BATH — A Lisbon Falls man on Thursday was sentenced to three years in jail for assaulting a Bath police officer who was attempting to serve him with a protection-from-abuse order.

A Sagadahoc Superior Court jury found Thomas G. Coffill III guilty of felony assault on a police officer during an incident that occurred on April 3. Coffill, 40, also plead guilty to three related misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief, refusing to submit to arrest, and assault.

Coffill received a jail sentence of 364 days for the misdemeanor offenses, to run concurrent with the three years for the felony assault on a police officer. The case was prosecuted by Sagadahoc County Assistant District Attorney Patricia A. Mador.

According to a press release from the Bath Police Department:

On April 3, Bath police responded to 12 Russell St. to assist Lisbon Police Department in locating Coffill. A Bath officer located Coffill at his father’s home and informed the younger Coffill that a Lisbon officer was coming to serve him with protection-from-abuse paperwork.

Coffill became upset and went into the home while the officer spoke with a family member.

During this time, Coffill snuck out of the house. A short time later a Bath officer observed Coffin return to 12 Russell St. Several Bath officers and a Lisbon police officer returned to the home and met with Coffill. Bath officer Jason Aucoin attempted to read the protection-from-abuse order to Coffill outside the home.

Coffill became angry and knocked the paperwork out of the officer’s hand and shoved a second Bath officer before running toward the house. The officers attempted to arrest Coffill and a struggle ensued.

Bath officer Michael Lever was injured during the struggle when Coffill trapped his leg in a door and refused to surrender. Coffill was eventually handcuffed and placed in a Bath cruiser. While being placed in the Bath cruiser Coffill kicked another officer and also kicked out a Bath cruiser’s side rear window.

Coffill has a long history of violent behavior, which includes seven convictions for assault, three convictions for terrorizing and one conviction for violating a protective order.

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