BOWDOIN

A Bowdoin man was arrested late Wednesday night after he allegedly held a woman in a choke hold and struck her.

The Sagadahoc County Sheriff ’s Department was called to a report of a domestic disturbance on Adams Road at 11:40 p.m. Wednesday. According to Lt. Calvin Temple, a suspect left the residence before the deputy arrived but was later located in Bath.

The sheriff ’s department arrested Curtis Laird, 30, charging him with aggravated domestic violence. He posted $2,000 unsecured bail at the Bath police station.

Temple said the alleged victim told a deputy she and Laird got into a pushing contest and that he pinned her to the floor with a choke hold.

She said when she got up, he struck her in the face. She then went into the bathroom and locked the door, she told police.

The woman came back out and found an opportunity to leave to call for help, and said he blocked her exit but then let her go, at which point she dialed 911, Temple said.

Temple said the woman also told the deputy Laird had grabbed a rifle and started to load it, but she couldn’t clarify exactly when that allegedly happened.

The deputy was told Laird fled the residence in a Toyota Camry and may have taken the rifle with him, which was reported to other police agencies before Laird was located in Bath. However, the deputy searched the home and found the rifle unloaded in the closet.

Laird later said he had picked up the gun earlier in the day — prior to the argument and with no intention of loading it, Temple said. He was not issued any charges related to the weapon allegation, Temple said.

Bath police found Laird’s vehicle on Wesley Street in Bath; a man seen in an upstairs apartment matching Laird’s description came outside and was identified by Bath police Officer Garrett Olson.

Temple said Laird told police he and the alleged victim had been discussing finances and he’d been frustrated with the woman but felt things were better. When she continued to ignore him, Laird said he initiated the fight, shoving her off the bed and onto the floor.

Laird “grabbed her arms to stop her from hitting him,” Temple said, but denied choking or hitting her.

He said he tried stop her briefly from leaving the residence to try to reason with her.

Temple said the woman had new abrasions that could be result of choking, and redness on her arms.

dmoore@timesrecord.com