Several motorists, angered by a man they spotted throwing rocks Sunday afternoon at passing cars on the Maine Turnpike in Scarborough, forcibly subdued him until troopers from the Maine State Police arrived.

Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, in a statement said that David Mullen, 42, who was high on drugs at the time, damaged three motor vehicles before motorists pinned him to the ground.

McCausland said Mullen, who is from Lewiston, stopped his car in the median of the turnpike in Scarborough around 12:15 p.m. and began throwing rocks at passing motor vehicles.

“When police arrived on scene, a group of motorists had pinned” him to the ground, McCausland said. Mullen was treated at Maine Medical Center in Portland for facial cuts.

Mullen told the troopers who responded that he had been using drugs, including one called “Molly,” which is form of Ecstasy, McCausland said.

The bizarre incident led to a traffic jam on the southbound lane of the turnpike that McCausland said “backed up traffic for some time.”

Mullen was charged with criminal mischief and could face additional charges, according to McCausland.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.