OWLS HEAD, Maine — A Knox County deputy suffered a minor injury Wednesday when he subdued a man who tried to pull a loaded gun and knife on the officer, according to police.
Ronald Harding Jr., 40, was arrested on charges of felony criminal mischief, refusing to submit to arrest, felony criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and carrying a concealed weapon, according to a news release from Knox County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Tim Carroll.
Deputy Jeremy Joslyn had gone to arrest Harding on an outstanding criminal mischief warrant early Monday evening when the incident occurred, according to Carroll. The deputy saw Harding sitting in the driver’s seat of a pickup truck in the driveway of the residence. As Joslyn approached, Harding got out of the truck and ran for his house in an attempt to evade arrest, Carroll said.
Josyln was able to tackle Harding just as he was entering the residence. A scuffle ensued as Harding refused to submit to arrest. During the scuffle, Josyln noticed Harding trying to get a dagger out of his jacket sleeve, according to Carroll. Joslyn disarmed Harding of the knife.
At that point, Harding pulled a pistol from his side, the chief deputy reported. Josyln also was able to get the pistol away from Harding, but the suspect continued to struggle and reach for the weapon, Carroll said in the release. The deputy, however, managed to hold Harding away from the gun until Deputy Paul Spear arrived to assist.
Harding continued to resist arrest while the two deputies were handcuffing him, but he eventually was restrained.
The deputies determined that the .40-caliber pistol was loaded. They also found on Harding an electronic stun device, a steel baton and several other knives.
Harding received a small cut to the bridge of his nose and tongue as a result of the altercation and was taken to Pen Bay Medical Center for treatment before being taken to the Knox County Jail in Rockland. He is being held on $5,000 cash bail and is scheduled to make an initial appearance Friday afternoon in Knox County Unified Court.
Deputy Joslyn suffered an injury to his hand. He was treated and released at PBMC.
An affidavit filed by the sheriff’s office Tuesday to obtain the warrant on the criminal mischief charge states that a neighbor to Harding on Ingraham Hill in Owls Head had contacted police on March 18 to report that Harding was shooting a BB gun at the house, causing damage. The affidavit states that there had been an issue over the property line between the neighbors, who share a driveway.
The neighbor provided the sheriff’s office with a video that showed Harding shooting at the house from his pickup truck. When a deputy confronted Harding, he became angry and said he would sue over his right to privacy being violated. Harding complained someone had damaged his truck. The deputy asked Harding to file a police report but he failed to do that.
Damage to the neighbor’s house, which had 20 to 30 holes in it, was estimated at $5,500, according to the affidavit.