BANGOR, Maine — A local transient who was carrying a large machete in his belt while walking around the American Folk Festival on Saturday afternoon was arrested, but not without a struggle, Bangor police Sgt. Paul Edwards said Monday.
“He had a machete — a 3- to 4-foot machete,” the sergeant said. “It was scaring patrons. We had several calls.”
Several police officers on patrol at the Folk Festival responded to remove David Tenney, 22, at about 5 p.m. Saturday. A witness said he repeatedly yelled, “I’m allowed to have a weapon,” as police took him away.
It turned out Tenney was right. A judge Wednesday signed an order to modify Tenney’s bail conditions to allow him to have weapons, Superior Court Justice Ann Murray said Monday when Tenney made his first appearance on the new charges. That change apparently did not make it into the computer at the Penobscot Judicial Center before police spotted Tenney on Saturday.
Murray set bail on the new charges at $75 cash.
Tenney was charged with disorderly conduct and two counts of violating his bail conditions. He was out on bail for carrying two knives into a Bangor pharmacy in July.
After learning Tenney’s bail conditions had been amended, Tracy Lacher, assistant district attorney for Penobscot County, dismissed the bail violation count that pertained to the machete. The second bail violation charge, which is related to the disorderly conduct allegation, remains, the prosecutor said after Tenney’s court appearance.
During the July incident, Tenney was charged with disorderly conduct and refusing to submit to arrest after he walked into Eastern Maine Healthcare Mall Pharmacy with two large knives on either side of his belt and refused to remove them. Tenney ignored the security personnel’s request, and the officer hit the alarm, calling police. When Officer Tim Shaw and Sgt. Jim Buckley arrived on scene, “Tenney became upset, then began to yell obscenities, was uncooperative and had to be restrained by both officers,” Edwards has said.
Officer Jason Linkletter and Lt. Steve Hunt, who was off duty and was in the area, also aided in subduing Tenney during the July incident, the sergeant said. Shaw suffered minor injuries in the scuffle and was treated at Eastern Maine Medical Center. Tenney also was taken to EMMC for a medical evaluation, and was charged upon his release.
Tenney remained Monday night at the Penobscot County Jail unable to make bail.
BDN reporter Ryan McLaughlin contributed to this story.
I always carry a machete around with me to festivals, is that odd?
There is help, machete anonymous.
In neither incident were the weapons hidden or any threats made. Where were there any violations of the law?
VIOLATION OF BAIL CONDITION. read the article.
Bail conditions stemming from an illegal arrest. It is not illegal to carry knives unconcealed. What happened is he asserted his rights, they didn’t like it so they continued to berate him until he became upset and they charge him with disorderly conduct and resisting.
Maybe you should have read less and thought more?
Um, he was already upset over not being let into the pharmacy. The pharmacy does not have to let him in with the knifes. No violation of rights there. The police didn’t arrest him for the knifes they arrested him for making a big fool of himself and disrupting the public. I was there. Maybe you should become a cop, you are already an internet lawyer, you can go around telling people it’s their right to threaten people . If you are so concerned about his rights invite him over for dinner and give him a warm bed. I’m sure you will enjoy his company.
I never said anyone had the right to threaten anyone else. Not sure how you came to that conclusion, maybe you should re-read my comment. And, despite what you might believe, people have the right to bear arms. This includes knives. There is no law that says you cannot have a knife in a pharmacy. I have worn my knife into a pharmacy many, many times. I have wore it to the mall, the fair, walmart, Six Flags, where-ever. I have been asked to disarm only once. I politely declined and stated my reasons for doing so. I was not arrested.
Well, I was not there, so I have no idea what happened. If he was upset because they refused him entry, then I would say his frustration was justified. However, if he made a fool of himself, then he took it too far.
I am not concerned about his rights at all. I am concerned about mine. If you can stop one person from openly carrying a knife, why not stop everyone?
Doesn’t matter. If you are going into private property you have no right. If you won’t remove it, leave. As a customer I am glad they have such good policy. I am not intersted in your rights or anyone else’s when someone that talks to the picture on the wall and ticks a few times while walking up on you stating/ranting that they couldn’t get their refill today because of the ******* state won’t pay.
Another example of someone touting a document (the constitution) when they know absolutely nothing about it.
The right to free-speech, bear arms, etc does NOT apply on private property. You do NOT get to exercise those rights unless you are in your own home or on public property.
The pharmacy had every right to tell him to get lost. They didn’t even need a specific reason.
Try reading that thing before you pretend to be an expert.
Read much? How could you get so confused?
I’m not sure I understand your comment…can you elaborate just a bit ?
And you just proved my point! Wow!
Ah, after I have read the other comments you have left on here, I get it. You are a troll…good luck with that. I’m not playing .
so if you go to the federal building and they ask you to empty your pockets and go through a metal detector your not going to do it? i didn’t say you couldn’t carry a knife. but if you go through any kind of security and they dont want to permit you with knives on your person, they dont have to. he made a stink about it and thats why he was thrown in jail. who needs 2 knives on them anyway much less a machete . A normal person would have took the knives off and not got himself thrown in jail. save the knives for the woods. not a pharmacy. in all do respect maybe you should think a little more.
Equating carrying a knife into a pharmacy or the folk festively to carrying one into the federal building is absurd. Do less.
the point was no matter where you are if security asks you to not bring the items in simply don’t bring them in. what do you need knives for in a pharmacy? He could have saved himself from being arrested therefore he wouldn’t have had bail conditions. Maybe he wouldn’t have been arrested for the machete. sounds like this guys mouth is his biggest weapon. people need to learn to keep there mouth shut to keep themselves out of jail. its not like he was walking into a rite aid . it was eastern maine health care mall. do you think they would let you walk into emmc with two knives on your hip? i doubt it.
While the type of knife may be inappropriate for the job, how about opening the packaging of the product purchased?
What would you like the bearer of a legally carried weapon do? leave it unattended in the street? I can just see that happening and some deranged individual using it to kill innocents.
So people should not do things that they are legally allowed to do to avoid being hassled by the “legal” system. Isn’t that one of the signs of tyranny? Shouldn’t we be unwilling to allow tryanny to fester in this country?
Some how I think that those involved with the Occupy protests, and the tea party movements too, would find it outrageous to hear someone tell them to “learn to keep there mouth shut to keep themselves out of jail”.
Maybe you should look in the mirror when you say that.
Um, okay Larry, go get a machete at the Walmart or Tractor Supply, than go out in the parking lot, affix it to your belt, and start walking around like a honyack. I bet it doesn’t take too long for a car with blue lights on the top to come and ask you how stupid you are to be walking around with a machete on your belt…
Big Brother is watching!
I’m with you. The constitution says the right to bear ARMS shall not be infringed. Not just firearms.
The police have used their “discretion” and both vague and unconstitutional laws to arrest citizens who are doing nothing more than asserting his constitutional rights. Police now commonly use their “discretion” to charge people for having concealed weapons if they have a knife in their pocket or even in their car. So now you can’t win either way. Have a knife in your pocket get arrested for a concealed weapons charge. Carry it openly and get charged with disturbing the peace because some liberal weenie is “scared”.
It’s time the judges did their job and in these cases throw out ALL related charges to the illegal arrest and rip the police a new one over their misuse of their “discretion.
The police have the duty to investigate a complaint. That means they should approach the individual with the weapon and determine if they are a threat to anyone or have made threats with the weapon. Then they should go up to the liberal weenie and tell them that the individual they are afraid of is not breaking any laws and it’s time for them to get over their fear.
what the heck? bangor?
what’s up with all the transients?
it’s not like it’s easy to get to bangor as it is.
yeah if i was homeless this is the last place i would come .bit chilly. save up for a bus ticket to florida thats what i would do . heck you could get that in a day standing at the entrance to walmart. just sayin.
Where are all the transients coming from? Most people wouldn’t know where Bangor, Maine is if they are from out of state.
its because its so easy to get on welfare in this state. i think there is a banner on the bridge now.
you are so right, we put out so many benefits for people coming into Maine, that we do not have enough money for our hard working people here. It is so discouraging and disgusted when, every day I see people that have come here from all over and within a couple of months have so much in hand outs!
LMAO, there is it says “Welcome to Maine, Vacationland, the way life should be… Welfare information available at all rest areas”
There are kickbacks that Bangor accepts from other places to get transients bussed up here. I’m not kidding. It sucks for us locals holding jobs and paying taxes for them to cause all sorts of problems. Did you know that you only have to be in Maine for 3 DAYS to get welfare? Ridiculous.
“Service City”
Sounds like Mr. Tenney is pushing the envelope a little bit…..or is just a slow learner…..either way, this is why I always conceal my 3 & 4 foot long machetes when carrying out in public……
Hahaha, do you have a “CMP”? Is it considered an assault Machete?
Down your pants? Makes walking a little stiff-legged, doesn’t it? Maybe he was planning to help slice and dice some bloomin’ onions.
Excuse me, is that a machete in your pants or are you glad to see me,….
My nickname is stumpy…..
This guy David was carrying a machete and didn’t even know that it only become a weapon if he has intent on using it against someone…. also I have never seen a 3 to 4 foot machete. Something that large would be dragging on the ground and would take 2 hands to swing. LOL…
another perfect reason for mandatory military tour for all 18 yr olds… all of em!. 4 yrs seeeeeya..
so.. what about college?
Because college is working out for all the Walmart floor help that have masters degrees. A trade is what a person needs now. Everyone has college degrees, they are the new high school diploma. Besides, after 4 years in and sometimes even after boot camp, you can go to school. Best part, it is paid for now.
You just have to get the right degree.. The Military isn’t for everyone.
In this case the implied is the military for minor criminals, as a choice to a jail term. In my own life ( I am 40 ), I know of three men that were given that choice back in late 70’s. It worked out beautiful for them. All 3 made it a career and spent 20+ years. You couldn’t do that now days but it had a purpose and it helped turn a lot of young would be criminals around.
Yeah! Why piddle around with knives and machetes when you could be learnin lockin n loadin!
good idea but todays military you actually have to have some brains . its not like ww2 or other wars where you just gotta pull a trigger. and hope you make it home. today you gotta pass all these test and everything and get certain scores to enlist. i didnt score high enough on the A.S.V.A .B to get in the marines like i wanted to.
Not surprised. You don’t “pull” a trigger. And, where d’ya get the idea to brand WWII “and other ware vets” as dumb?
No. Not surprised the Marines rejected you.
Your knowledge of wars and warfare is apathetic. Your simplistic evaluation that “pulling a trigger” was the saving grace of all veterans in WWII., Korea, ‘Nam, and the current entanglements, is ludicrous.
Think about it.
I wasn’t implying that WWII or any war vets were dumb. my father was in WWII , Nam and korea and he was an intelligent man. I was simply saying you can’t just go down to your local recruiter and enlist like back in those days . today you have to take tests and have a diploma or a g.e.d . so the idea of sending all 18 year olds to a 4 year tour is far fetched. sorry if i offended you lighten up. im sure there are a lot of people that didn’t do well in school that would love to join up and be a grunt my self included but thats not how it works these days. im past the age anyway lol.
BANGOR, Maine — A local transient who was carrying a large machete in his belt while walking around the American Fork Festival…………So we had a Fork Festival in Bangor as well as the FOLK Festival?
Yes, and a good tine was had by all.
“American Fork Festival” Maybe he was looking for a really big steak and brought his own really big knife?
LOLOL
transient timebomb
Seriously 3 to 4 feet? That’s a BIG FREAKIN KNIFE man. I call BS on that, probably no more than 24″ tops. And the FORK festival? This rag is turning into the world weekly news I swear.
i agree with you on the size. show me a picture of this MACHETE! sounds like over exaggeration. it would have been down to his ankle…..a sword!
Don’t worry too much about the transients, as winter is coming and they will all travel south to other tramp/criminal-friendly cities.
My dad used to tell me if an event is free-stay away from it. Charge $50.00 for a three day pass as they should and this guy would not have been there.
You know, there were also a lot of disabled people there, minding their own business and having a great time who also would not have been there if there were a $50 charge. This would have been a shame. For the most part, the festival went well and there were comparitively few problems compared to what it might have been in a city like New York, Boston, New Orleans or Los Angeles. I’m glad it’s still free.
Good thought-Society should always make special provisions for the disabled, Veterans, the elderly and children. This guy would have fit none of those categories.
I’m curious about the term, “local transient.” Does this mean he has family in the area? Where are they? Why isn’t he living with them? I encourage residents to demand answers to these questions. NO assistance for “local transients” with families in the area. NO room at shelters for locals with families in the area.
who needs to carry a machete anywhere unless your in an african jungle or something lol. some people amaze me. he was in violation of his bail condition did you read the article larryincamden?
Maybe you should reread the article. He wasn’t in violation until Big Brother made an illegal arrest. Then Paul Edwards lied and said the machette was 3-4 feet long.
illegal? he gave the security guards at the maine health care mall a hard time cause they wanted him to remove his knives before entering . then mouthed off to the police when they got there . He created a situation and was arrested . released on bail and while out on bail wasn’t suppose to carry knives i would imagine. He brought attention to himself again at the folk festival and was caught with a knife or a machete or a sword who cares . VIOLATION OF BAIL CONDITION. what the heck did he need to be caring knives or a machete in and around town anyway ? i could see it if he was out hunting in the woods or something. needless . maybe he is paranoid and needs mental help who knows. big brother as you say did the right thing . someday you may need a big brother yourself.
You definitely did imagine that. Like I said, you need to reread the article. It was not illegal for him to have the machete. The court screwed up. Says so right in the article. I will never need Big Brother. Try reading George Orwells 1984 or maybe in your case you should watch the movie.
My son and I carry a machete often. There are few tools as effective and versatile for clearing a trail or brush among other things. A machete is a TOOL.
Machete and a beer tent. hmmmm kinda glad the police removed him. would like to think i can take my family to an event without jason from friday the 13th getting drunk and chopping my head off.
I saw tons of people armed at the folk festival, I tried talking to a couple of them and they were not friendly at all. They had guns, tazers, mace, cuffs and clubs… all they could say was “everythings good” Just repeating it over and over like a broken record.. Police must be trained to suspect everyone for something… how do they even have a personal life when they are trained to mistrust everyone?
Transients = Trouble
What a nut job……
Maybe 1000 years ago you could walk around with a blade like that on your belt, but its 2012 not 1012. I would say if he wants to be armed he could go get a concealed carry permit, but it seems he blew that right out of the water with all the good decisions he has made carrying illegal knives and the like… What is he going to get next, a light saber?
Illegal knives? I didn’t see that in the article.
meaning it was probably bigger than a pocket knife . im sure its not ok to walk around with rambo knives on your hip.
Your sure huh? Don’t know where you got that from. It wasn’t in the article. Read a little closer.
“Tenney was charged with disorderly conduct and two counts of violating his bail conditions. He was out on bail for carrying two knives into a Bangor pharmacy in July.” — Right from the story, included the link. Try a bit of reading, it saves you from looking like a know it all. This guy probably needed his father to quit sparing the rod, however in most cases now a days, the father is usually long gone and either doesn’t know about the id or doesn’t care. I have an idea that this kid is going to be costing tax payers money for quite some time to come. Oh, BTW, I give a rip about big brother. I ain’t scared of the government, I hate it with an infinite unrepressable rage, but I surely ain’t scared of them. Man up Reverend, oh btw what kind of Reverend are you? The kind that is in RUN DMC or the kind that puts LSD in the water on Saturday mass, then go creepy crawling…? Elaborate, I am intrigued.
You’ve shown your mentality with this reply. lol Who said anything about being scared of Big Brother? Oh and I guess you missed the part in the article about the court screwing up and that it was ok for him to carry a weapon? Try reading and understanding rather than making up things out of your head.
Holy cow, so this guy who obviously has SOME issue, should be allowed to tote around big, fixed blade weapons to public places? I read the article. I read the one when he went into the Medical Mall on Union St. and they had to push the panic button because he wouldn’t surrender the WEAPONS at the desk. On the big brother thing, all through out these comments you frequently pop off with “Big brother is watching” or some other such verbal fecal matter. I seriously can’t imagine anyone that has any COMMON SENSE would defend someone (who is VERY CLEARLY disturbed in the head) to carry WEAPONS into public places. NO ONE has the right to do that unless they file for and obtain a concealed carry permit. There is no need for a machete in Maine at all, it ain’t the jungle, especially down there on the waterfront and last I checked the Medical Mall wasn’t either. You can argue the point all day man, your WRONG. I might not be 100% right, but I sure as crap know that your wrong. So, for instance, he goes into this folk festival and has some sort of psychotic break and starts swinging that machete around and injures or kills some innocent person or child, I am guessing you’d be on here arguing with me that “Its his right”? Probably you would. Proceed with knowing everything, I’m pretty well done arguing with someone that trolls through message boards and picks fights.
It’s called open carry and is LEGAL.
Using your logic I should have to get a concealed carry permit for the little penknife I sometimes have in my pocket.
That’d be a bit different wouldn’t it? A pen knife isn’t 36” long(I am just guessing, most machetes are in that ballpark of size) and you didn’t get brought to the ground a month or so ago on Union street for not surrendering weapons when asked by security. Open carry is legal, but common sense seems to be a super power now a days, because no one seems to have it. Answer me this, how, in this day and age is it okay to walk around in public with basically a SWORD?? What purpose could it serve? We don’t live in a jungle, so what is the machete for if not to intimidate and scare? Seriously, its common sense, what do you need a machete at the folk festival for? Any good reasons, at all, anyone??
Most machetes are from 18 to 24 inches in length.
Explain to me why anyone should not be able to wear a sword if they wish to? just because YOU have an irrational fear is not a sufficient reason to limit someone’s legal civil rights.
I have been required to leave my penknife with a 2 inch blade at the security station at the federal building. The penknife is dull as a hoe, in fact I never actually try to cut anything with it. It is useful as an emergency screwdriver, pry, etc. ( I have a good Buck folding knife in the car if I actually need to cut anything.) If I needed to defend myself I had 3 other items on my person I would have used before that pitiful penknife. Using any one of the three would have resulted in far more physical damage to someone than I could have done with the penknife. Yet the “security guards” (quotes indicate sarcasm), were concerned, even appalled, that I had a penknife….
This makes no sense to me on so many levels. The title “Judge” implies some kind of judgement. What kind of a decision is it to allow bail conditions to be revised to allow weapons when the charge involved weapons? WTF?!!
Read it again. The charge had nothing to do with weapons. It was for disturbing the peace when he got upset over being hassled for standing up for his constitutional rights. I am willing to bet he never threatened anyone with the weapons, (knives), because the police would have LOVED to be able to charge him with the more serious offense of threatening with a deadly weapon.
So, Bangor’s own “Crocodile Dundee” gets an okay to swagger around the Folk Festival with a 4-foot machete slung over his shoulder.
Attendees were worried? Will he soon be waltzing down the newly illuminated river path scaring people with his big tooth?
The City Council ignores this. Just like the downtown whiz high on Monkey Dust, busting car windows and rustling a car from its owner.
No guns or carving knives allowed on the Waterfront. What is the Council waiting for?
I love it when people who don’t know the law try and claim they know the law (as they are being arrested).