BLUE HILL – An Ellsworth man remained in custody Wednesday charged with stabbing a state trooper Tuesday night who had questioned him in connection with a burglary.

State Trooper Thomas Pickering was treated at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital for a stab wound to his leg that required three stitches. He was later released.

Pickering was scheduled for two days off beginning on Wednesday, although he planned to return to the scene on Wednesday with another investigator. Lt. Christopher Coleman, Troop J commander, said Pickering expected to return to duty on Friday as scheduled.

“Of course, if for some reason he needs it, we’d make sure he had another couple of days off,” Coleman said. “But he’s anxious to get back to work. He’s a seasoned officer and is taking this all in stride.”

The incident began at about 5 p.m. Tuesday when Pickering went to an apartment in the Green’s Hill section of Route 172 to question Joshua Gray, 24, of Ellsworth in connection with a burglary in town earlier this week. According to Lt. Coleman, as a result of that questioning, Pickering began to question a second, unidentified male at the apartment.

At that point, Gray bolted from the building and fled on foot heading down Green’s Hill toward town. Gray was struck by a car on the road, but continued running with the trooper behind him. Pickering caught up with Gray and tackled him in the driveway of a nearby home, located about halfway down the hill.

During the ensuing scuffle, Gray allegedly stabbed the officer, although Pickering did not realize he had been wounded until he had handcuffed Gray and was in his cruiser on the way to Ellsworth, according to Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

“It was after Gray was in handcuffs that the trooper noticed blood on his pants as he was driving Gray to the Hancock jail,” McCausland said in a prepared release.

Pickering notified his sergeant that he had been wounded and then drove to the hospital with Gray, who also was examined.

Pickering had called for backup and officers from the Maine State Police and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department searched the area. Near the driveway where the arrest took place, one of the State Police dogs located a pen knife, which is believed to be the weapon used to stab the trooper, according to McCausland.

“We had good support from the Sheriff’s Department,” Coleman said. “They assisted us all night and we appreciate their help.”

In fact, that night Deputy Scott Kane recovered the electronic equipment – a Sony Playstation and some games – that had been taken from a home on Sunday.

Gray has been charged with aggravated assault in connection with the stabbing and is being held at the Hancock County Jail. His first court appearance is scheduled for today in Hancock County Superior Court.

Charges have yet to be filed in connection with the burglary, but Coleman said investigators anticipate additional charges to follow. He also said they have not ruled out additional arrests in connection with the burglary.

rhewitt@bangordailynews.net

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