21st birthday celebration leads to assault charges for woman

BELFAST, Maine — A young woman who began Saturday night by celebrating her 21st birthday in Bangor ended it in jail in Belfast after police arrested her for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend.

Cristin Harvey of Belfast had gone to Bangor with her boyfriend, but the two began arguing on the way home, according to a report from the Belfast Police Department.

A designated driver stopped the car in Frankfort early Sunday morning after Harvey allegedly was punching the victim, who was sitting in front of her.

Harvey got out, and managed to get a ride back to Belfast, where the fight apparently continued. She scratched her boyfriend’s face and neck, police said. The victim called 911 but did not speak to the dispatcher, who said that if the person needed help he or she should press a button. He did, according to police.

When officers went to the residence, Harvey, who looked as if she had been crying and had a black eye, came to the door. Police interviewed both people separately, and although the boyfriend initially did not want to tell police what had happened, he did eventually. He had scratch marks on his face and neck.

Harvey told police that she knew she’d hit, scratched and maybe bit her boyfriend, but after that she blacked out and didn’t know how she’d gotten the black eye.

She was taken to Waldo County Jail in Belfast, where she was charged with domestic violence assault. She was released later Sunday on $100 unsecured bail.

The boyfriend was not charged in relation to the incident.