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December 1, 2011

Man charged with threatening at Occupy Maine already faced fatal assault charge

By David Hench dhench@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

PORTLAND — The man charged with criminal threatening at the Occupy Maine encampment Wednesday night had been free on bail on a manslaughter charge from 2010.

Ernest Weidul, 51, was arrested at Lincoln Park at 9:45 p.m. after a confrontation that erupted when he was refused entry into another person's tent, police said. Weidul displayed a knife during the confrontation, police said.

Weidul was arrested in May, 2010 for allegedly assaulting Roger Downs Jr., 46, of Portland. The assault wasn't reported by Downs until a day later and Downs died the day after that.

Weidul has been in Cumberland County Jail since that arrest and posted $1,500 bail on Sept. 8, less than three months ago. Weidul's new charges include violating bail conditions, which prohibit new criminal conduct. He is being held without bail at the jail.

Ernest Weidul

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