Bangor police arrest man in reported knife threats

Bangor police arrested a man Sunday night after he allegedly reached for a knife while being detained.

Officer James Dearing reported that at about 11:30 p.m. he went to a First Street address with Officers Steve Jordan and Shawn Green, after a report that a man was threatening people with a knife.

Dearing said that as the officers approached the area, he saw a man turn toward them with his right hand behind his back. Dearing said the man, later identified as Vernon Goguen, 19, of Bangor, refused to show his right hand when Green told him to show his hands.

Goguen eventually dropped a machete on the ground, Dearing said, but kept his right hand concealed.

Green reported that he ordered Goguen to put his hands on the cruiser. Dearing, gun drawn, approached Goguen from the right. As Goguen began to put his hands on the cruiser, Dearing said, Dearing noticed a knife handle sticking out of Goguen’s right rear pocket.

“Knife,” yelled Dearing, and the other two officers tried to push Goguen flat on the cruiser hood. Goguen, however, pushed back and reached for the knife, Dearing said.

Dearing said he hit Goguen several times with his plastic flashlight. Goguen was then put in an arm-bar hold and handcuffed. Dearing said two women who had been at the scene explained that Goguen hadn’t threatened them. Goguen was charged with failing to submit to detention.

Dearing noted that Goguen, who was intoxicated, repeatedly struck his head against the plexiglass barrier of the cruiser on the way to jail, but wore himself out by the time they arrived.

Brewer police arrested a woman Sunday night after she allegedly tried to steal jewelry from Wal-Mart.

Officer Jeff Gotreau reported that he went to the store at about 10:30 p.m. and met with store security.

The security officer reportedly told Gotreau he had seen a Melissa Manza-McLean, 23, who said she was from Corinth, attempt to steal a watch and a ring by removing their tags and putting them on.

The officer said McLean also tried to take a pack of razor blades by tearing apart the box and putting the blades in her purse.

Gotreau arrested McLean, summoning her for theft and violation of bail. McLean had been on bail awaiting trial for an aggravated assault charge in the Calais area, Gotreau said. Gotreau noted that McLean was evidently under the influence of drugs, but he could not ascertain which.

– Compiled by NEWS reporter Isaac Kimball