CHESTERVILLE – A man was charged with assaulting a state trooper following reports he was standing in the middle of the road and hitting vehicles as they drove by on Sunday.
According to State Police, at about 6:25 p.m., Trooper Keith Barton was dispatched to 110 Ridge Road in Chesterville after a resident had reported his neighbor, Jason Fowler, 38, appeared to be drunk or high and was standing in the middle of the road hitting vehicles with his hands as they drove by.
While police were responding to the scene, Augusta Regional Communications Center dispatchers advised that they had received more calls about Fowler.
“One caller stated Mr. Fowler had hit her vehicle, another caller stated Mr. Fowler had blood coming from his face,” said Sgt. Jeffrey S. Beach of the State Police. Other reports indicated Franklin County Sheriff’s Department had a deputy, Edward Hastings, on scene and the subject had fled into the woods. Trooper Mathew Casavant was dispatched to the Ridge Road with his police canine, Marcello.
When Barton arrived, he found Fowler, who had come back out of the woods. “Fowler showed signs of being intoxicated and was extremely belligerent,” Beach said. When Trooper Casavant arrived, Fowler allegedly confronted Casavant and physically shoved the trooper.
Fowler was arrested and charged with assault on a police officer and transported to Franklin County Jail.
