Duo arrested after attacking Farmington man with ax, police say
April 11 2012
http://bangordailynews.com/2012/04/1...ax-police-say/FARMINGTON, Maine — A man and woman face felony charges after attacking a homeowner with an ax, according to Farmington police.
At 11:45 p.m. April 3, a resident on Poverty Lane awoke to tapping on his window. The window was eventually broken, Farmington police Deputy Chief Shane Cote said Wednesday.
The two intruders who broke the window then broke open the front door and a fight began between them and the male homeowner and his girlfriend, who were not named by Cote.
“A scuffle ensued with some weapons,” said Cote. “Mainly an ax and another weapon of some sort. The two suspects fled before we arrived.”
hari Dupree, 33, of Wilton was arrested on Monday, and Brian Sweeney, 32, of Rumford was arrested before midnight Tuesday.
Both were charged with Class B burglary and Class B aggravated assault.
Dupree has been released on bail. Sweeney made his initial appearance in Farmington District Court on Wednesday, but remained in custody at Franklin County Jail as of Wednesday afternoon.
Cote said that Sweeney and the male victim were friends at one time.
“There was an argument earlier in the day between the homeowner and the two suspects,” said Cote, but adding that he didn’t know what the argument was about.
The homeowner suffered superficial cuts from the broken glass and the bladed weapons, he said.
“I saw the victim the other day and the pictures looked pretty bad. Most of the injuries came from when they broke the glass,” said Cote.
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Man tells of fighting off ax, cleaver attack
April 12 2012
http://www.pressherald.com/news/man-...012-04-12.htmlFARMINGTON – When a man and woman armed with an ax and meat cleaver attacked him at his home, Jeremiah Gattis feared if he didn't fight back they would kill him and his girlfriend.
I was covered in blood and just trying not to get murdered," Gattis said.
Gattis, 33, on Tuesday described fighting off his attackers in a desperate struggle to keep them from getting inside his Poverty Lane mobile home in the middle of the night.
Police have arrested the woman they said was involved and are still looking for Brian Sweeney, 31, who they believe is the other attacker and until hours before lived in the mobile home with Gattis and his girlfriend.
Gattis said he and his girlfriend awoke to a tapping sound just before their bedroom window was shattered around 1 a.m. on April 4. They ran to the front door only to be cut off by a man, whom Gattis said was Sweeney, who smashed the door's glass and was trying to get inside.
Gattis said Sweeney and he had argued earlier in the day and agreed Sweeney should move out.
Gattis yanked the door open and said Sweeney swung the ax t him. Gattis caught the ax handle in his hand, sending both men tumbling to the ground onto the shards of broken glass.
While they wrestled for control of the ax, a woman burst into the entrance and attacked Gattis with a meat cleaver. Gattis said she hacked at his head and hands with the cleaver, hitting him about a dozen times before Gattis grabbed the cleaver away and ran into the yard.
The attackers then got into a car and sped away. He ran back inside to check on his girlfriend, who had called the police during the attack.
Gattis went to the hospital with gashes to his hands and head. He said he also had minor cuts and bruises all over his body, a twisted knee and sprained ankle. He was treated and released that day, he said.
Sweeney had been staying at the mobile home for a couple years, sleeping on the couch and doing occasional repair jobs for the couple in lieu of rent. Gattis said they met at the tattoo shop that Gattis owns and runs in Farmington.
The pair argued about eight hours before the attack, after Sweeney arrived at the mobile home heavily intoxicated. Gattis said he got a text message later from mutual friends saying they would meet up the next day, when Sweeney would pick up clothes he left at the mobile home.
Gattis said he didn't hear back from Sweeney again until he saw him smashing through the front door that night. He said the attack has left him badly shaken.
On Monday, Shari Dupree was arrested on a warrant in connection with the attack, said Farmington Police Detective Marc Bowering.
Dupree, 31, of Wilton, was charged with burglary and aggravated assault. She was released Monday on $2,500 cash bail from Franklin County Detention Center.
Bowering said an arrest warrant has been issued for Sweeney, who faces the same charges as Dupree in the attack.
Bowering confirmed that Gattis was injured and treated at the hospital but would not discuss details of the incident because the investigation continues. The affidavit in support of Dupree's arrest was sealed at the order of prosecutors[....]
Man accused of ax attack granted $3,500 bail
Brian Sweeney accused of coming at former roommate Jeremiah Gattis with ax
http://www.pressherald.com/news/Bait...ax-attack.htmlFARMINGTON -- Bail was set at $3,500 cash for a man who, along with a woman armed with a meat cleaver, is accused of attacking his former roommate with an ax last week.
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Sweeney, who police said had lived with Gattis for almost two years, turned himself in Wednesday after learning about a warrant for his arrest, said Chris Dilworth, the attorney representing him.
In Farmington District Court on Wednesday, Sweeney, in a T-shirt, pants and handcuffs, told the judge he has lived in Rumford for the past 10 months and spent time living in Farmington before that.
Sweeney said he works seasonally for a painting contractor and has been unemployed since August, making money doing odd jobs. Sweeney added that he also has roommates who help him financially, calling himself a "jack-of-all-trades" working as a mechanic and fixing computers.
Sweeney confirmed he had pleaded guilty in December to operating under the influence and had no outstanding court matters. He had no other criminal record before turning himself in Wednesday morning, Dilworth added.
During the brief initial court appearance, Judge Nancy Carlson ordered that Sweeney be held in lieu of $3,500 cash bail, rejecting a request for a pre-trial release contract. His next court date is June 29, when attorneys will discuss the case's status.
Sweeney faces charges of burglary and aggravated assault, which are the same charges against Dupree, of Wilton, who was released Monday on $2,500 cash bail. Her next court date is June 29.
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