Houlton Police Department officer breaks leg in altercation

  HOULTON, Maine — A Houlton police officer will be out of action for the next 12 weeks after suffering a broken leg while attempting to arrest a combative individual inside the department’s interrogation room.
According to Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin, on Jan. 18 at about 12:30 p.m., Michael Bennett, 20, of Littleton, came into the Houlton Police Department to see Officer Theron Bickford in regard to Bennett’s alleged involvement in an earlier theft case. Bennett reportedly had in his possession a stolen Schauer battery charger.
    “Oficer Bickford escorted Mr. Bennett to the department’s interview room,” the chief said. “Mr. Bennett was agitated and belligerent at the time despite the efforts of Officer Bickford to calm him down. When asked, Mr. Bennett refused to disclose his date of birth so that Officer Bickford could issue him a summons. When Officer Bickford came into dispatch to verify Mr. Bennett’s date of birth, he informed Officer Erica Pelletier and Det. Kris Calaman that there might be problems with Mr. Bennett.”
When Officer Bickford returned to the interview room, Bennett continued to direct vulgar language toward him, the chief said, and Officer Bickford then placed Bennett under arrest.
“Mr. Bennett allegedly refused to submit and be handcuffed,” Asselin said. “Officer Pelletier and Det. Calaman quickly proceeded to the interview room to assist Officer Bickford. Officer Pelletier observed Mr. Bennett pushing Officer Bickford and continued to refuse his command to submit to arrest.”
Pelletier and Calaman assisted Bickford in getting Bennett to the floor so that he could be properly restrained. Bennett still actively resisted, the chief said.
“Mr. Bennett had Officer Bickford pinned against the wall as the other officers were attempting to bring Bennett to the floor,” he said. “As Mr. Bennett was brought to the floor, Officer Bickford was still against the wall grimacing in pain. Officer Bickford relayed that he thought his leg was broken. While on the floor, Mr. Bennett was still actively resisting the attempt by the officers to restrain him.”
Officer Pelletier deployed the Taser on Bennett striking him in the buttocks and lower back, the chief said. Bennett was still actively resisting, and was hit with the Taser a second time. He was then subdued and placed in handcuffs. Bennett was later transported to the Houlton Regional Hospital where the Taser probe in his buttocks was removed, the chief said.
Officer Bickford was treated at the police department by EMS, secured on a backboard and transported to HRH. Officer Bickford leg wasn’t placed in a cast, but he did suffer a broken bone in his left leg.
Bennett was charged with theft by unauthorized taking or transfer (a Class E crime); violating conditions of release (a Class E crime); refusing to submit to arrest (a Class D crime); assault on an officer (a Class C crime); and aggravated assault (a Class B crime).