Driver, busy making gesture to motorist, rams police car

A Dixmont man rear-ended a Bangor police cruiser Tuesday afternoon, telling police that he had been distracted while giving the finger to another motorist alongside him.

Officers Tim Cotton and Catherine Rumsey were headed onto Union Street from the Interstate 95 southbound lane when their cruiser was struck from behind with significant force, according to Lt. Edward Geissler, who investigated the accident. Cotton complained of neck pain and Rumsey complained of neck and back pain, according to the report.

Randy Gleason, 20, the driver of the van that struck the cruiser, was not injured, nor was his passenger, 26-year-old Beatrice Mayhew.

Gleason told police that he had become distracted in the process of giving the finger to another motorist.

Damage to the cruiser was estimated at $200 while the van received about $50 in damage, according to the police report.

Bangor police charged Robert Butler, 49, with domestic assault after authorities were called to his Pine Street apartment Monday evening.

Police were called to the Butler home for a report of a domestic fight in progress, but when they arrived, Butler came to the door claiming no one else was inside, reported Detective Joel Nadeau. A neighbor reported, however, that Butler had been arguing with a woman earlier.

Butler’s wife came out from a back bedroom and spoke to Nadeau, telling him that her husband was very intoxicated and difficult to deal with. During an argument she told her husband she was leaving and he opened the door for her, then changed his mind and told her not to leave. When she tried to walk out, she said, Butler grabbed her by the right arm, leaving what Nadeau noted was a 3-inch-long red welt on her inside biceps.

Nadeau arrested Butler.

– Compiled by NEWS reporter Doug Kesseli