Wrongful Arrests of Maine Activist, Excessive Use of Force
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Arrests by Lewiston Maine police: In the beginning of March a temporary protection from harassment order was granted automatically to the mother of my grandchildren, because she alleged stalking activity after I made a phone call to the elementary school in Waldoboro. I'm concerned with my grandchildren and how visits were abruptly stopped when their mother moved in with her new boyfriend 3.5 years ago.
A hearing was scheduled to make the order permanent, but before that day came, I was arrested on a warrant wrongly granted by Judge Martin of Lincoln County. I was not told the specific reason for my arrest, just told to call Waldoboro police to find out why. After my release I had to walk home, two miles, in a snowstorm. I didn't have my phone with me; I had given it to my friend who'd come with me to the police station to find out why four officers had come to my apartment a few days earlier. I didn't know her number or anyone else's by heart, and when I'd tried to call Pete from a business near the jail, I couldn't reach him because he was taking a nap.
On March 26, I appeared before Judge Martin, and he ruled against me, allowing the protection order to be permanent. He didn't allow me to enter character references, or drawings that my grandsons made before visits stopped. I asked to be part of mediation in my son's family matters case, but he denied my request.
Before he was incarcerated on a separate matter not involving her or the children, mediation was waved in my son Shane's family matters case, because he had violated a protection order by simply communicating with his ex regarding "something other than arranging visits with the children." He was frustrated because she wasn't returning our messages trying to arrange visits. My husband and I had been listed as people who could supervise visits, but no specific days for visits had been set by the court. Up until then, visits were happening almost every weekend.
Well, on March 30 five Lewiston police officers came to serve me another warrant. Knowing I had done nothing illegal, I resisted the wrongful arrest by not answering the door...so they kicked it in, totally destroying it. All because I exercised my right to free speech, my right to defend myself against the false claims of harassment and stalking.
Police took my Iphone when they arrested me, and are apparently keeping it until trial. This is damaging my business. I have already lost two customers because I was unable to complete paperwork on Monday, having gone without sleep Sunday and spending the day trying to locate my cell phone which I discovered through the Find My feature on my Ipad. It's at the District Attorney's office, on Main Street in Lewiston in the same building as the Resiliency Center which opened after the mass shooting. When I got back to my apartment around 5:00 on Monday I couldn't get in. The maintenance man had partly repaired the door, but the striker was stuck in the closed position. I had to sleep elsewhere that night.
I am hoping to find a civil rights lawyer to file a lawsuit against the officers who took part in the three wrongful arrests.
AROCD CR 2024 20209 State of Maine v Paula Michaud.
As some of you already know, I am being prosecuted for what was originally sited as Attempted Disorderly Conduct. Apparently the wrong subsection was cited; that charge was dropped, but a new one added for Disorderly Conduct.
I filed a complaint with the Office of Professional Standards, received by Officer Christopher Tupper, who said he'd look into it; however accountability of their own for misdeeds and violations of the law is not a strength of the Maine State Police, and I haven't heard from him since. Tupper was reprimanded in 2019. The Portland Press did a story; they only allow a certain number of reads I believe, unless you subscribe. So here's a link to the pdf, a one pager that doesn't explain much.
They're in no hurry to prosecute. If I never hire a lawyer, Judge Nelson will keep me on the docket, thereby justifying his and the District Attorney's jobs. Meanwhile I'm damaged, my reputation, income, mental health, family, etc.
In Lincoln County: Arraignment set for 5/15/25 at 8:30
State of Maine v. Paula Michaud
LINCD-CR-2025-00218
Violation of protection from harassment
Violating condition of release (2)
D.A. listed as Natasha Irving
Officer: Jeremy Joslyn
In Lincoln County: Arraignment set for 6/12/25 at 8:30
State of Maine v. Paula Michaud
LINCD-CR-2025-00190
Harassment
Violation of Condition of Release
D.A. listed as Kent Murdick
Officer: Jeremy Joslyn
Myself and I'm sure other Mainers are being prosecuted by the State of Maine without good reason.
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Organizer
Paula Michaud
Organizer
Lewiston, ME