Hampden police probe Friday vandalism binge

Hampden police say a cluster of vandalism incidents Friday night may be connected.

Sgt. Scott Webber said that sometime Friday night or early Saturday morning, three mailboxes were smashed, a car was vandalized and a swastika was painted on the road. All five incidents occurred within a mile of each other, Webber said, on Main Trail, Ruth Avenue and George Street.

Webber said a lewd picture was painted on the car. The paint was similar to that used to paint the swastika, which was nearby. Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to call the Hampden Police Department at 862-4000.

Bangor police arrested a Hampden man early Monday on a charge of operating under the influence.

Officer Shawn Green reported that at about 1 a.m. he was driving on Odlin Road when he noticed that the car ahead of him had its plate light out. Green followed the car and realized that it was moving at 50 mph in a 35-mph zone. He said he pulled the car over after it turned suddenly onto Hammond Street.

Green said the driver, Jeremy Dionne, 23, of Hampden, denied having anything to drink, and said he had just woken up in order to pick up his friends. Green said there was a smell of alcohol coming from the car.

Once he left the car, Dionne continued to deny drinking, Green said, even though Green could smell alcohol on Dionne as well. Green arrested Dionne after he performed poorly on sobriety tests.

Green said Dionne apologized repeatedly for the inconvenience he was causing Green as they drove to the station. Dionne said he shouldn’t have been driving after drinking.

Dionne’s blood alcohol tested at 0.21 percent at the station, Green said. Dionne was summoned and released.

– Compiled by NEWS reporter Isaac Kimball