Staff Writer

An Old Orchard Beach man arrested in Scarborough for domestic violence assault May 31 faces a court date in Biddeford next month on the same charges for a separate incident.

Dennis Fairweather, 26, who lists a Pinebrook Terrace address on court records, has been charged in alleged assaults against two former girlfriends. Police statements indicate the latest incident occurred over a period of about 36 hours in Scarborough before the victim escaped and flagged down police officers on Route 1 early in the morning on Memorial Day.

Fairweather is scheduled to appear in Cumberland County Superior Court on Aug. 17 and has been charged with two counts of Class D domestic violence assault, a count each of Class C aggravated criminal trespass and drug possession and a Class E count of violating conditions of release.

A report by Scarborough Police Officer Timothy Dalton in court records alleged Fairweather first arrived at the victim’s home on Hanson Road on May 29. The victim told police he accused her of stealing from him and having another relationship. She told police the two had dated but the relationship ended after about a year.

According to court records, the victim told Dalton that Fairweather would not allow her to shower or go to work that day, but she persuaded him to leave May 30. She told police he returned later that day to talk, but when he went to the garage and began snorting cocaine, the victim said she told him to leave and locked the doors.

Dalton’s report said Fairweather allegedly left and returned repeatedly on May 30, sometimes breaking in by tearing out screens or doors in windows. The victim told police he threatened to kill her if she called police, accused her of having another relationship and said the other man was somewhere in the house.

The victim told police she woke up early May 31 to find Fairweather in her bedroom holding a baseball bat. He allegedly began choking the victim before hearing a noise in the basement and investigating the cause, according to court records.

That was when she fled the house, according to police statements, and accelerated out the driveway as Fairweather allegedly chased her on foot.

In his report, Dalton described her as “looking as though she was running from something,” when she approached officers at around 5:30 a.m. May 31. Dalton said the victim was on her way to the police station when she saw the officers.

“She was shaking and crying,” he said in his report.

Dalton and two officers went to the victim’s home, where they found a car registered to Fairweather, and a baseball bat in the car. Fairweather was detained as he came out the front door, with the victim’s purse tucked into his pocket. Upon learning of his bail conditions, officers searched the car and found several grams of powder and crack cocaine and pills.

After identifying himself, Fairweather allegedly told police the man he believed the victim was dating was still in the house. Dalton’s report said a search revealed no one was in the home.

Fairweather pleaded not guilty to Class D domestic violence assault and assault charges and Class E violating conditions of release charges Feb. 12 in Biddeford District Court and is scheduled to appear again in court July 6.

Those charges stem from an alleged assault on Main Street on Oct. 7, 2009, against a former girlfriend who was returning some of Fairweather’s belongings to him. The victim told police she and Fairweather had lived together through autumn 2008 before ending their relationship in December.

In her statements to police, she said Fairweather met her outside on Main Street after a friend of his drove him to pick up belongings the victim had kept after the couple parted. After he got back into the car, Fairweather allegedly grabbed the victim and punched her several times before kicking her. She was treated and released from Southern Maine Medical Center, according to court records.

Before the alleged assaults, Fairweather pleaded guilty to a Class D terrorizing charge and paid a $200 fine in 2004. He has also paid fines for operating without a license, failure to stop, operating after his registration was suspended and illegal fishing, according to court records.

Staff writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219