McDougall Charged With Witness Tampering, Threatening

UPDATE, SUNDAY, 11 a.m.: In a brief phone interview with Patch, Patrick McDougall did not comment on the new charges against him, saying he would be speaking with his attorney and working on a defense.

McDougall said he has no plans to alter his run for the state House of Representatives, or leave either the Budget Committee or the Zoning Board of Adjustment. McDougall said he does not plan to attend tomorrow's GOP Labor Day Picnic.

In addition, McDougall reiterated a request he made last night in a comment on this Patch article, asking for prayers and that God will help "guide people towards the truth in this matter."

UPDATE, 11 a.m.: In a press release, Salem Deputy Police Chief Shawn Patten said police were notified around 11:30 a.m. Friday by Fire Chief Kevin Breen of an incident that took place inside the Central Fire Station on Main Street involving Patrick McDougall.

McDougall, 37, had entered the station demanding to speak with Breen. According to Patten, McDougall "began requesting information in relation to a pending criminal case against him in which Chief Breen is a witness."

McDougall became "increasingly agitated and argumentative," and was told by Breen he should not have been there asking for such information. Breen reminded McDougall he'd been "notified in writing to follow proper legal process to get this information."

According to Patten, McDougall "got up and as he walked by Chief Breen, turned quickly and got within 12 inches of his face and began to say something loudly" near the end of the interaction.

Breen and other witnesses said they "felt a physical confrontation was imminent" as Patten said McDougall's "agitation was escalating."

At that point Breen ordered McDougall out of the Fire Station and McDougall left.

This came on the heels of an incident that took place at McDougall's home last Sunday, for which McDougall was also being investigated. Salem Officer Matt MacKenzie had shown up there to serve a subpoena to McDougall's wife, Jane, who is a witness in the obstructing government administration case against McDougall.

"Mr. McDougal initiated a confrontation, slammed doors in Officer MacKenzie’s face and advised him his wife was sleeping, even though Officer MacKenzie heard a female voice inside the apartment talking for several minutes," Patten said.

MacKenzie was getting ready to leave after another verbal interaction with Patrick McDougall when Jane McDougall "called from an apartment window and said she would take the subpoena," after which the subpoena was served.

Police sought arrest warrants for both incidents and Patrick McDougall was taken into custody without incident at about 8 p.m. Friday night, Patten said.

Patten said McDougall faces three charges of witness tampering which are all Class B felonies. He also faces single charges of disorderly conduct and criminal threatening.

McDougall was processed and released on $2,500 personal recognizance bail with conditions that he is not to contact town employees or enter town buildings except for meetings.

He faces an arraignment date in the 10th Circuit Court of Salem Sept. 24 on the new charges.

EARLIER STORY: Salem Budget Committee and Zoning Board of Adjustment member Patrick McDougall was arrested by Salem Police Friday for the second time this year.

According to Salem Police Lt. Ronald Peddle, McDougall faces two counts of witness tampering, one count of disorderly conduct and one count of criminal threatening for an incident that took place at the Fire Station Friday.

Peddle said the alleged victim in the case was Salem Fire Chief Kevin Breen.

No futher information was available Saturday morning but more information was expected to be released later in the day.

McDougall was already facing a Sept. 19 trial date for

It's been alleged McDougall refused to allow paramedics to transport his wife to a local hospital after she called 911 complaining of a migraine headache. He eventually drove his wife to the hospital himself and following an investigation was charged.

McDougall has insisted he is innocent and

McDougall has remained serving on both the Zoning and Budget Committees and is a Republican candidate for the House of Representatives in the Sept. 11 primary.