State files suit alleging civil rights violations

PORTLAND – The state has filed a lawsuit against two men alleging that they threatened a Somali taxi driver based on his race, color or national origin, Attorney General Steven Rowe announced Friday.

The complaint was filed in Cumberland County Superior Court under the Maine Civil Rights Act against Garrett Powell, 22, of Portland and Charles Frechette, 23, of Sebago. It seeks to enjoin Powell and Frechette from having contact with the victim and from committing future violations of the Civil Rights Act.

The suit alleges that Frechette and Powell were riding home in a taxi from a party shortly after midnight last Dec. 14 when their driver stopped at a gas station and convenience store. While at the store, the victim asked Powell and Frechette’s cabdriver to move his vehicle so he could access the air pumps to fill up his tires.

Powell emerged from the taxi, yelled racial epithets, told the victim to go back to his country and threatened him physically, according to the complaint. Frechette challenged the victim to a fight, pulled a knife and threatened to cut him.

The victim ran into the store, where the cashier held the doors closed to keep Frechette and Powell from entering, the lawsuit says. The confrontation ended when the cashier called police.

Powell and Frechette did not have telephones listed in their name and could not be reached for comment.