By Grant Welker
GateHouse News Service
Tue Feb 26, 2008, 07:02 PM EST
Westport - Editor’s Note: The Herald News does not run the names of victims in domestic abuse cases.
A 41-year-old man was charged with attempted murder after he repeatedly rammed his car into a female relative’s car, first in his driveway and later on Forge Road Monday afternoon, police said.
A neighbor on Union Avenue called police at about 2:20 p.m., reporting that Joseph Gagne, was slamming his car into the other car in his driveway. Police received more calls reporting that the man repeatedly hit the back of the woman’s car and ran a stop sign at Route 177 and Forge Road while trying to run her off the road.
Shortly after, police said, they received calls that one car had crashed into a tree on Forge Road. The victim was still in her SUV, which was resting against a tree 30 feet into the woods. Police said she suffered lacerations and broken ankles, ribs and a wrist. Evidence at the scene indicated that Gagne, 41, struck the victim’s car with his own before the driver lost control and hit the tree, police said.
The man was arrested and charged with attempted murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (the car) and operating a motor vehicle to endanger.
Gagne lives at 15 Union Ave., less than half a mile from the crash.
“It very easily could have turned lethal,” said Sgt. Jeff Majewski, the police spokesman. “It was a complete and total lack of regard for anyone’s safety on the road.”
After the crash, Gagne blamed the victim for the incident and claimed she struck his car, Majewski said, calling Gagne’s actions “horrendous.”
Gagne will also be charged with three counts of possession of a non-large capacity shotgun/rifle, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, unlawful possession of ammunition and having an unsecured firearm/shotgun with no gun lock.
The later charges came after officers found out Gagne had an expired firearms license and had firearms at his house. They found three shotguns, one loaded, in his bedroom and numerous bags of marijuana, related paraphernalia and double-edged knives throughout the house, including in his 15-year-old son’s room.
Gagne was arraigned Tuesday on the initial charges and held on $10,000 cash bail. He was not arraigned on the later charges. An additional investigation into the presence of drugs is ongoing.
Police received five 911 calls during the short duration of the incident, Majewski said. He urged any other witnesses to contact police.
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