WARREN, Maine — Two Cushing residents are being held at the Knox County Jail after police said they beat a man so severely that a deputy had to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation to revive the victim.
Dalton Cross, 21, and Amber St. Pierre, 19, both were arrested Sunday and charged with aggravated assault. Cross also was charged with domestic violence assault and criminal mischief.
Both are being held at the Knox County Jail in Rockland. At their initial court appearances Monday afternoon in Rockland District Court, Judge Beth Dobson set bail at $5,000 cash for both defendants with the condition that they not have any contact with the victim or with each other.
Defense attorney for the day Marina Sideris said during the hearing that they would likely not be able to make that bail but that when they get appointed a lawyer that person could argue for lower bail.
According to Knox County Sheriff Donna Dennison, the incident began in Thomaston on Saturday when Cross and St. Pierre were warned by Cross’ stepfather not to hunt on some private property.
It continued on Sunday when Cross and St. Pierre went to the Warren home of Cross’ mother and stepfather to retrieve some clothing. A deputy had been called to oversee Cross being at the house but, according to the affidavit filed by the sheriff’s office, Cross became impatient and stormed into the house, where he was confronted by the victim.
The 60-year-old stepfather struck Cross in the side with a bat. The victim, Cross and St. Pierre then got into a physical fight.
The victim was beaten in the head and torso with the baseball bat and then kicked by both suspects while he was on the ground. When deputies arrived, the victim was unconscious and not breathing. A deputy performed CPR and revived the man, who was taken by Warren Ambulance to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport. The sheriff said Monday the victim has been released from the hospital.
St. Pierre also was taken to PBMC and then the Knox County Jail in Rockland. Information on why St. Pierre was taken to the hospital was not immediately available Monday.
Deputies John Hansen, Paul Pinkham and Detective Dwight Burtis responded to the incident. Hansen performed the CPR.