ROCKLAND, Maine – A 27-year-old Rockland man suspected of being under the influence of a drug was arrested Friday afternoon and charged with holding an emergency medical technician against his will.
Damian Hooper was charged with criminal restraint. The Rockland emergency worker was uninjured.
The incident began shortly after 1 p.m. Friday when a Rockland ambulance and crew were sent to the law office of Strout & Payson on Masonic Street adjacent to the Knox County Courthouse to treat someone for an unspecified reason, according to Rockland Deputy Police Chief Wally Tower.
For reasons not known, Hooper barricaded himself and the EMT in a room at the law office and refused to allow the emergency worker to leave. The EMT telephoned police for assistance and officers arrived and forced their way into the room.
Hooper was taken to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport to be evaluated and then was transported shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday to the Knox County Jail in Rockland, according to court records.
Hooper is suspected of having been under the influence of a drug, Tower said.
Hooper is scheduled to make his initial court appearance Monday afternoon in Rockland District Court. More details are expected to be released at that time.
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