A West Gardiner man was arrested early Wednesday morning after allegedly driving a sport utility vehicle into two people Tuesday night in Gardiner.

The two injured people were taken to the hospital and the driver, 20-year-old Dakota Brann, was arrested on two counts of elevated aggravated assault, said Gardiner Police Chief James Toman. He was taken to the Kennebec County jail.

Brann also has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident and two counts of aggravated driving to endanger, according to a complaint filed by prosecutors at the Capital Judicial Center. His bail was set at $30,000.

The alleged assault was reported at 6:04 p.m. Tuesday after Brann got into an argument with a man and woman near their home on Winter Street in Gardiner, Toman said.

Brann left the scene in a 2005 Cadillac Escalade and allegedly drove the vehicle into the man and the woman, according to witnesses.

The two were taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center, and one was taken later to Maine Medical Center in Portland, Toman said. Police expected both to be released Wednesday.

Brann initially fled, but later met with police at the Gardiner station, Toman said. Police took him to the hospital for a mental evaluation before bringing him to jail.

“Witnesses felt this was an intentional act and not a result of an accident,” Toman said.

“So after several hours, we were able to locate the driver. He came into the Gardiner PD and met with investigators. He was subsequently arrested.”

Police have seized the Cadillac Escalade and are continuing to investigate, Toman said. Maine State Police assisted with the investigation.

Charles Eichacker can be contacted at 621-5642 or at:

ceichacker@centralmaine.com