An argument allegedly escalated into something more serious Tuesday, and a Bangor man was arrested and charged with domestic assault.

Michael Benjamin, 22, and a woman were arguing as she drove him to work. Their 1-year-old daughter was in the car at that time.

The woman stated that when the disagreement escalated, she pulled over to the side of the road and Benjamin then grabbed her by the shirt collar and threatened to kill her.

At that point he took the tot out of the car and walked away. Police located him and the child at 415 Odlin Road. He confirmed he had been arguing with the victim, but said it had escalated after she made a dangerous U-turn through heavy traffic, according to the police report.

He admitted to threatening her but told Bangor police Officer Tyler Leighton that he hadn’t been serious. He denied having assaulted her. Benjamin was arrested for domestic assault and taken to Penobscot County Jail. A court date has been set for Sept. 21.

A Veazie woman allegedly put a ring in her purse that she hadn’t paid for at a Bangor Mall store on Tuesday, and police later found drugs in the purse, leading to charges.

Bangor police charged Sarah Hammond, 20, with theft and possession of oxycodone for the incident that began inside the Claire’s store at the Bangor Mall. A store employee reported that Hammond put a ring, valued at $8.50, into her purse and when confronted by the store employee outside the store handed it over. She was detained until police arrived.

Bangor police Officer James Dearing reported finding two pills in Hammond’s purse that the woman later admitted were oxycodone for which she didn’t have a prescription. She was arrested and taken to Penobscot County Jail.

-COMPILED BY BDN REPORTERS ERIN MCNAMARA AND DOUG KESSELI