3rd brush with police in 1 day over running into traffic leads to arrest of transient

Longtime city transient Angela Davis was running into traffic and screaming at motorists, police say. (Courtesy photo; inset, Rochester Police)

ROCHESTER - A longtime Rochester transient prone to running into traffic and screaming at motorists was arrested again on Saturday after her third run-in with police over similar incidents that occurred in a matter of hours.

Police say Saturday's three incidents involving 38-year-old Angela Davis began when police responded to the area of Portland Street and Columbus Avenue for a report of someone standing in the middle of the street screaming at cars, according to Rochester Police Capt. Todd Pinkham.

After a brief investigation that included making contact with Davis, officers returned to the station and drafted a warrant for Davis for disorderly conduct and contempt.

Later officers responded to another call not far from that incident, where it was reported that Davis was again in the road screaming.

When officers caught up with her Davis was not in the road and not screaming, Pinkham noted.

Again, officers left, but soon responded to the same area for a report of a female in the street.

"We located and spoke with Davis again," Pinkham said on Thursday. "While the officers were speaking with Davis, she had her hands in her pocket and was moving them around. When asked to take her hands out of her pocket, Davis threatened the officers by asking if they wanted to get stabbed. (Davis), however, did eventually comply with their request, removed her hands from her pockets and dropped an uncapped needle."

As a result of the third incident, Davis was arrested for criminal threatening and contempt. She was also arrested on the warrant for disorderly conduct and contempt from the original call earlier in the day.

While on scene investigating the third call, officers were informed by two other people in the area that Davis was standing in the middle of the road yelling at them, causing them to swerve toward oncoming traffic to avoid hitting her, Pinkham noted, which resulted in another count of disorderly conduct.

In all Davis was charged with criminal threatening, two counts of disorderly conduct, and three counts of contempt for violating her bail conditions from a prior arrest.

One of her recent arrests occurred on Oct. 5 when when she took her clothes off at the Commons forcing St. Charles School students to cut short their recess.

Teachers and paraprofessionals quickly rushed the children - all enrolled in classes from kindergarten to fifth grade - back inside.

Davis has been arrested seven times and summonsed three times on 18 charges that include four bench warrants since the start of the year, Rochester Police Capt. Todd Pinkham confirmed after the October arrest.

Pinkham said at the time police have done their part when it comes to enforcing typical offenses from those in the transient and homeless communities.

"We do our part," he said. "Then it's up to the courts and bail commissioners who work for the court."

On Sept. 29 Davis was arrested for criminal trespass and criminal threatening after she is alleged to have been chasing people in the Wakefield Street Rite Aid pharmacy parking lot and in and out of traffic in the area.

Most of her arrests and summonses are for misdemeanors, including contempt, criminal mischief, criminal threatening and criminal trespass. In 2020 there was also arrests for simple assault and one robbery.

Pinkham noted that police do not set bail; that is done by bail commissioners.

Strafford County Jail confirmed today that after the recent arrest Davis is being held at Strafford County Jail on preventative detention pending a Feb. 9 court appearance.