A drunk Dixmont man called 911 on Sunday and asked police to deliver him beer before he allegedly assaulted deputies from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office — a claim that he denies.
Vernus Mayhew, 45, is charged in Newport District Court with one misdemeanor count each of assault, misuse of an E911 system and refusing to submit to arrest. Mayhew, who admits that he had been drinking, is accused of calling 911 four times to request that police deliver beer.
“I was drunk and I was trying to be funny, so I called 911 to ask for beer delivery,” Mayhew told the Bangor Daily News on Wednesday.
While he doesn’t deny some of the allegations, Mayhew maintains he did not assault the officer. The encounter between Mayhew and police was recorded on video by Mayhew’s daughter, though it fails to capture two crucial seconds when the three men move out of frame during a physical altercation.
“This was a serious matter that negatively impacted public safety resources including the regional communications center and deputies,” Sheriff Troy Morton said. “This criminal matter is pending before the court and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”
Police warned Mayhew on Sunday to stop calling 911 for non-emergency reasons and told him it was a misdemeanor, according to a report in the court records. Mayhew said he did not care, the report said.
“Vernus stated he was intoxicated and would cause a low-speed chase if he had to drive, which is why he wanted law enforcement to deliver alcohol to him instead,” Sgt. Camron Barrieau wrote in his report.
Deputies responded to Mayhew’s house around 5:45 p.m. because of the repeated calls, the police report said. Mayhew answered the door holding a can of Bud Light, according to the video shared with the BDN.
Mayhew told police he was waiting for beer and police said they did not bring beer, according to the video. Mayhew said he would take the ticket for the misuse of 911 but that he would keep calling until he got his beer, the video shows.
“We’ve got two options here, you can give me a ticket or give me a beer,” Mayhew said in the video.
Police told Mayhew he was under arrest for misusing 911 and he refused to step outside. Deputies reached through the doorway to grab him, the video shows.
The men moved out of frame and were not recorded in the video for about two seconds. Police said that’s when Mayhew tried to put a deputy in a headlock, while Mayhew said he did not assault anyone.
Mayhew’s daughter moved through the doorway just as Barrieau punched Mayhew in the face.
Barrieau said he “delivered a punch with my fist to the left side of his face. I then grabbed him by the head and pulled him down,” he wrote in his report.
Mayhew questioned why he wasn’t charged with assaulting an officer if that’s what police said happened.
“I will plead guilty to the resisting arrest and I’ll plead guilty to making the call to 911,” Mayhew said. “I do see that I was wrong doing that.”
Mayhew said he will fight the assault charge.
Mayhew was granted a $750 bail and released from the Penobscot County Jail. His bail conditions include not to drink alcohol and to only call 911 for an emergency.
