Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis Sr. was arrested for driving drunk in Bangor early Wednesday, according to police.
Francis, 56, of Bangor was stopped by a Bangor police officer shortly after midnight Wednesday for a moving violation on Poplar Street, Sgt. Jason McAmbley said.
A breath test showed Francis had a blood alcohol level of 0.21, which is more than double the legal threshold of 0.08, McAmbley said. The officer had noticed signs Francis may have been under the influence of alcohol and he failed field sobriety tests.
He was taken to the Penobscot County Jail, McAmbley said. Francis posted a $150 bond Wednesday afternoon, according to Penobscot County court records.
Francis did not provide a comment by time of publication Thursday.
His next court appearance is scheduled for July 16.
Francis was first elected as Penobscot Nation chief in 2006 and was most recently reelected in 2022. He also serves as president of a group that represents 33 federally recognized tribes stretching from the Northeast to the Gulf of Mexico. The Democrat has been considering a 2026 run against U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican.
He was arrested in 2018 for alleged misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct charges. Those charges were dismissed with prejudice, which means they cannot be refiled.