BANGOR, Maine — Members of the police department’s Special Enforcement Team noticed two men arguing with a third man behind Leadbetter Mini Stop on Hammond Street on Wednesday night and wound up arresting two of the three.
“They could see three individuals having a disagreement … [and] it seemed like they were going to have a fight,” Bangor police Sgt. Paul Edwards said Thursday.
When members of the team arrived about 5:35 p.m., they discovered that one man, Matthew Strout, 31, of Bangor, had a spring-loaded knife and that Michael Ralston, 28, also of Bangor, was violating a criminal trespass warning by being at the convenience store.
Strout was arrested and charged with trafficking in dangerous knives and Ralston was charged with criminal trespassing and violating his bail conditions.
Both were taken to the Penobscot County Jail and remained there Thursday afternoon. Wednesday’s arrest was Ralston’s second brush with the law this month. He was arrested and charged with misuse of 911 on July 7 after reportedly calling 911 at least twice in the absence of an actual emergency, the second time using profanity, Edwards said at the time.
Earlier this year, Ralston was sentenced to 60 days in jail for a theft conviction and last year he was convicted of two counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief and sentenced to 75 days in jail and a $600 fine, according to court listings printed in the Bangor Daily News.
Strout was sent to jail for 15 days when he was convicted in September 2011 for theft by unauthorized taking or transfer. He also has prior convictions for criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, theft, unlawful possession of a scheduled drug, possessing marijuana, sale and use of drug paraphernalia, and false public alarm or report, the BDN listing state.
Cue the commenters who think picking up scofflaws for bail violations is somehow not an appropriate use of the police department’s time…
They should just leave someone on patrol 24/7 at the Leadbetter’s. That side of town is scary.
Just because it is on the corner of Ohio St…..what could go wrong?
I tell my girlfriend that all the time. “if I was a cop, i would just sit there all day, between the gems that hang out there and the people running the red light, I would have my quota in no time”
After living in East St. Louis, NOTHING in Maine is “scary”.
There must be something in the water in Bangor.
Almost every day, there’s a story about two men fighting (or about to fight) in a parking lot.
When they get that syrup in them, they get all antsy in their pantsy…
hahahahahah. i know where that came from.
What gets me is the absolutely unending supply of white, male 20-somethings that look so natural in a mug shot.
I’m sure if you travel to larger cities, the mugs shots are a bit more diverse if you will. But yes, plenty of what you describe around here.
r u serious
The lesson here is not to have a disagreement. The police feel it is their duty to get in the middle of it. Keep your emotions in check and roll over and take it when some one screws you over.
Give them all a Louisville Slugger, and let them have at it. Problem gone in no time.
Umm? Yeah it is part of the job description to keep the peace and to prevent physical altercations. Obviously a good fight has its place but when its in a public parking lot thats when it changes..
Just look at them, they belong in jail, all that is missing is the neck tat! Should just let the fight it out , maybe they would just do each other in