NORWAY – A Mechanic Falls man was charged with criminal attempt to commit murder after a drunken driving incident Saturday, but the District Attorney’s Office is not pursuing the charge.

Thomas James Cunneen, 40, was arrested Saturday morning by officer Holli Pullen of the Norway Police Department. Pullen charged Cunneen with criminal attempt, operating under the influence, failure to stop for an officer, aggravated operating after habitual offender revocation, aggravated driving to endanger and receiving stolen property.

According to Pullen’s report, Cunneen repeatedly told her that he had been driving to Greenwood to kill two men.

The District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint Monday charging Cunneen with felony operating after revocation, misdemeanor charges of criminal OUI and failure to stop for an officer.

Assistant District Attorney Joseph O’Connor said Wednesday that he might pursue additional charges before the grand jury if they receive more information, but he did not agree with Pullen’s assessment in filing the criminal attempt complaint.

“Just saying you’re going to kill someone isn’t a substantial step toward killing someone,” O’Connor said.

Pullen said Tuesday that Cunneen was speeding on Route 117 in a 1998 Pontiac Grand Am at about 8:15 a.m. She arrested him with assistance from Deputy Josh Wyman of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office after Cunneen ran into a snowbank near Greenwood Road.

Pullen said Cunneen had been driving with an alcoholic beverage in his hand and five cans of beer in his coat. His blood-alcohol level later tested at 0.19 percent, more than twice the legal threshhold of 0.08 percent. Pullen said no weapons were found in the vehicle, but that Cunneen said he intended to kill the men with his hands and a brick.

Pullen said Cunneen admitted to stealing the car, and that the Mechanic Falls Police Department took a stolen vehicle report about a half-hour before the arrest. She said she considered the theft and Cunneen’s drive toward Greenwood a “substantial step” toward his threats to commit murder.

On Thursday Pullen said she felt the charge of criminal attempt to commit murder was appropriate, even though the District Attorney’s office did not.

“I also have him on video saying at least 100 times, over and over, he was going to go up there and kill them,” Pullen said.

Cunneen made his initial appearance in South Paris District Court on Tuesday. Judge Valerie Stanfill said the court would only address the District Attorney’s complaint, but that further charges may be brought before the grand jury for indictment.

Assistant DA O’Connor said Cunneen had three prior OUI convictions and four prior convictions of operating after revocation. He said the arrest included “quite extreme” circumstances and asked that bail be set at $2,500 cash or $20,000 surety.

Defense attorney Maurice Porter said Cunneen is employed as a metal fabricator, has no history of failure to appear in court, and has a child to care for. He asked that bail be set at $500.

Stanfill set bail at $2,000 cash or $30,000 surety, with conditions that Cunneen is not to possess alcohol or illegal drugs, must submit to random searches, can have no contact with the men he allegedly wanted to kill, and cannot operate a motor vehicle under any circumstance.

Cunneen remained at the Oxford County Jail on Thursday.