ELLSWORTH, Maine — An Ellsworth police officer charged with
domestic-violence assault in January has been placed on unpaid administrative
leave, according to the city’s manager.
Andrew Weatherbee, 30, was arrested on Jan. 27 after
allegedly pushing down his 32-year-old girlfriend and then repeatedly holding
her down after she got upset about a text message he had written, Holden Police
Chief Gene Worcester said at the time of the arrest.
Weatherbee had been on paid administrative leave since the
arrest, but will no longer receive a city paycheck while he’s out of work, City
Manager Michelle Beal said in an email on March 15. Beal said the city would
hold off on further action against Weatherbee until his charges are resolved.
“Once the criminal proceedings have been concluded and the
city has all the information, we will decide how to proceed,” Beal said.
Weatherbee appeared in Penobscot County Superior Court on
March 14. At that time, Justice Kevin Cuddy denied a written request from the
alleged victim to ease Weatherbee’s bail conditions to allow him to have
contact with her again.
The victim was not present in court, and Cuddy said he would
not approve the request until he was able to speak to her in person.
Cuddy also scheduled a May 7 dispositional conference for
Weatherbee, who remains free on personal recognizance.
Domestic-violence assault is a Class D crime, punishable by
up to a year in prison and a $2,000 fine.
Ellsworth Police Chief John DeLeo has said the department
had disciplined Weatherbee in the past, but has declined to provide specifics
about any previous disciplinary action.
Weatherbee also was honored one year ago by his peers at
Ellsworth Police Department for rescuing a man from a burning car in the early
hours of Oct. 9, 2011.