BANGOR, Maine — The Bangor man arrested on Monday after he allegedly waved a pellet gun at picketers was back behind bars Thursday afternoon after he reportedly shoplifted clothing from a Bangor Mall department store and then fled, leading police on a brief foot chase.
When located by Bangor police, Michael Meteer, 33, was attempting to change into his new outfit, according to Sgt. Tim Cotton.
The episode that led to Thursday’s arrest began at 1:18 p.m., when Bangor police were called to Sears for a report of a shoplifter on the run, Cotton said. Officer George Spencer and Officer Ryan Jones tracked the suspect to a location behind Kohl’s Department Store on Stillwater Avenue.
Cotton said that at that point, Officer Jason Linkletter, tracking dog Lex and Officer David Farrar were sent to an area near Molly Lane, where they then tracked the suspect to the old Veazie Railroad bed. Meteer reportedly was in process of changing his clothing when the officers and the tracking dog found him.
Meteer was charged Thursday with failure to submit to arrest and felony theft, Cotton said.
Meteer remained at Penobscot County Jail on Thursday night. His bail has been set at $250 cash, a jail official said.
Earlier this week, Meteer’s was arrested after picketers protesting near Exchange and State streets called Bangor police to report that a man — later identified as Meteer — had driven by the area in a pickup and waved a large handgun in the direction of picketers, Cotton said Thursday morning.
Officer Jeremy Caron later found the vehicle on Market Street and stopped it, Cotton said.
Meteer, who was a passenger in the truck, was questioned and as a result, two pellet guns were located, Cotton said. He also said Meeter initially refused to give police his identity.
Meteer was charged at that time with failing to provide a correct name, terrorizing and reckless conduct, Cotton said.
But Monday’s incident wasn’t Meteer first brush with local law enforcement.
According to Cotton, Meteer was charged with criminal mischief in July 2013 in connection with the smashing of a window of a tattoo parlor on Central Street.
Bangor Daily News writer Ryan McLaughlin contributed to this report.