Police arrest man waving gun Transient allegedly forces his way into apartment, demands money

Bangor police arrested a 36-year-old transient Saturday after a report that he forced his way into a Second Street apartment and waved a gun around, demanding money from the people inside.

Jeffrey Simpson was charged with criminal threatening with a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, burglary and violation of conditions of release.

The incident occurred Friday night, but the 19-year-old apartment resident didn’t report it immediately because she feared retaliation from Simpson, she told Officer Shawn Green.

Simpson had apparently entered her apartment twice Friday night, leaving after a brief stay the first time when the woman wasn’t present, then returning. The woman told police that Simpson the second time pushed his way past the man who opened the door for him and, once inside, brandished a small silver handgun, waving it at everyone in the kitchen and living room.

The woman said that Simpson grabbed her by the front of the shirt and pulled her close to him, pressing the barrel of the gun flush against the left side of her head by her temple. The woman emptied her pockets, showing Simpson that she had no money on her.

The man who had opened the door for Simpson gave him $50. Simpson then turned to leave, and the man he had accepted the money from pushed him out the door, locking it behind Simpson.

Green learned that Simpson was staying at 157 Cedar St., and as police were positioning themselves outside the home Saturday night, Simpson strode out a side door by Fifth Street.

Simpson was arrested and patted down, with Green finding a small folding knife in Simpson’s jean jacket pocket.

At the Penobscot County Jail, Simpson claimed he had been at his sister’s house Friday night and denied knowing the woman whose apartment he was being accused of entering.

Bangor police arrested Jason Newman, 24, of Brewer after a report that he forced his way into a Bolling Drive home early Sunday and tried to take his 7-month-old son by force.

The 6-foot-1 Newman, who police said had the smell of alcohol on his breath, allegedly became involved in a brief tug-of-war with the mother of his child, with their child in a baby carrier in the middle. The infant wasn’t injured and didn’t even cry, the mother, 19, told Officer Brad Hanson.

Called to the house about 2 a.m. Sunday, Hanson reported hearing a man yelling inside and that Newman walked outside. The mother doesn’t live at Bolling Drive but said she was staying there to avoid Newman. She said she became nervous when a cab pulled up by the home. When someone knocked on the door, she didn’t answer.

The knocking stopped, but was followed by Newman barging inside the home, demanding to know where his son was, the woman said. She said he grabbed the baby carrier and tried to leave, but she grabbed onto it, too. Newman began twisting the carrier to force her to release her grip and he also knocked a cell phone out of her hand.

Newman let go when she told him that the police were coming, although he claimed he didn’t care.

Newman was charged with domestic assault and criminal trespass. He also was wanted on a warrant for failure to pay fines, according to police.

– Compiled by NEWS reporter Doug Kesseli