A woman whom police described as a transient was arrested Thursday and charged with assault and disorderly conduct in connection with a fracas at Pickering Square in Bangor.

Jessica Strout, 20, was released later that day on unspecified bail, according to Penobscot County Jail officials.

According to Deputy Police Chief Peter Arno, the trouble began about 4 p.m. when Strout began shouting at another woman at Pickering Square. That caught the attention of Officer Erik Tall, who then saw Strout grab the woman, then pull her down to the ground by her hair and the back of her shirt.

Tall then saw Strout throw “at least four punches” at the woman, according to the police report he filed on the incident.

Tall said the victim, a Portland resident, appeared to have difficulty breathing but eventually calmed down. After interviewing both women, Tall learned that the problem between the two had to do with the fact that Strout’s former boyfriend was now involved with the victim.

Strout was ordered to appear in 3rd District Court in Bangor on June 12 to respond to the charges. (Dawn Gagnon, BDN)