Bangor police arrested Ryan C. Hayward after a car drove toward Maine Wire reporter Joe Sokol during an Oct. 1 shoot outside the Bangor Comprehensive Treatment Center, according to Headline USA and footage published by The Maine Wire.
The video outside a Bangor clinic
The Maine Wire’s video shows a driver reverse near Sokol, stop, and address him. “You are kind of invading people’s privacy here,” the driver said. Sokol replied that he was on a public street recording a news report, then the vehicle left the frame.
About 20 seconds later, the same vehicle is seen heading toward Sokol. He jumps out of the way as the car strikes his camera, knocking it to the ground. Sokol then reads the license plate aloud in the video.
Arrest and charges
Headline USA reported that the Bangor Police Department arrested Hayward on a warrant and booked him into the Penobscot County Jail on Friday at approximately 2:24 p.m. local time. According to that report, Hayward was charged with reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, driving to endanger, and violating conditions of release.
What the reporter was covering
Headline USA said Sokol was reporting outside the clinic, which had reportedly received roughly $25 million in Medicaid payments. (The source report uses “reportedly.”)
Outlet alleges a wider pattern
The Maine Wire quickly published the footage and accused the driver of attempting to kill Sokol; that allegation is the outlet’s characterization. The outlet also posted a compilation video of prior confrontations with its journalists, including demonstrators throwing signs and poking flags at cameras.
Headline USA reported that Sokol was previously assaulted on July 7; the Bangor Police Department charged 78-year-old Ronald Staples with assault in that case, according to the outlet.
“We have seen a dramatic rise in targeted political violence, threats, and intimidation over the last few months, culminating in the murder attempt against our reporter today,” The Maine Wire wrote on X, in a post attributing the intent as an allegation.
