LEWISTON — A teenager was charged with assault and another teen with theft Wednesday in connection with an incident at Speaker’s Variety that left the store owner with a broken wrist.

The boys, both 16, were charged after police consulted with the Androscoggin County District Attorney’s Office about the Nov. 3 assault at the Spruce Street store in downtown Lewiston.

Because the boys are juveniles, their names were not released.

According to witness accounts, Speaker’s owner Patricia Speaker was assaulted inside the store after her grandson confronted a shoplifter.

Police said the boy who allegedly committed the theft fled the store, and the other youth fought with a store employee near the doorway.

When Pat Speaker, 83, saw her grandson thrown to the ground and punched, she ran across the store to intervene.

Speaker said she was flung back by the assailant, which caused her to fall to the floor and break her wrist. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital and might require surgery.

(Google Street View image)


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