Man refuses to sign ticket, hits two officers, Old Town police say

OLD TOWN, Maine — An Indian Island man who police say refused to sign a ticket and then elbowed one officer and hit a deputy while they were trying to handcuff him was arrested and charged with assault, Old Town police Capt. Kyle Smart said Friday.

Raymond Chavaree, 52, was charged around 10:35 p.m. on New Year’s Eve with assault, refusing to submit to arrest, refusing to sign a summons and improper passing of a police vehicle, the lieutenant said.

Chavaree originally was stopped on Stillwater Avenue by Officer Christine McAvoy after he drove by and nearly sideswiped Officer Lee Miller, who was conducting a traffic stop, Smart said.

“He immediately started yelling at her, saying she had no right to pull him over,” the lieutenant said of Chavaree. “She requested another unit because of the way he was acting.”

McAvoy explained to Chavaree why she stopped him, and “he said it was her fault. He said he works for the phone company and they have to put out cones. We should have to do the same thing.”

When the officer brought over the ticket for him to sign, Chavaree refused, even though he was warned repeatedly that he would be arrested if he didn’t. He assumed a fighting stance when he got out of his truck, Smart said.

“He told her to ‘Bring it on. You’re going to be sorry,’” the lieutenant said reading from the report.

Deputy Ray Goodspeed of the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department stopped by to help McAvoy. She was elbowed in the face while the two tried to restrain Chavaree. Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Paridy, who was off duty, and Miller then showed up, and Paridy also was hit by Chavaree in the struggle, Smart said.

The four officers “were able to get him secured in two sets of handcuffs,” Smart said.

Chavaree was placed in the back of McAvoy’s cruiser, and she took him to the Penobscot County Jail in Bangor. Neither McAvoy nor Paridy required medical attention.