Camden man said he took guns to protect himself during COVID-19 pandemic

Tue, 03/31/2020 - 9:30am

    CAMDEN – A Camden man is being held without bail after he was arrested for allegedly possessing guns as a convicted felon, which he said he needed to protect himself during the COVID-19 virus.

    Arthur M. Andrews, 34, was charged by Camden police March 19 with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and two counts of violating a condition of release.

    Andrews made his initial appearance in Knox County Unified Court March 20 before Justice Paul Mathews.

    The state filed a motion March 20 to have Andrews held without bail since he had violated his current deferred disposition agreement reached between the state and defense in October 2019. The agreement stated that a domestic violence assault and criminal mischief charge would be dismissed and replaced with a disorderly conduct charge and a $250 fine if he followed the agreement for one year.

    The agreement also stated that he could not commit any new crimes.

    Andrews will be back in court April 2 for a hearing about amending his bail in his response to the motion filed by the state. A second hearing is scheduled for April 23 on the state’s motion filed to revoke his bail.

    According to the affidavit filed in court by Camden police, they responded to a Camden residence March 19 for a verbal disagreement. When police arrived on the scene, a man at the home said that Andrews had allegedly taken his three handguns.

    The man was able to get the guns back but police said that Andrews was intoxicated, which was another violation of his deferred disposition agreement.

    Police said that Andrews told them he needed a gun to protect himself because of the virus.

    Andrews struck a paramedic from North East Mobile Health Services in the chin after they arrived to transport him to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport for an evaluation, according to the affidavit.

    Attorney Laura Shaw of Camden is representing Andrews.

    Sarah Shepherd can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com