Judge axes PAWS harassment case Volunteer allegedly called girl a ‘thief’

CALAIS – A teenage girl who claimed in court Thursday that a volunteer from a local animal shelter yelled at her after she allegedly stole money from a yard sale was sent packing by a 4th District Court judge.

Tammy Poole of Calais filed a request for protection from harassment on behalf of her daughter Tiffany Poole.

In the complaint, Tammy Poole alleged that PAWS volunteer Marcia Rogers of Calais had confidential information about her daughter’s need to complete community service and “yelled” that information out at PAWS.

“She also yelled that my daughter is a thief in front of people at a yard sale in front of PAWS. Then Marcia screamed in her face to give back the money before I [Rogers] call the cops,” the complaint alleged.

PAWS is a no-kill animal shelter that has been in Calais for the past few years.

The Pooles were in court Thursday to ask Judge John Romei to grant a protection from harassment order.

After taking the stand, Tiffany Poole testified she was at PAWS because she was required to complete community service. She did not say why she was ordered by the court to do so.

She told the judge she had been helping out at the July yard sale when money turned up missing. Poole testified she had not taken the money, although she admitted she forgot the money was in her pocket.

A complaint on file with the Calais Police Department states that on July 6, $37 was stolen from PAWS. Because Tiffany Poole is a juvenile, the case was referred to Juvenile Intake.

After listening to Poole’s testimony, the judge summarized the case. “You took the money. Police charged you, and you’re mad at her for yelling at you?” he said looking at Poole.

“I forgot the money was in my pocket,” Poole answered. “I did return it.”

The judge dismissed the case.

Kathryn Mekelburg of Robbinston also was requesting a protection from harassment order alleging that Rogers had yelled and screamed at her.

A third complainant, Susan Leone, who had filed for a protection order on behalf of her son and daughter, withdrew her complaint.

Mekelburg testified that she was a volunteer at the shelter and a member of the board. She said one time she left a kennel door unlocked and another time left food on a kennel floor. She said Rogers yelled and screamed at her. She said Rogers also criticized her in front of strangers. “She told me I was stupid,” she testified. “Said I didn’t have any brains.”

Mekelburg said she had health problems as a result of the alleged abuse including headaches.

During cross-examination by Rogers’ attorney Tom Laprade of Portland, Mekelburg testified that she had not filed for a protection order closer to the incidents until the alleged yelling began to affect her health.

After Mekelburg rested her case, Laprade told the judge that the plaintive had not made a case that she had been harassed and suggested the incidents were more a “general disagreement in the workplace.”

The judge agreed and denied the order.

Outside the courtroom, Laprade said the charges were “absurd.”

“They were ludicrous, and the court realized that and that is why judgment was entered in Marcia’s favor without her even putting on any evidence,” he said.

Kelly Lindquist of Baileyville, who also is a PAWS volunteer, said she was in PAWS’ office on the day of the yard sale. She said Rogers never spoke with Poole. “Marcia saw her back as she was walking across the street,” she said. “She never spoke to her; I was in the office.”

Lindquist said if she had been called to the stand she would have testified to that.