BANGOR, Maine — A local man was arrested late Saturday night after punching a police officer in the face and running away, Bangor police Sgt. Paul Edwards said.
Perry J. Newell Jr., 22, of Bangor was fighting another man outside Dunkin’ Donuts on Main Street at about 10:40 p.m. during a Bangor Waterfront concert. When Bangor police Officer David Farrar arrived at the scene, a person yelled, “Someone has a gun,” the sergeant said.
Farrar identified Newell as a participant in the fight, and when he approached him, Newell stood with clenched fists, the sergeant said.
“He took a couple swings at the officer, and he missed the first time, but he punched him in the side of the head [the second time.]” Edwards said. “Then he took off running.”
After police found Newell hiding in some grass near the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, he took off again and was caught on First Street, the sergeant said. Newell was arrested on charges of assault, disorderly conduct, violation of bail conditions and refusal to submit to arrest.
Newell was taken to the Penobscot County Jail and remained there on Tuesday, jail officials said.
Officer Farrar did not need any medical attention, and he continued to work that night, Edwards said. (Dylan Martin, BDN)
Wow. The year is halfway over, and I think we can all agree that this upstanding young citizen has probably earned the Bonehead of the Year Award. Unbelievable!
If I was officer Farrar, the punk wouldn’t have got close enough to me to punch me in the side of the head. He would have, at the very least, been zapped with my stun gun and maybe even inherited a bullet in his leg.
If I’m shooting someone it’s not going to be in the leg. I was defending myself.
and it wouldn’t be with a taser, either.
I don’t think deadly force would have been appropriate here… Maybe some pepper spray or a taser would have have brought that dude down a notch or two though :)
Yeah…because when someone punches you, your first reaction should be to shoot them…let me know how that works for you when you are standing in front of a judge. P.S. this isn’t a television show. An officer is only justified in using deadly force (a gun is deadly force fyi) when:
Title 17-A §107
A law enforcement officer is justified in using deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes such force is necessary:
A. For self-defense or to defend a 3rd person from what the officer reasonably believes is the imminent use of unlawful deadly force; or [2007, c. 173, §23 (AMD).]
B. To effect an arrest or prevent the escape from arrest of a person when the law enforcement officer reasonably believes that the person has committed a crime involving the use or threatened use of deadly force, is using a dangerous weapon in attempting to escape or otherwise indicates that the person is likely to endanger seriously human life or to inflict serious bodily injury unless apprehended without delay; and
(1) The law enforcement officer has made reasonable efforts to advise the person that the officer is a law enforcement officer attempting to effect an arrest or prevent the escape from arrest and the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the person is aware of this advice; or
(2) The law enforcement officer reasonably believes that the person to be arrested otherwise knows that the officer is a law enforcement officer attempting to effect an arrest or prevent the escape from arrest.
For purposes of this paragraph, “a reasonable belief that another has committed a crime involving use or threatened use of deadly force” means such reasonable belief in facts, circumstances and the law that, if true, would constitute such an offense by that person. If the facts and circumstances reasonably believed would not constitute such an offense, an erroneous but reasonable belief that the law is otherwise justifies the use of deadly force to make an arrest or prevent an escape.
A lesson in law for you :) You’re welcome.
Batons, stun guns , pepper spray, computers, cameras and high powered guns…
Modern technology at the ready.
And an old fashioned haymaker from “down cellar” almost downs the officer?
Old skool still rules , at times.
Glad the officer was able to continue his shift.
To Protect and To Serve.
The officer then chased him and was the one who apprehended him.
Only 10 minutes after the hit-n-run? Same location, pretty much. Must have been a SERIOUS mob-scene.
Good job Officer Farrar. To bad Mr. Newell’s head didn’t bounce off the pavement a few times.(Wink).
What was in the water around 20 something years ago? All these thug wannabes running around. I don’t get it.
Stupid move.. He is lucky he didn’t get shot.
How do you deal with stupid people, there is no pill for it.. I guess we could send him to Georgia via bus.
No mental hospital for a loss of rights, and to get an evaluation?
Sorry, met someone hospitalized for similar acts towards police officers. Funny guy. Hope, or sad that it might take a handful of drugs to keep him from being an aggressor and off of bridges.
The restraint shown by Officer Farrar and other Bangor PD officers whilst under duress during this current wave of lunacy, typifies top drawer professionalism displayed by the Bangor Police Department.
Glad Newell remained in Jail. Our laws need to be changed so that belligerents such a Newell are held without bail until the next session of district court.
What’s going through these kids heads? Assaulting a police officer? Where does this anarchy end, in the death of one of our fine officers? I sincerely hope the judge, makes an example of this trouble making punk and gives him the appropriate punishment, for such irresponsible and immature actions.
4 of us was right there…. We came from the concert and was walking towards D.D. and then the crowd went by us and someone said “There is going to be a fight”. I looked and then I saw the 2 guys arguing and that’s it. The young guy (Perry J. Newell) that got arrested never touched the older guy. Some other young guy came in and pushed the guy and then Perry J. Newell pulled him back and said something to him and then he stood behind him then he took off his coat. (Like he was ready to fight.) While the 2 kept arguing. About 30 seconds after this happened the police officer showed up. He asked me where the fight was. I pointed and said right there and they are arguing right now. So the only fight was between the police officer and Perry J. Newell. I do not know Perry or the officer. So I’m not sticking up for either of them. Just telling you what I saw. There was no fight going on. Another minute or 2 I would guess there would of been. And I never heard someone yelling someone has a gun. And I just asked someone that was with us and she never heard that also. Not sure why the story got twisted?? Just saying what I saw and heard. If Perry would of just corporated I would think he would of stayed out of jail. Because he never touched the other guy WHILE we were standing there. And for some of you I do like police officers… I know some of them. And I have never been to jail. So I know them outside of their job..