November 27, 2024
Column

Bangor man arrested for OUI on interstate

Bangor police Officer Jason Stuart arrested a Bangor man for drunken driving early Sunday morning on Interstate 95.

Stuart saw a truck drive out of Russell’s on the Odlin Road around 1:30 a.m. He followed it toward the interstate and noticed it was traveling too fast on the ramp and was dangerously close to the guardrail. The truck swerved several times. Then Stuart pulled the driver over.

The driver identified himself as Shawn Bradford, 30, of Bangor. Bradford was slurring his speech, and the officer noticed an odor of alcohol on him. Stuart had Bradford perform several sobriety tests. Bradford claimed he had not had anything to drink.

Later he admitted he had had a drink earlier in the day and had taken 25 milligrams of thorazine for attention deficit disorder. Bradford refused to take a breathalyzer test and refused to sign an implied consent form.

Stuart placed Bradford under arrest for operating under the influence and took him to Penobscot County Jail.

A domestic assault report resulted in the arrest of Ralph Soctomah, 50, of Bangor.

Officers Jason McAmbley and George Spencer went to the victim’s apartment on Kenduskeag Avenue. The victim said Soctomah, her boyfriend, assaulted her. McAmbley noticed red marks on her neck.

According to Spencer, a witness later said that Soctomah had grabbed the victim and “put her in a headlock” and then threw her against the refrigerator.

The officers found Soctomah on the balcony of the apartment. When asked what had happened to make the victim call the police, Soctomah reportedly said that they simply had had an argument. When asked about the red marks, Soctomah said she’d done it to herself.

Soctomah was placed under arrest for domestic assault. According to McAmbley, during transport to Penobscot County Jail, Soctomah was unruly and was placed in an observation cell. He did not sign a summons.

– Compiled by NEWS reporter Emily Burnham


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