Used-car dealer arrested in assault Referral of bad-credit risks reportedly at heart of competitors’ dispute

BANGOR – Apparently angry that a competitor was sending him customers who couldn’t qualify for credit, a Bangor used-car dealer stands accused of assaulting, then threatening to kill, another used-car dealer.

Donald Swallow, 60, operator of the Best Buy car dealership on Hammond Street in Bangor, was arrested at his Finson Road home Monday afternoon and charged with terrorizing, according to Penobscot County Sheriff’s Deputy Jared Austin, who a short time earlier that day had summoned Swallow on a charge of assault.

Both incidents involved David Andrade, operator of the Auto Visions car dealership on Route 15 in Glenburn. Swallow accused Andrade of sending him customers that Andrade couldn’t or wouldn’t finance, according to police. On Monday afternoon Swallow allegedly confronted an Auto Visions employee who had gone to Angelo’s Pizzeria, a business in the same complex as Swallow’s dealership, and told him to tell Andrade to stop sending him the unwanted customers.

Swallow allegedly then called Andrade and threatened to go to his dealership and kill him, Austin said.

Andrade told authorities that there had been no dispute in the past with Swallow and that he is perplexed as to what set this into motion.

“David [Andrade] is not quite sure why it happened,” Austin said.

Swallow is accused of showing up at the dealership in Glenburn, getting out of his car and swinging at Andrade, throwing several blows, which Andrade tried to deflect with his arms. An employee called police at about 2 p.m., but the fight had broken up when Austin arrived.

Swallow denied threatening or attacking Andrade, the deputy said, but employees who witnessed the incident backed up Andrade, and Austin summoned Swallow on a charge of assault. The deputy also gave Swallow a criminal trespass warning to avoid the Glenburn dealership.

Twenty minutes later, Austin said Andrade called police reporting that Swallow had called and threatened to kill him. Andrade said he feared for himself and his family, according to police.

At Swallow’s home, Austin said, Swallow denied making the call, then indicated he needed to talk to his attorney. Swallow was then arrested. He was released from the Penobscot County Jail later Monday and is scheduled to appear in 3rd District Court in Bangor on Nov. 21.

Swallow had previously been convicted of assault in 1993 and fined $75. Three years ago, Swallow was the victim of an assault when a 31-year-old man came up to him and punched him in the face while he was standing in his garage, according to news reports.

Swallow wasn’t at his dealership Tuesday and an employee there said he did not come in because he wasn’t feeling well. Swallow’s phone number is unlisted.