SKOWHEGAN — A local man and a police officer both were checked out at a local hospital Sunday night after a scuffle that led to the man’s arrest.
Skowhegan Police Chief David Bucknam said Officer Jacob Boudreau was sent to a report of a motor vehicle complaint at about 9:15 p.m. Sunday on Island Avenue. The caller provided police with the license plate number and Bourdreau caught up with the car on Madison Avenue.
Bucknam said Boudreau saw the vehicle weaving back and forth and making jerking movements, which he said is indicative of a driver under the influence. Boudreau stopped the vehicle on Madison Avenue.
The driver, 61-year-old John Ames of Skowhegan, was showing signs of impairment, Bucknam said in an email.
When Boudreau attempted to conduct field sobriety tests on Ames on the side of the road, Ames allegedly decided to stop the test, get back in his car and leave the area. Bucknam said Boudreau was able to remove the keys from the ignition, but Ames, allegedly attempting to force the officer’s hand open, injured Bourdreau’s thumb.
When Boudreau, along with a sheriff’s deputy, got Ames into custody, Ames claimed he was having chest pains. A second sheriff’s deputy, another Skowhegan police officer and a state trooper also responded to the fracas, as did two ambulances from Redington-Fairview General Hospital, according to the radio communications log.
Ames was taken to the hospital, where he was medically cleared and taken to the Somerset County Jail in East Madison for processing.
Ames was charged with operating under the influence, failure to submit to arrest or detention, criminal mischief and assault on an officer.
Boudreau was medically checked at the hospital for injuries to his hand and was released, according to Bucknam.
Doug Harlow — 612-2367
Twitter:@Doug_Harlow
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