WINTERPORT, Maine — A 20-year-old Bangor man allegedly driving drunk on Halloween nearly struck several people trick-or-treating in downtown Winterport, according to police.
Yanni Rakis came to police attention at about 6 p.m. Saturday evening when a 911 caller reported a motor vehicle accident on Main Street in Winterport, according to Sheriff Jeff Trafton of the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office. Sgt. James Greeley and Deputy Jonathan Shaw already were in Winterport to monitor traffic and hand out candy when the call came in, and responded to the scene of the reported accident.
They found several people arguing in the street and heard from one of the men present that he had been rear-ended by a vehicle that had been following him too closely, according to the police report. Another man at the scene said that the offending vehicle had passed him in downtown Winterport at speeds much faster than the 25-mile-per-hour speed limit.
Rakis, the driver of the car, appeared to be impaired, according to the police report, and after officers administered field sobriety tests they arrested him and charged him with operating under the influence. Witnesses alleged that Rakis nearly struck several trick-or-treaters, and he additionally was charged with driving to endanger and reckless conduct. Police said that an Intoxilyzer test showed his blood alcohol content to be .12 percent, above the .08 percent legal limit.
He was taken to the Waldo County Correctional Center and later released on $750 unsecured cash bail.