WATERVILLE — Police arrested two men on felony charges Monday in separate cases of domestic violence in the city that allegedly involved attacks on women.
Police were sent to an apartment at 151 Water St. around 8 a.m. Monday in response to a report of a domestic disturbance, Deputy Chief Bill Bonney said. Officers allegedly found that James Buffington, 36, of the same address, was violating a protection from abuse order stemming from Arkansas, which had been filed by his wife. Buffington allegedly had been assaulting his wife for two to three days, Bonney said, although this was allegedly an “ongoing abusive relationship.”
The recent alleged assault involved strangulation, Bonney said, which elevated the charge against Buffington to a felony.
Bonney said there was enough evidence at the scene to support the victim’s allegations against Buffington.
Buffington was arrested on charges of violating a protection from abuse order, a class D misdemeanor, and aggravated assault, a class B felony. He was taken to the Kennebec County jail in Augusta, where he was being held without bail until he sees a judge.
Police later responded around 5:30 p.m to a report of a domestic dispute at 1 Poolers Parkway in Waterville. Robert Carson, 22, of the same address, allegedly got into a escalating dispute with his girlfriend, Bonney said.
Carson allegedly bit his girlfriend, then threatened her with a knife and damaged some of her property, including a cellphone. He left the area and was arrested on Spruce Street, according to police. Bonney said that while Carson has no prior domestic violence convictions, police were familiar with him.
Carson was arrested on charges of domestic violence assault and criminal mischief, both class D misdemeanors, as well as threatening with a dangerous weapon, a class C felony.
He was also taken to the Kennebec County jail, where he is being held without bail until he sees a judge, because of the nature of the crimes.
Madeline St. Amour — 861-9239
mstamour@centralmaine.com
Twitter: @madelinestamour
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