Officer draws gun on alleged liquor thieves

A Bangor police officer drew his gun on two brothers in a mall parking lot Wednesday after the men allegedly chased supermarket employees and stole a bottle of liquor.

Omar Mejia, 20, and Jonathan Mejia, 19, both transients, refused to keep their hands in sight when officers caught up with them at 6:30 p.m. in the Airport Mall parking lot on Union Street, according to police reports.

Police were called after one of the brothers allegedly charged a Hannaford supermarket employee and became verbally abusive, saying, “You get off this time.”

The employee was watching the brothers because he believed they were stealing liquor, according to reports. Customers told a police dispatcher that the brothers might have had a weapon.

The two men left the supermarket after an off-duty sheriff’s deputy showed them his badge, and were later found crouching in a car in the mall parking lot.

Omar Mejia was ordered out of the car, then yelled and repeatedly tried to turn and face the arresting officer. Jonathan Mejia tried get out of the car with his hands hidden, prompting another officer to draw his gun and order him to put his hands in the air, according to reports.

The younger brother was uncooperative and was handcuffed.

Omar Mejia continued to yell at officers, and was eventually arrested for refusing to submit to detention.

Jonathan Mejia allegedly attempted to hide an open bottle of Fire and Ice schnapps under the car’s seat and was arrested for receiving stolen property.

Both men smelled of alcohol and appeared intoxicated, according to reports.

– Compiled by NEWS reporter Jackie Farwell