Topsham police arrested a Brunswick man Wednesday after they say he assaulted a martial arts instructor who had declined accepting him as student the day before.

Topsham police Lt. Fred Dunn said officers were called to Brunswick Martial Arts Academy at 126 Main St. in Topsham at 9:57 a.m. Wednesday and arrested Archie Lully, 60, of Brunswick.

Lully was charged with disorderly conduct and assault, both misdemeanors.

Dunn said Lully apparently had visited the martial arts school Tuesday and had talked to an instructor about martial arts classes.

The instructor noticed Lully may have some mental health issues, Dunn said, and when he asked Lully why he wanted to join, Lully allegedly responded that he wanted to “punch someone in the face.”

Dunn said the instructor respectfully declined taking Lully as a student.

Lully returned Wednesday, Dunn said, and “as soon as he sees the instructor, he tries to start punching him.” His swings only grazed the instructor, who was able to get Lully on the ground until police showed up to take him into custody.

Also helping subdue Lully until police arrived was an off-duty Bath officer taking classes at the martial arts school.

When Topsham police Officer William Collins was removing Lully from the building, Lully allegedly said that “he wanted to see if the instructor was worth the $60 an hour that he was charging,” Dunn said.

Lully’s bail was set at $150 cash and he was transported to Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset. He also was issued a criminal trespass warning not to return to Brunswick Martial Arts Academy.

dmoore@timesrecord.com

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