USM police arrested a student for assault on Monday afternoon after he confronted a police officer who cut the lock off his bike.
Samuel Haverinen, 32 of South Portland, was transported by Portland Police to Cumberland County Jail, where he was held on $60 bail. A representative for the jail said he posted bail that afternoon.
Lt. Sullivan Rizzo of the USM Police said he cut Haverinen’s lock after receiving a complaint that the bike was chained to a railing on the handicap ramp leading into Masterton Hall on the Portland Campus.
Rizzo said while there is no sign posted telling people not to chain bikes to the railing, he was within his rights to cut the lock and take the bike back to the police station. A woman who is blind works in Masterton, he said.
“Common sense says you shouldn’t put bikes on the stairs,” he said. The bike was chained to the railing of the handicapped ramp at the base of the stairs leading up to Masterton. “A lot of times we’ll give them a little leeway if the bike rack is full.” He also said police normally wait until someone complains before moving a bike.
“The only penalty is, you lose your lock,” he said. “I’d rather buy them a $20 lock than have someone get hurt.”
Rizzo said police generally hold the bike at the station until the owner claims it. He was unloading the bike from the back his police SUV outside the Sullivan Fitness Complex when Haverinen approached him.
Rizzo’s left hand had a few small cuts. He would not elaborate on the nature of the struggle.