An Old Town man was arrested Thursday night after assaulting his girlfriend at the Riverfront Pub on Water Street in Old Town, according to the Old Town Police Department.

Harland Nevells, 33, was taken to Penobscot County Jail in Bangor. He was released on bail Friday and given a Sept. 6 court date, according to Old Town Sgt. Travis Roy.

According to a report by Officer Lee Miller, who made the arrest, a pub patron called the police about 10:30 p.m. after witnessing Nevells slap his girlfriend across the cheek and then try to choke her.

People in the bar at the time of the assault took Nevells outside and held him there until the police arrived. According to Miller, Nevells had been drinking alcohol since about noon that day. (Dawn Gagnon, BDN)

Despite the death of two dogs in a parked car in Ellsworth this week and numerous public warnings about the dangers of leaving pets in vehicles in hot weather, area police agencies continue to receive calls about just that.

On Friday, in Bangor alone, police were called to seven locations where dogs had been left unattended in vehicles, according to Lt. Tom Reagan.

The calls came in from throughout the city involving vehicles parked in retail store parking lots and in front of residences.

Though pet owners can be charged with animal cruelty, most owners initially receive a verbal warning, Reagan said. If the owners can’t be located, the police call a local wrecker service to unlock the vehicle and an animal control officer to check on the animal’s well-being.

Reagan’s advice for dog owners?

“Leave them home or take them for a ride at night” when the temperatures are cooler, he said. (Dawn Gagnon, BDN)