RANGELEY – A Sebago man faces several charges in connection with an assault on a Rangeley police officer who, officials say, was trying to calm him down.
Christopher O’Donnell, 42, was arrested late Sunday on charges of disorderly conduct and assault on an officer and summoned on charges of refusing to submit to arrest and refusing to sign a summons, said Rangeley Police Chief Phil Weymouth on Tuesday.
O’Donnell was apparently walking down the middle of the road and started making obscene hand gestures to a state police trooper who was trying to respond to an emergency call, Weymouth said.
Rangeley officer Brian Hughes was asked to take care of the situation.
Hughes drove to where O’Donnell was, and O’Donnell’s wife started coming toward the officer, yelling and screaming, Weymouth said.
When Hughes turned to deal with her, O’Donnell went after Hughes and a scuffle ensued, Weymouth said.
A U.S. Border Patrol officer intervened and knocked O’Donnell down, Weymouth said.
O’Donnell was on the ground and spitting, and he grabbed Hughes’ legs and pulled them out from under him, Weymouth said.
“Everything went to hell after that,” he said.
O’Donnell started biting Hughes’ kneecaps while officers were trying to arrest him, Weymouth said.
Officers used a minimal amount of force trying to get the situation under control, Weymouth said.
Franklin County Sheriff’s Department also responded to help subdue O’Donnell, he said.
“The case is still under investigation,” Weymouth said.
Hughes received abrasions on both knees, he said.
O’Donnell was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington, Weymouth said, to be checked out. There were no injuries except for soft tissue facial swelling, Weymouth said.
O’Donnell was then taken to the county jail in Farmington.
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