Arraignment held for Bangor man> Assault, criminal threatening charged

BANGOR — A man with a long criminal history in at least two states was arraigned in state court Thursday on assault and criminal threatening charges.

Joseph Clarke, 47, of Bangor was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of criminal threatening.

Clarke allegedly cut another man with a knife during an incident at The Tavern bar in Bangor last month, earning him the first aggravated assault charge.

Three days later, he apparently became angered by the slow progress of traffic while driving on Hogan Road. He then allegedly rammed another vehicle and threatened the driver with a knife. That earned him the criminal threatening charge.

The second aggravated assault charge stemmed from a Wednesday night incident at a Bangor residence, during which Clarke allegedly pulled a knife on another man, who in turn brandished his own knife. But as the other man turned to leave, Clark allegedly struck him with a fireplace poker.

During an afternoon hearing in Maine District Court, Judge Ronald Russell set bail at $50,000 single surety or 20 percent cash. Clarke remained at Penobscot County Jail Thursday afternoon.

In addition to a record of assaults in Massachusetts, Clarke also has been convicted in Maine of traffic offenses and firearms possession charges.