A Maine Man Faces Charges After He Allegedly Drove His Plow Truck at Protestors

A man from Rockland is facing several charges after an incident involving a group of protestors that took place over the weekend.

According to an article on the WABI website, a Rockland man is in custody after police say he drove a plow truck with the blade down straight toward a crowd gathered at Chapman Park, sending snow and ice flying into multiple people. Some were hit hard enough to be knocked to the ground.

Police arrested 65-year-old Michael Robinson and charged him with felony reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and driving to endanger.

He was taken into custody Saturday and booked into the Knox County Jail.

Investigators say more charges are likely.

According to Rockland Police Department, about 75 people were in the park at the time for a gathering that’s part of a weekly series that’s been happening for over a year.

The reps for the department explain that, even though there have been protests in the park for over a year, there have been several criminal incidents over the last few weeks.

A post on the Rockland Police Department Facebook page says, in part:

The Rockland Police Department is dedicated to upholding the First Amendment rights of all citizens to peaceably assemble and express their views. To ensure the safety of our community, the public will notice an increased police presence during upcoming events. We will not tolerate acts of violence, theft, or assault and our priority is to ensure that every individual can exercise their rights safely and without fear of being targeted by criminal acts for their beliefs.

Police say they support peaceful assembly, but they won’t tolerate violence or intimidation. They’re also warning residents to expect a bigger police presence at future events.