SKOWHEGAN — A Skowhegan woman is free on bail after being charged with assaulting a police officer with a lit cigarette during a struggle Sunday, police said.

Brittany L. Bickford, 35, was arrested on charges of assaulting a police officer, refusing to submit to arrest and failure to give information to police. She was released later on $360 cash bail from the Somerset County Jail in East Madison.

Police officers had been sent to a home on North School Street in Skowhegan just after midnight Sunday to remove someone from the residence. When they arrived, officers realized there were warrants out on Bickford, who also was there, Deputy Police Chief Dale Lancaster said Tuesday.

The warrants were for unpaid fines on previous convictions for assault, refusing to submit to arrest and criminal attempt at an assault.

“When she was placed under arrest, she became combative, and a physical arrest was necessary,” Lancaster said. “Prior to getting her under control, she burned a hole in Sgt. (Keith) Bigger’s shirt with a cigarette. There was a struggle.”

Bigger was not injured, nor was Bickford.

Also arrested and taken to the county jail with Bickford was Dylan Hurlbutt, 31 of Canaan, the man residents of the North School Street home wanted removed. Hurlbutt was arrested on a charge of criminal trespass. He, too, was released on bail.

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

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