West Paris man summoned in assault

Bangor police summoned a West Paris man after he allegedly punched a convenience store employee Sunday night.

Officer Chris Morley reported that at about 7:20 p.m. he and Officers Butch Moor and Brad Hanson went to State Street after the One Stop convenience store reported that it wanted a man removed from the premises.

Morley said Officer Moor stopped a man matching the suspect’s description outside the store.

Morley spoke with an employee, who said the man, later identified as Joseph Perham, 48, had come in and attempted to buy alcohol.

The employee said Perham was refused drink because he already appeared to be intoxicated. The employee told Perham to leave, and not to come back, when he became angry and started yelling.

The employee told Morley that Perham punched him in the face outside the store.

Officer Moor summoned Perham for assault.

Bangor police arrested a woman on a drunken driving charge early Monday, even after she threatened to sue them.

Officer Ed Mercier reported that at about 1 a.m. he and Officer David Bushey were on Odlin Road when they saw a black car leave the parking lot of Pete & Larry’s. Mercier said the car’s rear tire hit the curb as it left the lot, and that the car hit another curb when it tried to turn onto Hammond Street.

Mercier said he was about to stop the car when it pulled into a lot on Hammond Street. Mercier turned on his blue lights to alert the driver of his presence.

Mercier said he smelled alcohol as he approached the car. The driver, Carrie Moreau, 33, of Bangor, asked Mercier why he had stopped her.

Mercier said it was because he had seen her pull into the lot of a closed business. Mercier also expressed concern about Moreau’s driving.

Mercier said Moreau explained that she had seen Mercier following her and wanted to know why he was harassing her. She told Mercier that he had no right to stop her.

Mercier said Moreau at first admitted having only one drink, but finally settled on three. Mercier said Moreau’s dexterity was poor, and that she had bloodshot eyes. A license check showed that Moreau’s license to drive in Maine was suspended. She had presented a South Carolina license to the officers, Mercier said.

As Moreau exited her car for sobriety tests, Mercier said, she continued to complain about being harassed. When Mercier asked her about medications she might be taking, she complained about being “railroaded,” Mercier said, and accused the officers of setting her up. Mercier said Moreau also threatened to sue him and Officer Bushey for false arrest.

Moreau performed poorly on a finger dexterity test, and refused all other tests, Mercier said. He arrested her.

At the station, Moreau refused a breath test. While walking to the jail, Moreau warned the officers that she would hold them responsible if she slipped on the ice, so Mercier pointed out the icy patches to her. He said Moreau took offense at this.

At the door of the jail, Moreau told Mercier, “You have [messed] with the wrong [woman].” She then reportedly shoved Mercier into a cement post. Officer Bushey was holding her by the arm.

Moreau was charged with operating under the influence, operating without a license, and assault.

– Compiled by NEWS reporter Isaac Kimball