BANGOR – A trial is underway for a former sheriff accused of twice slamming on his brakes in Lubec last year and then yelling obscenities at the driver behind him.

WABI-TV reported that Donnie Smith’s trial on charges of reckless conduct and driving to endanger began Wednesday in Bangor.

Prosecutors say the former Washington County sheriff was driving on state Route 189 in January 2015 when he purposely stopped short, left his vehicle and began screaming at the driver behind him. The defense says Smith had arrested the driver several months before the incident.

Smith’s lawyer says his client stopped short to avoid hitting a cat.

The defense says Smith didn’t know who was behind him, but that the driver was making inappropriate gestures and was driving too close to Smith.