MONTVILLE, Maine — A Montville man allegedly painted his face black and green last week and proclaimed that he was a warrior before smashing the windshield of his neighbor’s vehicle, according to police.
John Thornton, 57, came to the attention of the police on Tuesday, July 7, when a Montville woman called to report that an “out-of-control” neighbor had taken his shirt off and was smashing a vehicle’s window with a walking stick and yelling threats, according to a media release from Sheriff Jeff Trafton. The woman told police that the neighbor was “wearing face paint like a warrior,” Trafton wrote in the release that was issued Tuesday, July 14. She also told police that after she called dispatch to report the incident, Thornton allegedly grabbed her by the arm.
While enroute to the Stewart Road residence, Sgt. Nick Oettinger and deputies Wiley McVety and Kyle Wasiela learned that the man had used a walking stick to smash the window and had “some sort of vicious dog with him,” according to the police report filed at Belfast District Court. When they arrived at Thornton’s Stewart Road driveway, they saw a shirtless man with a painted face who was accompanied by a Dalmatian. According to the police report, it was “immediately apparent” to the officers that Thornton was intoxicated, because of his unsteady stance, slurred speech and the odor of alcohol emitted from his person.
Police asked him what had happened to the car down the road, telling Thornton that a witness said a man with warrior face paint had smashed the window.
“John said, ‘I am a warrior,’” Oettinger wrote in the police report. “John became increasingly belligerent and aggressive.”
The officers warned him about disorderly conduct and Thornton allegedly ordered them to get off his property. Oettinger wrote that he believed an assault from Thornton was imminent and that the Montville man might have a weapon hidden in the waistband of his shorts. The sergeant grabbed Thornton’s arm and used a leg sweep to bring him to the ground, he wrote in the police narrative, adding that Thornton cut his cheek when he hit the ground.
Thornton was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and assault, then brought to Waldo County General Hospital to be checked out.
While in police custody, Thornton pleaded guilty to the charges against him. He was sentenced on Wednesday, July 8, to 48 hours in Waldo County Jail and was ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution and $300 in fines.