Carmel man arrested in Broadway accident

Bangor police charged a Carmel man Friday afternoon after he allegedly pulled his car out of the Top Spot Sports Bar parking lot into the path of an oncoming van on Broadway, causing an accident.

Both drivers received minor injuries, Officer Kerry Libby said. Damage to the van was estimated at $1,000, and to the car at $1,500.

Libby reported that the driver of the car, Francis Hatch, 28, had a smell of alcohol on his breath. He initially denied drinking, but then admitted having two drinks.

Libby said Hatch refused field sobriety tests, and was taken to the station by Officer Randall Parsons for a breath test. Libby said she left the accident scene a little later. She returned to the station to find Officers Eric Tourtelotte and Jason McAmbley restraining Hatch, while Parsons tried to set up the testing equipment.

Hatch became increasingly combative, Libby said, and refused to take the breath test. He was taken to Penobscot County Jail and charged with operating under the influence.

Bangor police arrested a Carmel man on a charge of operating under the influence early Friday.

Officer Ed Mercier reported that at about 1 a.m. he saw a truck leave the Ramada Inn parking lot and drive to Interstate 95 South. Mercier said the truck weaved as it went up the on-ramp. Mercier said the truck also had a broken plate light. He followed the truck and stopped it on Interstate 95.

Mercier said the driver stepped out of the truck and lost his balance. Mercier asked the man, Joseph Dioguardi, 39, of Carmel, to get back into the truck.

Mercier said Dioguardi smelled of alcohol and had clumsy fingers. He performed poorly on sobriety tests and was arrested.

Bangor police summoned a Corinth man Thursday night after stopping him on Interstate 95 because of his erratic driving.

Officer James Hassard reported that at about 9 p.m. he and Officer Brad Hanson were driving south on I-95. They noticed a blue Ford Thunderbird move into the passing lane and cruise for a long time at the same speed as the rest of the traffic “for no apparent reason.”

Hassard said the car also braked erratically on the curve over Kenduskeag Stream. He pulled the car over near Union Street.

The driver, James Smith, 21, of Corinth, produced a learner’s permit. Hassard said had no paperwork for the Thunderbird. He learned that the car was unregistered and uninsured, and the plate on the car belonged to a red Chevrolet Cavalier.

Hassard said Smith’s sponsor, Michael Knowles, 19, of Corinth, had a suspended driver’s license. Hassard summoned Smith for illegal attachment of plates, and issued him a traffic summons for violation of an instructor’s permit and failure to produce evidence of insurance.

The officers gave Knowles and Smith a ride as far as the Mobil On The Run store on Union Street, where friends picked them up.

Old Town police summoned a Portland man for drug possession Thursday night.

Officer Bobby Pelletier reported that at about 10:45 p.m. he stopped a speeding car. While speaking with the driver, David Bulkin, 24, of Portland, Pelletier smelled a burnt marijuana odor coming from the car.

Pelletier said Bulkin denied smoking marijuana, but admitted he did have some. Pelletier found a small amount of the drug, and a pipe, on Bulkin’s person.

Bulkin was charged with possession of a usable amount of marijuana.

Bangor police charged a Brewer man Thursday night after noticing his truck’s registration tags were expired.

Officer Brad Hanson reported that he stopped the truck on Kenduskeag Avenue. He learned that the driver, Kenneth Woodworth, 41, of Brewer, had a suspended license, and charged him with operating after suspension.

– Compiled by NEWS reporter Isaac Kimball