The Maine Capitol Police chief who is accused of assaulting a Hallowell police officer in August resigned earlier this month.
Matthew Clancy, a former Massachusetts police chief who led the agency protecting the State House since 2021, resigned effective Oct. 8, the Kennebec Journal reported.
Clancy, 62, of Sidney, was arrested on Water Street in Hallowell around midnight, Aug. 2, after the alleged altercation and was charged with assault, refusing to submit to arrest and disorderly conduct, which are all misdemeanor offenses under Maine law.
Clancy allegedly struck Hallowell police Officer Johnny Narvaez outside the Quarry Tap Room, according to the Journal.
At the time of his arrest, he was “impaired by alcohol” according to Chris Giles, the city’s police chief.
Clancy had been on administrative leave and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He had 35 years of police experience, including nearly 20 as a chief in Massachusetts, when he got his job roughly four years ago. He brought stability to the agency following the retirement of Chief Russell Gauvin, who was on leave for months over social media posts promoting falsehoods about masks and the 2020 presidential election.
Water Street in Hallowell is the most popular nightlife spot in the capital area. The small city’s downtown, which has several bars and restaurants, is only about a mile and a half from the State House in Augusta.
