Nephew, uncle charged in assaults Probe of 1 attack leads to discovery of 2nd

PRESQUE ISLE – A local man and his nephew are facing assault charges after a police investigation led local authorities from one assault incident to the discovery of another, Detective Sgt. Bill Campbell of the Presque Isle Police Department said Friday.

Robert Wright, 39, of Presque Isle was arrested Tuesday on an assault charge while his nephew John Wright, 26, of Presque Isle, was arrested at the same time on burglary and assault charges.

A Presque Isle resident called the local Police Department at 3:52 a.m. Tuesday, reporting that a man, later identified as John Wright, had come into his house and assaulted him. The caller, whom police declined to name, was not seriously injured. Campbell declined to comment on the motive for the assault. He only would say that the incident may have been related to a neighborhood dispute and was not drug-related.

Police located John Wright at about 5 a.m. at his uncle’s home. During their preliminary investigation of the incident, they learned about the second assault, Campbell said.

Robert Wright was arrested on an assault charge under the domestic violence laws. He allegedly assaulted a woman at about the same time the first assault occurred. Police declined to name the woman or explain her relationship to Robert Wright. The woman was not seriously injured, police said.

Officers Mark Barnes, Mitchell Wheeler, Kevin Schumacher, Jeffrey Mechalko and Detective Sgt. Campbell investigated the complaint. Both incidents still are under investigation, Campbell said.

Robert Wright was released from the local Police Department on recognizance bail. He is scheduled to appear in Presque Isle District Court on July 28.

John Wright, who initially was unable to make the $500 cash, $1,000 surety bail, was taken to the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton. On Wednesday he made his first appearance in Presque Isle District Court and posted bail soon afterward. He is scheduled to appear in the Presque Isle court Sept. 3.