Joe Sokol, a reporter for Maine Wire, says a driver steered a car toward him outside a Bangor methadone clinic in an incident captured by the outlet and a clinic security camera. Bangor police arrested 38-year-old Ryan Hayward on multiple charges including reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and driving to endanger; prosecutors have not charged him with attempted murder. Maine Wire's editor says the encounter was "targeted political violence" and ties it to a pattern of harassment against the outlet's staff. The report notes the clinic received more than $25 million in federal funds since 2018 and that investigators continue to review video and witness statements.
Reporter Says Driver Steered Car Toward Him Outside Bangor Methadone Clinic; Suspect Arrested
A sign in a clinic November 4, 2002 at the University of Vermont at Burlington. (Photo by Jordan Silverman/ Getty Images)
Joe Sokol, a reporter for the conservative outlet Maine Wire, said he feared for his life after a driver steered a car toward him outside a methadone clinic in Bangor. The encounter, which Sokol and the clinic's security camera captured, occurred Thursday morning on Odlin Road and prompted a police investigation.
What Happened
According to Sokol and Maine Wire editor Steve Robinson, the driver veered off the road and onto the grass where Sokol was standing. Sokol told Newsmax TV he believed the driver was coming "directly at me," and that quick evasive movement kept him from being struck.
"I was scared for my life. It felt like he was gunning right for me," Sokol said.
Arrest And Charges
Bangor police arrested 38-year-old Ryan Hayward of Bangor on charges that include reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, driving to endanger, and violating conditions of release, the Bangor Daily News reported. Law enforcement officials who viewed the video described the footage as "a clear-cut case of attempted murder," but no attempted murder charge has been filed.
Reporter And Editor Accounts
Editor Steve Robinson said he identified the suspect by license plate, spoke with him for about 10 minutes by phone, and that the man admitted steering his car but denied trying to hit Sokol. Robinson told Newsmax the man had followed Sokol's coverage of drugs and harm reduction on Facebook and expressed dislike for that reporting.
"He knew exactly who Joe was when he approached him, and this was targeted political violence," Robinson said.
Context And Ongoing Concerns
Sokol said he had visited the clinic a day earlier to report on the concentration of methadone clinics in Bangor and that clinic staff repeatedly instructed his crew that they could not film on site. He told Maine Wire that public records show the clinic has received more than $25 million in federal health funding since 2018 and that he returned to count people entering the facility.
Robinson framed the incident as part of a pattern, saying Maine Wire reporters have faced "six or more assaults and attempted assaults," including a previous incident in which a reporter was struck with a skateboard during a protest over immigration enforcement. Robinson also criticized public officials, saying Maine's attorney general had not publicly commented on the episode. He praised Bangor police for their cooperation in the investigation.
What Officials Say
Bangor police handled the arrest and have charged Hayward on several counts related to dangerous conduct and threats. Prosecutors determine which charges to file based on evidence and statutes; as of the latest reporting, attempted murder charges have not been brought.
Note: This article focuses on verified claims in video and interviews. Allegations about motive and intent are reported as statements from the parties involved and from law enforcement assessments.
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