EASTPORT, Maine — A local man has been arrested in connection with the death last week of a longtime resident, according to a state official.
Hazen J. McDugald, 39, was arrested by Maine State Police on Thursday, Sept. 17, on two charges of aggravated assault and one charge of violating bail, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland said Friday.
McCausland said the investigation into the death of Maurice “Allen” Harris is ongoing and that other charges could result. He said he did not have details about the alleged assault on Harris by McDugald, other than the incident occurred at Harris’ home at 3 Clark St.
Harris, 75, was found dead in his home at approximately 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, by Eastport police, who had received a call requesting they check on the residence, McCausland has said.
“At this point, investigators believe this is the appropriate charge,” McCausland said of the alleged aggravated assault. “Work continues into [investigating] the circumstances of Harris’ death.”
McCausland said McDugald had been arrested last week by the Eastport Police Department on a charge of violating probation and then was released from Washington County Jail on Wednesday, the day before his arrest by Maine State Police on the aggravated assault charges.
Additional information about the incident or why McDugald was arrested last week on a probation violation was unavailable Friday. Attempts to contact Eastport police Chief Frances LaCoute were unsuccessful.
According to the state Bureau of Identification, McDugald’s criminal history is limited to one conviction this past July for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicants. He received a fully suspended sentence of 4 days in jail, a fine of $500, and had his driver’s license suspended for 150 days, according to the bureau.
Timothy Feeley, spokesman for the state Attorney General’s Office, said that McDugald made his first court appearance Friday afternoon in Machias. Bail for the defendant was set at $25,000 cash or $250,000 double surety, he said, with a dispositional conference set for Nov. 18.
Feeley, who said the affidavit in the case has been impounded by the court, declined further comment.
