Two Paris police officers were treated at MaineHealth Stephens Hospital last Wednesday for injuries received while arresting a West Paris man, who was charged with drug crimes and for assaulting officers.

Heith Bernard was also taken to the hospital before being booked into Oxford County Jail.

Officer Jillian Douglas was called to Dollar General at 1 p.m. Oct. 15 for a complaint about a male inside the store knocking merchandise off store shelves and scaring other customers.

Cpl. Rob Federico and School Resource Officer Tim Holland, who was directing traffic at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, also responded. Upon learning Bernard had outstanding warrants against him, Federico and Douglas attempted to arrest him.

Police say Bernard hit Federico in the face and struck Holland on the head several times as he was being handcuffed. 

Federico was taken by ambulance to Stephens Hospital and received stitches to his forehead. Holland was also treated for a mild concussion.

Once Bernard was treated by hospital emergency staff, Douglas transported him to Oxford County Jail. He was charged with refusing to submit to arrest and detention; assault on police officers; aggravated trafficking of methamphetamine; unlawful possession of fentanyl; violating conditions of release; and on a warrant for failure to appear on previous charges of unlawful possession of cocaine.

“Bernard had 26.5 grams of methamphetamine at the time of his arrest, as well as fentanyl,” Paris police Chief Mike Ward told the Advertiser Democrat. “When officers arrived it was clear that he was under the influence of some substance.”

School had just been dismissed for the day so there was no need to put OHCHS on lockdown, Ward said. As of Monday, Bernard remained in custody at the jail on Western Avenue.

Both Federico and Holland returned to work last week.