JAY — A man trying to avoid arrest Friday after hitting a woman with his truck on Bridge Street, backed his truck into a Livermore Falls police cruiser in the parking lot of the Jay Police Department, Police Chief Richard Caton IV said Monday.

James Eugene Murphy Jr., 60, of Jay was arrested on felony charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, refusing to submit to arrest or detention-physical force, and driving to endanger.

There was a civil dispute at a home on Bridge Street and when Murphy backed out of the residence, his truck hit a woman and he left the scene, Caton said.

It does not appear the woman was injured, he said. 

Later Murphy met with Jay officer Dylan Rider at the Police Department. Rider, assisted by Livermore Falls officer Troy Reed and Jay officer Kevin Lemay, tried to arrest Murphy, who was sitting in his truck, but Murphy put the truck in reverse and hit the Livermore Falls cruiser, Caton said.

Murphy stopped, got out of the truck and was arrested, he said.

Murphy was taken to Franklin County Detention Center in Farmington. He posted $250 cash bail Saturday to be released.

Murphy, who had bail conditions that included not to return to the Bridge Street residence and to have no contact with the woman, was arrested again Sunday.

Murphy is accused of driving by the residence at about noon Sunday and yelling at family members, including the woman who was hit by the truck, according to an affidavit filed with the court by Jay officer Alex Burns.

Murphy was being held without bail Monday morning at the Franklin County Jail until he goes before a judge later in the day.

A conviction for assault with a dangerous weapon and for the other charges are each punishable by a maximum five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

The Livermore Falls 2017 Ford Explorer Interceptor cruiser was damaged,  Livermore Falls Police Chief Ernest Steward Jr. said Monday. He was awaiting an estimate of damage. 

dperry@sunmediagroup.net

James Murphy (Franklin County Detention Center)

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