ROCKPORT, Maine — A 31-year-old Rockport man made his initial court appearance Monday after police said he slapped a woman who refused to help him to get his stuck sports utility vehicle out of a yard.
Eldon B. Bennett was arrested Thanksgiving morning by Rockport police Officer Cooper Plaisted and charged with felony domestic violence assault, criminal operating under the influence and operating without a license.
Rockport police were notified about a disorderly complaint at a Beech Hill residence, and when an officer arrived, he found Bennett trying to remove an SUV that was stuck in the mud in the yard, according to an affidavit filed in Rockland District Court,
The officer spoke with a woman who said Bennett had been drinking all night and had been driving in circles around the yard, according to the affidavit. Then he allegedly came into the house at 4 a.m., woke up the woman and asked her to help him get the vehicle unstuck. When she refused, he slapped her across the face and tried to spit on her, according to the affidavit.
After the officer had taken the woman’s statement, he informed Bennett that he was under arrest and asked him to put down a bottle of beer he had in his hands. Bennett allegedly chugged the remaining beer in the container, then put the container down and put his hands behind his back.
The domestic violence charge was elevated to a felony level because of Bennett’s prior conviction for domestic violence criminal threatening. Also, the operating under the influence charge was elevated to criminal level because of a prior conviction.
Bennett was taken to the Knox County Jail in Rockland where bail was set at $10,000 cash. Because of the holiday, the court was closed until Monday, and his initial appearance was delayed until early Monday afternoon.
At his Monday hearing, Judge Susan Sparaco lowered bail to $5,000 cash. Bennett remained in jail as of mid-afternoon Monday.