Authorities Say Man From Lowell Arrested, His Firearms Confiscated After Family Fight Saturday

A man from Lowell, Maine, who tried to flee authorities after getting drunk, damaging his home, and running off with a rifle, was arrested Saturday evening and had his guns confiscated, according to the Penobscot Sheriff's Office.

Authorities say the initial call came into dispatchers at 7:45 PM on Saturday. Witnesses reported a family fight in progress and said an intoxicated man was causing damage to the property.

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It was reported to sheriff's deputies that Lowell resident William Smith, who is 48-years-old, was not only drunk and destroying the property, but that there was a chance he had a firearm, as well.

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When the deputies arrived on the scene, they say someone at the location stated they had found two handguns on the floor of a nearby garage, along with a rifle that had been discarded in the snow on the driveway of the residence.

While conducting interviews with the witnesses at the scene, deputies heard a white truck nearby rev its engine and then proceed to travel in their direction. Folks on hand confirmed that the truck was being driven by Smith.

According to the Penobscot County Sheriff's Office, the man was later located and taken into custody, and his guns were removed from the premises.

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"Deputies then pursued the vehicle and found it stuck in a snowbank at the intersection of Lowell Road and Cedar Rest Road. Smith was placed under arrest for operating a motor vehicle while under the Influence of intoxicating liquor. Based on the totality of the circumstances, the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division completed the Extreme Risk Protection Order (Yellow Flag) process, and the firearms were removed from Smith’s residence."

He was transported to the Penobscot County Jail, where he stayed the night and was released the next day, Sunday, February 21st, on bail.