York Town News
Bail revoked for local businessman
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - A York Beach businessman who survived a shooting back in January only to be arrested on threatening charges one week later is back behind bars on a bail violation charge involving multiple weapons.Patrick Simpson, 39, of 75 York St., was arrested Monday, March 12, after police conducted a bail conditions check at his property at 12:45 p.m., according to a report by Detective Thomas Cryan.
The bail check was based on information received that Simpson was in possession of two handguns, Cryan said in a release issued Tuesday afternoon.
Simpson had been free on bail, with conditions that included not possessing any weapons and being subject to random searches for weapons, after he was charged with criminal threatening with a firearm on Jan. 23.
On Monday, police found a .40-caliber semi-automatic firearm and a .45-caliber semi-automatic firearm at his York Street property. There were also numerous knives recovered from the residence, according to Cryan's report.
Simpson was charged with one misdemeanor count of violation of conditions of release and was transported to the York County Jail in Alfred pending his arraignment scheduled for today, Wednesday, March 14, at York County Superior Court.
"We'll be seeking a high bail," York Police Chief Doug Bracy said Tuesday, citing concern both for Simpson's mental health and safety, and the safety of those around him. "Part of the bail was that he have no firearms in his possession. This is a direct violation of the judge's order."
Bracy said Simpson is being held in Alfred on state charges, but could potentially face federal charges as well.
He explained that the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms revoked Simpson's permit to carry a weapon following the charges in January.
"They found enough cause to revoke his right to have any weapons in his possession," Bracy said Tuesday.
The weapons charges against Simpson came after he allegedly threatened two local men who stopped at his York Street home shortly after 11 p.m. on Jan. 23 to report damage to a realty sign from the property that was in the road.
Police have confirmed the men had no connection whatsoever to Simpson, or to his shooting and the fire at his York Beach businesses, Shelton's and Gabby Sullivan's, one week earlier.
Simpson was holding the two men at gunpoint in the driveway when police arrived at his home, and he was subsequently charged with two counts each of Class C felony criminal threatening with a firearm and Class C felony reckless conduct with a firearm. Each count carries a maximum penalty of $5,000 and a sentence of 3 to 5 years in prison.
Police are continuing to investigate Simpson's shooting and the small fire at Shelton's that occurred almost simultaneously back in mid-January in conjunction with the Maine Fire Marshal.
Interviews are continuing, Bracy said, and extensive evidence from the attack on Simpson and the fire is being analyzed at the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory.
Though no arrests have been made, Bracy said the York Police Department hopes to bring the case to a conclusion as soon as possible, acknowledging it has been a cause for concern for some residents and business owners in the area.
That being said, Bracy stressed, "We believe this was targeted at this one individual and business."
