Incident Date: April 14, 2005 Release Date: April 15, 2005
Incident Time: 9:31PM Release Time: 12:00AM
Incident Location: 853 Main Street, South Portland, ME
Incident Synopsis:
On the above date and time, South Portland Police and EMS units were dispatched to an apartment building located at 853 Main Street for a reported domestic dispute. It was reported that a female victim had been assaulted, possibly thrown down some stairs and in need of medical attention. Units arrived and observed significant amounts of blood on the ground at the bottom of a set of stairs outside of the 2nd floor apartment. Nobody was present outside and officers became concerned for the victim’s well being. After being unable to get anyone to answer the door to the apartment, officers forced entry, locating a confrontational male subject and the female victim. In order to resolve the situation, an officer resorted to deploying a Taser unit, allowing them to take the male into custody.
DENNIS SPAULDING, 33, of South Portland, was arrested and charged with Domestic Violence Aggravated Assault and Refusing to Submit to Arrest or Detention.
Rescue transported the 35 year old female victim to a local hospital, where she was treated and released.
The South Portland Police Department has equipped its patrol officers with several less lethal options, the most recent addition being Taser energy weapons. Tasers allow for the safe and brief incapacitation of combative subjects without the after-effects and decontamination issues associated with such options as Pepper spray. More than 30% of the department’s patrol officers have been qualified with the Taser to date. Based on successful applications with the Taser units, plans are already underway to train the remainder of the department’s officers.
Direct any questions to Sgt. Frank Clark, South Portland PD, 207-799-5511.
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