Nine arrested in 2 Mexico incidents

MEXICO — Two of nine area people arrested in two separate incidents Sunday and Monday in Mexico remained behind bars early Tuesday evening at Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn.

Keith A. Provencher, 27, of 206 Cumberland St., Apt. 4, Rumford, was arrested early Monday morning at 23 Osgood Ave. in Mexico on charges of aggravated criminal mischief, obstructing government administration, disorderly conduct, assault and violation of conditions of release.

Alicia Mae MacKerron, 18, of 55 Roxbury Road in Mexico, was arrested at 8:50 p.m. Sunday on charges of assaulting two police officers at her residence, after questioning about a Saturday assault.

Unable to make bail, both were taken to Oxford County Jail in Paris. They were arraigned on Monday in Rumford District Court, then transferred to the Auburn jail. Trials for both are set for Jan. 11 in the Rumford court.

Provencher, who is a registered sex offender, is also expected to enter a plea Wednesday in U.S. District Court District of Maine in Portland on separate gun charges brought by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, according to Rumford police. The gun charges stem from a January burglary of Casey's Auto and Gun Shop in Mexico, during which eight handguns and a rifle were stolen.

In the second incident, Mexico Patrolman Daniel Carrier and Dixfield Officer Eric Bernier responded to a report of a stabbing at 12:30 a.m. Monday at Kim Towers' apartment at 23 Osgood Ave. in Mexico. During the investigation, Carrier said Dustin M. Towers, 21, of Jay, told him he had stabbed Brian Knight, 36, of Dixfield.

Mexico Chief Jim Theriault said Knight, a convicted sex offender, showed up uninvited for the party, was escorted out, re-entered the apartment and began fighting.

Knight, who was bleeding from the mouth and had suffered a cut on his arm from a beer bottle thrown at him, denied being stabbed, Carrier said.

While Carrier and Bernier tried to separate Dustin Towers and Knight, Knight punched Carrier in the chest and was arrested by Bernier.

Knight was charged with criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, assault, violating bail conditions, obstructing government administration and refusal to submit to arrest or detention.

Rumford police Sgt. Tracey Higley and Patrolman Lawrence Winson arrived to help.

That's when Deana Donahue and Megan Mandigo, both 20 and of Rumford, ran out and attacked Higley, who shot both women with a stun gun, Carrier's report said.

Then, Provencher and Dustin Towers both attacked Officer Winson, who shot them with a stun gun, the report said.

Arraigned on Monday in Rumford District Court and awaiting trial on Jan. 11, are, in addition to Provencher:

 • Knight, who was released on $500 cash bail from the Auburn jail.

 • Dustin Towers, on charges of disorderly conduct, assault, obstructing government administration and violation of bail conditions. He was released on $100 cash bail.

 • Donahue, on a charge of assault. She was released on $500 cash bail.

 • Mandigo, on charges of assault and possession of alcohol by a minor. She was released on $100 cash bail.

 • Kim Towers, on charges of disorderly conduct and furnishing a place for minors to consume alcohol. She was released on personal recognizance bail.

 • Phillip Hutchinson, 23, of Mexico, on a charge of disorderly conduct. He remained at Oxford County Jail late Tuesday afternoon.

 • Aaron Griffin, 22, of Mexico, on a charge of disorderly conduct. He was released on personal recognizance bail.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com