Man accused of assaulting police officer

A man suspected of taking money and other items from purses at a party Saturday night faces additional charges, including a felony assault, after he allegedly fought with a police officer trying to take him into custody.

Jason Shank, 22, of Bangor was charged with theft, the assault and refusing to submit to arrest following an incident at 10 Rutland St. about 8:30 p.m. Two women at the party reported their purses had been rummaged through and items were taken. Another woman reported seeing Shank handling the purses, according to the police report.

Shank was outside the residence, sitting in the passenger seat of a car in the driveway, when Jordan first approached him. Shank told the officer that he had been helping clean up bottles and cans and didn’t know anything about the thefts. Beads of sweat were forming on his face, Jordan reported.

A short time later, Jordan went to take Shank into custody after Shank’s probation officer said he would order a probation hold if Shank’s blood-alcohol level reached 0.08 percent or higher. Jordan grabbed one of Shank’s arms as he walked away, but Shank kept moving and at one point turned around and swung at the officer.

Jordan ducked and tried to spin Shank around, but both men ended up on the ground. The officer used his feet and flashlight to fend off Shank’s blows.

When both men got to their feet, Shank had the flashlight and threw it at Jordan. Aided by two men, one who pinned Shank’s arms and the other who knocked him off balance, Jordan subdued Shank with the aid of two doses of pepper spray.

Shank was taken into custody while Jordan went to St. Joseph Hospital to be treated for injuries to his face and head.

A Bangor woman arrested early Saturday morning for alleged drunken driving was arrested again less than 12 hours later after the same police officer noticed her driving the SUV out of the police impound lot.

Renee Hughes, 27, was initially stopped about 1:15 a.m. Saturday after Bangor police Officer Steve Jordan reportedly saw her speeding on Union Street.

Jordan said the white 1998 Chevrolet Blazer was traveling 50 mph in a 25-mph zone. Hughes was pulled over in the driveway of the Longrale Park apartment complex.

Jordan reported that once outside the vehicle, Hughes was unsteady on her feet and showed other signs of intoxication. Jordan took her to the police station, where Hughes’ blood-alcohol level registered 0.20 percent, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent.

Jordan reported finding in Hughes’ purse a marijuana pipe, a straw with white residue and a small plastic bag containing what Hughes described as “just stems and seeds.” She was charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a usable amount of marijuana, according to the report.

Later that morning, Hughes returned to the police station to get her Blazer out of the impound lot on Perkins Street. She left with the necessary paperwork and Jordan’s admonishment that she couldn’t drive because she didn’t have a license.

On patrol, Jordan saw the Blazer leave the impound lot and followed it to make sure Hughes was not behind the wheel. He pulled up beside it on Union Street and discovered Hughes was indeed driving.

Hughes was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle without a license and for violation of bail conditions.

– Compiled by NEWS reporter Doug Kesseli