By Terry Karkos,Staff Writer

RUMFORD – An off-duty Mexico patrolman was arrested late Thursday afternoon and accused of committing domestic violence crimes last month, Rumford Sgt. James Bernard said.

Shortly before 4:30 p.m., Michael J. Richard, 57, of Rumford, was charged with domestic assault and terrorizing, both misdemeanors, then released on $1,000 unsecured bail. Richard will be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 5 in Rumford District Court.

Mexico police Chief Jim Theriault said he had placed Richard on paid administrative leave after being notified by Rumford police of the charges.

“It started today, and it will end whenever the court decision comes out,” Theriault said of the paid leave.

Attempts to reach Richard for comment were unsuccessful.

Bernard was reluctant to provide information about the case and refused to release a booking mug shot of Richard.

He said the charges were filed after a woman called the police station at 1:50 p.m. Wednesday, asking to speak with an officer about a civil issue.

After speaking with a patrolman, the woman filed a domestic violence complaint about an incident she said happened in June, Bernard said.

The case was given to acting Detective Sgt. Mark Cayer.

Like Bernard, Cayer deferred additional comment to Rumford Chief Stacy Carter.

Contacted at his home Thursday night, Carter said that on Wednesday he called state police and the Office of the Maine Attorney General, which typically investigate complaints about police officers when there is a possible conflict of interest.

Mexico and Rumford police routinely work closely with each other, and Richard formerly was a Rumford police officer.

But, Carter said, state police and the attorney general declined to take over the investigation without specifying why.

State police spokesman Stephen McCausland, contacted at his camp late Thursday night, said he wasn’t aware that Rumford police had arrested a Mexico police officer. Because of that, he said he couldn’t comment about why the state police and the attorney general might not investigate and pursue the case against Richard.

Attorney General Steven Rowe was away at an event and unavailable for comment Thursday night, a family member said.

Carter said the arrest followed an investigation during which Cayer determined there was probable cause to charge Richard with the two Class D misdemeanor crimes.

And, siding with Bernard, Carter said police are not bound by law to provide booking mug shots to the public, but usually do so out of courtesy. This case is an exception.

Carter declined to elaborate on the charges levied against Richard.

Prior to being hired by Mexico police in 2000, Richard had been a Rumford patrolman since 1972. He retired in the summer of 2000 after a 28-year career, according to his cop card on the Rumford Police Department Web site.

Richard, the site states, is the father of three daughters and one son, and grandfather of three girls. His hobbies include hunting, skiing and gunsmithing.

Contacted late Thursday night, Theriault said he never had any problems with Richard.

“I’m behind him 100 percent until he’s proven guilty. I have all the trust and faith in the world in him. I’ve known Mike all my life, and worked with him for 34 years,” Theriault said.

Phone messages left with Mexico Town Manager John Madigan, and Mexico Selectmen Barbara Laramee, Richard Philbrick and George Byam were not returned Thursday.