AUBURN — A Minot man, who police said had taken steps toward burning down his home and assaulted his wife in July, was charged this week with a related felony and six misdemeanors.
An Androscoggin County grand jury indicted Corey Hamel, 36, of 744 Pottle Hill Road on a charge of attempted arson, a Class B crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. He also was charged with two counts of domestic violence assault and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Each of the misdemeanor charges is punishable by up to 364 days in jail.
According to an affidavit written by Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Deputy Travis G. Lovering, he and another deputy were dispatched to Hamel’s home at 3:18 a.m. on July 2 in response to a call that Hamel was “out of control, tearing up the house and beating his wife.”
Hamel was reported to be drunk and suicidal. He had poured gasoline throughout the interior of the house and was saying he would set it on fire, Lovering wrote in his statement.
Lovering had been advised that Hamel may be seeking suicide by cop.
Fire and ambulance personnel were summoned to the area.
Corey’s wife and other occupants said they were leaving the home and met with authorities on the street.
A Mechanic Falls police officer also responded.
Hamel’s wife told police that he showed signs of suffering from severe mental health issues since a serious motorcycle crash, including post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder, Lovering wrote in his affidavit.
In June, Hamel had tried to jump off an Auburn bridge, but was held back by police, she said.
On the night of July 1, Hamel had suddenly become upset and threw a wine bottle that struck the side of his wife’s head, though she didn’t think he had meant to hit her, she told Lovering.
He broke several items in their home, then smashed a security camera with a hammer, she told Lovering. His two daughters tried to stop him by tackling him; one of them was injured when he threw her off, Lovering wrote. The two daughters suffered minor injuries.
Hamel went outside the house and “got a tank containing gasoline.”
After bringing it inside the home, Hamel “stated that he was going to burn the house down and commit suicide,” his wife told Lovering. He told his wife and children to leave the home, which they did.
She told authorities that Hamel owned several BB guns.
Local fire officials closed the road where the home is located. Lovering, another deputy and the Mechanic Falls officer drove to the home where Corey stood in the driveway, wearing only a pair of pants and holding a handgun to his head.
Lovering pointed a rifle at Hamel and told him to drop his gun and lie on the ground. Hamel paced the driveway, yelling that he was going to kill himself and that he wanted to die. He had been talking on a cellphone, but threw the phone on the ground. He entered the house then exited again, Lovering wrote.
Eventually, at Lovering’s urging, Hamel dropped his gun and laid on the ground on his stomach. He was handcuffed and searched. Hamel’s breath smelled of alcohol; his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, Lovering wrote.
Hamel was combative and sought to fight the deputy, despite being handcuffed, Lovering wrote.
Hamel was taken to St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston before he was cleared to be taken to Androscoggin County Jail.
Hamel is scheduled to appear in 8th District Court in Lewiston on Friday where he is expected to enter pleas to the charges.
Bail was set in July at $10,000.
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