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Portland police arrest man accused of threatening carwash employee

Photo: Cumberland County Jail


PORTLAND, Maine (WGAN) Police in Portland say a man who threatened a carwash employee was arrested on Monday.

The department says 36-year-old Russell Arbo of Portland is accused of threatening to stab an employee at the Scrub-a-Dub Car Wash on Forest Avenue on Monday afternoon.

The suspect left the store after the employee locked himself behind a door. Arbo was later arrested on Stevens Avenue, after police say he refused to surrender and kept advancing towards an officer. Police were able to distract him and take him into custody.

“This volatile and dangerous incident was brought to a peaceful resolution because of our department’s commitment to training officers in de-escalation and best-practice tactics,” said Chief Heath Gorham. “It also highlights the stressful situations and critical decision-making that our officers face every day.”

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