Controversial landlord accused of assault

OLD ORCHARD BEACH – Controversial Portland landlord Joseph Soley is accused of assaulting a woman in his Sea Cliff Avenue condominium, police said.

The alleged victim, whose name was not disclosed, called police from a telephone booth Saturday morning to say that Soley assaulted her during an argument, Lt. Keith Babin said. Soley, 70, now lives in New York City and could not be reached for comment. He was issued a summons ordering him to appear in Biddeford District Court on Oct. 26.

Soley was involved in disputes with neighbors, tenants and city officials who found him to be combative and uncooperative when asked to address health and safety violations in his buildings.

Soley lost a $1 million lawsuit to four University of Southern Maine students who claimed that an apartment they rented from him was uninhabitable.