ROCKLAND — The Knox County grand jury handed down 10 indictments, including 21 counts April 3. An indictment does not imply guilt.

Senad Brkic, 42, of Camden, was indicted on three counts of felony aggravated assault, domestic violence assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

Brkic was arrested Dec. 14 after he went to the home where his wife and two daughters live in Camden. One of the daughters called police after he was knocking on the doors and windows, reports said.

Police arrested Brkic for violating a protection from abuse order and transported him to the Knox County Jail.

His bail was set at $2,500 for that offense. Police say he has physically abused his family over several years.

On Dec. 18, Brkic appeared in Knox County Unified Court after he was also charged with two counts of aggravated assault and domestic violence assault. Judge Susan Sparaco set a concurrent bail at $2,500 cash. According to the affidavit filed in court by Detective Dwight Burtis of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, the family said that they have experienced multiple assaults by Brkic over several years. The daughters reported that when their mother was not present, he would hit them in the head with his fist.

One of the daughters stated that during one assault, Brkic grabbed her and squeezed her neck while holding her down on the couch. The victim said that she could not breathe for two to three seconds during that assault, according to police. The other daughter reported to police about other multiple assaults on the family, again over several years. She said that one time Brkic strangled her in the car, causing her to lose her breath, and then proceeded to bang her head on the window while grabbing her hair.

His wife reported that she was assaulted by Brkic numerous times, including an incident in 2009 when she was treated at Waldo County General Hospital for broken ribs.

The detective verified the hospital’s records to confirm her report. 

Two years ago, his wife said he denied her requests to transport their 2-year-old daughter to Pen Bay Medical Center when the child was sick with the flu. She told police that she finally “disobeyed” him and took the child to the hospital.

She died soon after from complications from the illness.

According to the affidavit, the family has lived in the United States for 16 years. His wife said that when she had threatened to complain about her husband’s abuse in the past, he replied that she did not know the law and he would win in court. She also said that she rarely left the house and was not allowed to have a job or meet new people. His wife told the detective that her husband has post-traumatic stress disorder from fighting in Bosnia. He also lost his left arm with fighting in the war, according to the affidavit.

David E. Burton, 61, of Thomaston, was indicted for felony theft of more than $1,000 in cash from Midcoast Marine Supply in Thomaston from June 9, 2014, to July 24, 2017.

Andrew S. Davis, 29, of Thomaston, was indicted for criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon (a sword or butterfly knife) in Thomaston Feb. 22; violation of condition of release.

According to the affidavit filed by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office in Knox County Unified Court, the victim reported that he woke up and found Davis allegedly standing in his room with a sword. Once the victim was awake, Davis apologized and left the room.

The victim then went to speak with Davis, who was pointing a butterfly knife at himself and said he was seeing people and arguing with them, according to the affidavit. Deputies responded to the residence and Davis agreed to come out of the residence, without the sword. Davis told police that he was trying to warn the victim with the sword, but would not say why. 

Jermaine A. Davis, 42, of Rockland, was indicted for felony domestic violence assault in Rockland Dec. 17. The charge was elevated to a felony due to a prior domestic violence terrorizing conviction in Rockland District Court in November, 2013.

Eric Dickerson, 37, of North Haven, was indicted for felony aggravated criminal operating under the influence July 16, 2017, which caused bodily injury to a woman.

George E. Gilmore, 32, of Rockland, was indicted for elevated aggravated assault and aggravated assault in Rockland Dec. 6, 2017.

On Dec. 6, at 12:08 p.m., Rockland police responded to the report of a stabbing incident at a residence at the Knox County Apartments on Knox Street.

The suspect, later identified as Gilmore, had fled the scene prior to the arrival of police. Gilmore was then arrested after he was exiting the men's bathroom at Dunkin Donut's on Main Street in Rockland.

Police filed an affidavit in court Dec. 6, to obtain a search warrant to collect evidence at the residence where the stabbing took place.

Gilmore was living in the apartment with the two stabbing victims along with an unidentified number of children.

The female victim reported to police that she heard Gilmore yell to the male victim to pick up his underwear that he left on the bathroom floor. The man yelled back to Gilmore that he would pick it up later.

An argument then ensued between Gilmore and the male victim, according to the court document. The argument centered around the treatment of one of the children in the home, the report said. 

The male victim, who was facing away from Gilmore, was tackled and then both men fell on the bed, the report said. Gilmore continued to strike the victim. The female victim tried to pull Gilmore off of the other man, but he continued the attack until she threatened to call the police.

The woman told police that she did not see the knife and did not know that the man had been stabbed until she saw him covered with blood. She first realized she had also been injured when she called 911.

Gilmore fled the scene when the woman called police.

Both victims were transported to Penobscot Bay Medical Center by Rockland Fire/EMS. The male victim was then transported via Life Flight to Maine Medical Center due to the extent of the injuries he suffered as a result of the stabbing.

The female victim was treated and released from Penobscot Bay Medical Center.

Gilmore was transported to Penobscot Bay Medical Center where he was treated and released back into police custody for minor injuries sustained during the altercation, according to police. 

Anthony Jack Hardy, 25, of the Maine State Prison in Warren, was indicted for robbery, theft of commissary items and assault in Warren May 17.

Paul A. Heino, 43, of Warren, was indicted for felony theft at Maritime Farms in Warren Oct. 5. Heino had two previous theft convictions in June 2017.

Roger E. Rowling Jr., 53, of Cushing, was indicted for criminal operating under the influence and operating beyond license condition or restriction.

James C. Smith, 32, of Waldoboro, was indicted for assault on a corrections officer at the Knox County Jail in Rockland Feb. 21.

According to the affidavit filed in Knox County Unified Court by Detective Justin Twitchell of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Smith was being held at the jail on the charges of criminal attempt, disorderly conduct and violating a condition of release.

Smith had been transported to the jail by Rockport police after an incident at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport Feb. 21 and was scheduled to appear in court the same afternoon.

A corrections officer had instructed Smith to return to his cell after he received his medication and he refused. The officer then attempted to move Smith into his cell and he threw a cup of water in the officer’s face, according to the affidavit.

The corrections officer held Smith on the floor until other officers arrived. Smith was allowed to get up and turned around and punched the guard in the chin. 

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com