'Was I supposed to just let you strangle me?'

Derrick Richard Brunelle (York County Jail photo)

SANFORD = A former Lebanon man was arrested Friday after police say he assaulted a female victim in a domestic violence case in Sanford.

Derrick Richard Brunelle, 29, of 2 Joffre St., Apt. B, who formerly lived on Carl Broggi Highway, Lebanon, was arrested in the felony aggravated assault of the woman after police got a call from neighbors who said they heard yelling and banging around in the upstairs apartment there.

Sanford Police responded around 10:20 p.m., and according to a police affidavit, an officer outside their window heard the victim state, "I couldn't breathe. Was I supposed to just let you strangle me?"

Police then knocked on the door to interview Brunelle and the alleged victim, but no one answered, an affidavit states.

Officers then applied for an arrest warrant through an assistant district attorney and were granted one for aggravated assault. After a district court judge signed the warrant, officers returned to the Joffre Street address and again knocked on the door to interview the couple, but again were ignored.

According to a police statement, "No one came to the door after the second command and Cpl. Dyer gave the command to breach the door. Officer Sayre then breached the door using a "Ram."

Brunelle and the alleged victim were found lying on a bed in a bedroom, and Brunelle was arrested without incident. The arresting officer noticed Brunelle had scratch marks on his face, but when asked if the victim had done it, he said he "didn't want to say anything."

When asked if he assaulted her, he said, "No."

Brunelle was then taken to York County Jail, where he is being held on $10,000 cash bail.

According to a police rap sheet, Brunelle has an extensive criminal history, including an arrest as recently as April 1 for Operating as an Habitual Offender by Kennebunk Police. He was also charged with eluding Sanford Police in November and misdemeanor criminal mischief last July by Sanford Police. Other charges include multiple burglaries and assaults, as well as terrorizing and violating conditions of release.