Transient held in stabbing Molunkus man attacked at his home Christmas night

BANGOR – A transient man wanted in connection with a stabbing in Molunkus on Christmas night is currently being held in Penobscot County Jail.

David Bates, 40, was arrested at a home in West Enfield late Wednesday night. Police had been searching for Bates in order to charge him with operating a motor vehicle after the revocation of his license. They also sought to question him in connection with several incidents.

Following his arrest on the vehicular charges, a multiple count warrant for Bates’ arrest was secured Thursday afternoon from Houlton District Court for his involvement in the stabbing of Daniel Merritt in Molunkus.

According to police reports, Bates visited the home of Daniel and Rhonda Merritt on the Old Aroostook Road around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday and claimed he had come to repay some money he owed Merritt.

Bates allegedly went out to his truck to retrieve the money and instead came back with a rifle and ordered the couple to stand against a wall.

Daniel Merritt attempted to grab the gun, a scuffle ensued and an unidentified second individual stabbed him, according to police. Rhonda Merritt, who had fled the room during the scuffle, returned with a handgun, prompting the two assailants to flee. Police are still seeking the second assailant.

Merritt was taken to Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln where he was treated and released.

According to police reports, both the knife and the rifle were recovered, although the latter was badly damaged after it had been run over several times by vehicles.

The warrant issued Thursday charges Bates with elevated aggravated assault due to the fact that a dangerous weapon was involved, according to Detective Sgt. Dennis Appleton of the Maine State Police. Appleton said Bates is also charged with robbery in the Molunkus incident as well as a count of theft earlier the same day. Allegedly, Bates stole the rifle from the residence of Doug Hutchins in Macwahoc Plantation.

Appleton said the State Police had no record of Bates currently holding a job and over the last couple of months he had been staying at various locations for short periods of time.

In the days prior to the incident in Molunkus, Bates was believed to be staying at a residence in Macwahoc Plantation. Prior to that he was believed to be staying with an acquaintance in either North or South Carolina, according to Appleton.

“He hasn’t had any roots for quite some time,” Appleton said.

Pending Bates’ eventual release from Penobscot County Jail, he will be brought to the District Court in Houlton to be arraigned on the charges related to the Molunkus incident, Appleton said.

Bates has also been questioned as part of an ongoing investigation for a drive-by shooting in Lowell. During the weekend of Nov. 17-18, a person fired multiple shots into a residence, although no one was injured, according to Appleton. Bates has not been charged in the case. In July of this year, Bates pleaded guilty to a terrorizing charge in Lincoln District Court and paid a $250 fine.

Police are also still looking for Bates’ son, Joshua Michaud, in his 20s. Appleton said police have information that Michaud was with his father just before the stabbing.

“We do want to talk to him because we have information that he may have been a participant or a witness to the incident,” Appleton said.

Bates appeared in Bangor District Court Thursday afternoon for a bail alteration. Specific bail conditions were not available Thursday afternoon.