahahahah
Don’t ever allow this sick individual around his baby or any baby ever again.
I bet a little wooden shampoo would of been just what the Dr. ordered… Hit him on top of the skull with a billy club and he will stop….
A .45 would stop him no matter what he is on.
I always thought the point of doing drugs was that is was fun, pleasurable, relaxing, what have you. Everything I read about bath salts is the complete opposite. Why would anyone voluntarily want to feel crazed, terrified, and/or panicked? Where’s the fun in that? Why would you pay money for that?
This is just so sad all the way around.
A link to a presentation from the Down East Emergency Medicine institute on
Bath Salts. History, Effects, Clinical Presentation and Treatment. For Police,
Fire, EMS, Physicians and nurses. Informational and free to share with
others
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAc6j0df4pE
Doc Bowie
I grew up with Tony and it truly saddens me to see this. I cant defend his actions and Im actually kinda mad he put his gf & kid through this. Some of these comments are uncalled for though. This behaviour isnt in his nature at all. You would never EVER find him doing this sober. Bath salts are ultimately to blame for this. Helluva drug. Damn he looks horrible in that mug shot too.. Looks like he’s been at it a while. Too bad.. :(