NEWPORT, Maine — A Bangor man was arrested Tuesday evening after what Newport Police Chief Leonard Macdaid called a “bizarre” series of events.
Louis Pisaniello, 50, faces a number of charges, including operating under the influence and felony assault on an officer.
Dana Gatcomb, who is a Dexter police officer and part-time Newport officer, was outside with his fiancee and her parents at his home on Route 222 at about 6 p.m. Tuesday when an SUV pulled out across the street, said Macdaid.
“[Pisaniello] was driving around in the [crop] fields,” said Macdaid.
According to Macdaid, the man stopped in front of Gatcomb’s home and did a burnout with his vehicle for 20 feet and drove west down Route 222.
“[Pisaniello] goes about a mile down the road, turns around and drives about 70 mph [back toward Gatcomb’s residence], slammed on his brakes and parks in the middle of the road, jumps out and runs across the street to pick a fight with [Gatcomb’s fiancee’s] father,” said Macdaid. “[Pisaniello] said to him, ‘You have a problem with me?’”
At that point, Gatcomb identified himself as a police officer and told Pisaniello to leave the property, said Macdaid. Gatcomb told his fiancee to go into the house to call 911 and get his handcuffs.
“He starts pushing the father around some more and it escalates with the officer,” said Macdaid.
The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department, Dexter police and Newport police Sgt. Sanger Davis responded to the incident.
Pisaniello was charged with OUI, felony assault of an officer, refusal to sign a summons and trespassing. Macdaid said a Breathalyzer test revealed that Pisaniello was three times over the legal alcohol limit.
“I’m happy it was a police officer’s home. Thank God it wasn’t a regular citizen. [Pisaniello] didn’t care who it was,” Macdaid said. “I commend [Gatcomb’s] girlfriend for running in and calling [911] and getting the handcuffs. Many would’ve panicked, but she did great.”
Pisaniello was taken to Penobscot County Jail in Bangor, where he remained on Wednesday afternoon.
This guy needs a lot of help.
Yahoo! Mountain Dew!
isn’t he a little old for such juvenile behavior?
Jail is the appropriate place for that guy.
now i’ve done some crazy s#*t but wow
glad everybody’s o.k
he’s lucky gatcomb didn’t ask the girlfriend to get his gun
Can’t fix “STUPID”
i understand what this guy did was wrong, but this officer was not in uniform, was not working. so just because he said he was a cop and got hit the guy gets a felony for assaulting an officer? a little rediculous to me
He identified himself as an officer that is all he needed.
guy burning rubber-not rediculous.
guy doing 70 mph back towards the house and slamming on brakes- not rediculous.
guy picking fight with family-not rediculous.
Guy assaults off duty officer (who identified himself) and gets charged with it-and you find it REDICULOUS…..please, get me a tissue for this poor guy.
A police officer is considered on duty all the time. If he or she witnesses a crim ena didentify themselves and takes action then they are in effect on duty.
another jack wagon on the loose book em danno!!!
Weathers good, day trip.
Sounds like another substance was involved. Or Louie Louie was VERY ****faced…