Portland Police Assaulted by Bystanders
On Sunday, July 11th, at approximately 7:26 p.m., Portland police officers responded to a disturbance near the block of 25 Preble Street. While interviewing witnesses, they noticed a man, later identified as Frederick Archer, of Portland, sitting in a doorway with a handgun in his waistband. Dispatchers confirmed that Archer was a felon and not permitted to have a gun.
Officers confiscated the weapon before Archer attempted to escape and resisted arrest. Archer assaulted officers and made several attempts to obtain their firearms.
During this incident, a crowd formed and acted hostile towards officers. A person in the crowd, a 17-year-old male of Portland, challenged officers to fight and acted aggressively. The suspect threw a metal container at the hood of a police vehicle, causing damage, and shoved an officer. Police arrested the male on charges of assault, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, and criminal threatening. Police later released the 17-year-old into the custody of a parent.
Officers took Archer to the Cumberland County Jail. He was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in addition to two counts of assault on a police officer, and a count of assault and refusing to submit to arrest. Three officers were treated and released from Mercy Hospital.
City Leaders Address Aggression Towards Police after Independence Day celebration
This was not the first time in July that members of the public assaulted police officers. In a separate incident at around 9 p.m. on Monday, July 6th, officers responded to several calls for illegal fireworks. A group of at least 300 people gathered in the area of Oxford and Anderson Streets.
As officers made efforts to move and disperse the crowds, some fired fireworks at them. Police arrested one 17-year-old male from Portland and charged him with disorderly conduct and criminal use of explosives.
“We hold our officers to high standards and expect them to display professionalism, courtesy and compassion during their interactions with the public,” said Chief Frank Clark. “It is not too much to expect the same level of decency in return, so that everyone involved in an interaction goes home safely to their family.”
Chief Clark also called the violence against officers “cowardly and unwarranted.”
Mayor Kate Snyder also denounced the violence aimed at police officers. And City Manager Jon Jennings said, “The attacks on our police officers are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
Contact Portland (ME) Police
Contact Portland Police at 874-8575. To report an anonymous tip, text the keyword “GOTCHA” plus the tip message to 274637 (CRIMES). Or go to http://portland-police.com and click “Submit an Anonymous Crime Tip.”
