Driving a chainsaw while drunk

A drunken Maine man gave the town of Howland a huge scare when he started up a chainsaw and allegedly began to threaten motorists. It happened last year, but somehow I never posted this piece, and it remained on the blog file as a draft. Well, I'd hate to waste it, so here it is for your reading pleasure.

What kills me the most (with laugher!) is this quote from the article: "It's not a common occurrence for this sleepy little town," said resident Gary Bragdon. Ha!! It's good to clarify things like that.

WEIRD BUT TRUE
By TIM PERONE, Wire Services
June 8, 2007
http://www.bangornews.com

HOWLAND, Maine --
A man who waved a chain saw over his head, threatened motorists and did some impromptu pruning of local shrubbery was arrested at gunpoint.

Lionel Dube Jr., 47, of Argyle, was charged with disorderly conduct, criminal threatening and violation of bail conditions after police responded to reports that he was waving the chain saw at passing motorists late Tuesday.

"You know how in the 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' the guy raised his chain saw up and revved it? That's what he was doing," Deputy Sheriff Michael Knights said. "Alcohol was involved."

Knights and Maine State Police Trooper Thomas Fiske said they disarmed Dube at gunpoint near the Howland-Enfield Federal Credit Union. By that time, Dube's chain saw didn't pose much of a threat because the chain had fallen off, they said.

"It's not a common occurrence for this sleepy little town," said Gary Bragdon, the credit union's manager, who learned of the incident when he reported to work Wednesday morning.

Bragdon, who lives near the building, said he'd heard the chain saw the night before. "You hear a chain saw at 11:30 at night and you think, no, it can't be. My mind must be playing tricks on me," Bragdon said.

Dube, who has a lengthy criminal record consisting mostly of minor offenses, is due in Lincoln District Court Aug. 7.

[Source]