THOMAS G. COFFILL III
A Lisbon Falls man on Thursday was sentenced to three years in jail for assaulting a Bath police officer who was attempting to serve him with a protection-from-abuse order.
Just five days prior to the verdict, police in Lisbon charged the same man, Thomas G. Coffill III, with domestic violence terrorizing, as well as three other charges.
A Sagadahoc Superior Court jury found Coffill guilty of felony assault on a police officer during an incident that occurred on April 3. Coffill, 40, also plead guilty to three related misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief, refusing to submit to arrest, and assault.
Coffill received a jail sentence of 364 days for the misdemeanor offenses, to run concurrent with the three years for the felony assault on a police officer. The case was prosecuted by Sagadahoc County Assistant District Attorney Patricia A. Mador.
Coffill was out on bail when Lisbon police arrested him on Sunday, Sept. 9, on Lisbon Street in Lisbon Falls. Lt. Dan Michel said that a woman who had a protection order against him called police at 4:18 p.m., and reported that he had refused to leave, and was getting a gun and looking for bullets. Three children were on the premises, Michel said.
Officer Dan Estes — who was familiar with Coffill — responded.
“Coffill was holding a gun in a case,” Michel said. “He hadn’t removed the rifle from the gun case at that point. He was in an irate state and he resisted arrest.”
A scuffle ensued, Michel said. Sgt. Harry Moore then arrived, and police were able to handcuff Coffill and take him to Androscog- gin Jail in Auburn.
The Bath arrest stems from an incident on April 3.
According to a press release from the Bath Police Department:
On April 3, Bath police responded to 12 Russell St. to assist Lisbon Police Department in locating Coffill. A Bath officer located Coffill at his father’s home and informed the younger Coffill that a Lisbon officer was coming to serve him with protection from-abuse paperwork.
Coffill became upset and went into the home while the officer spoke with a family member.
During this time, Coffill snuck out of the house. A short time later a Bath officer observed Coffin return to 12 Russell St. Several Bath officers and a Lisbon police officer (Estes) returned to the home and met with Coffill. Bath officer Jason Aucoin attempted to read the protection from-abuse order to Coffill outside the home.
Coffill became angry and knocked the paperwork out of the officer’s hand and shoved a second Bath officer before running toward the house. The officers attempted to arrest Coffill and a struggle ensued.
Bath officer Michael Lever was injured during the struggle when Coffill trapped his leg in a door and refused to surrender. Coffill was eventually handcuffed and placed in a Bath cruiser. While being placed in the Bath cruiser Coffill kicked another officer and also kicked out a Bath cruiser’s side rear window.
Coffill has a long history of violent behavior, which includes seven convictions for assault, three convictions for terrorizing and one conviction for violating a protective order.
Coffill is currently in jail and facing new charges in Androscoggin County of criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, terrorizing, and violating conditions of release.
Michel said that Lisbon police had arrested Colfill last year, and one of the charges was refusal to submit to arrest.
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