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MANCHESTER

Off-duty trooper disarms man with knife

Suspect accused of running trooper's car off road

Kennebec Journal Staff

MANCHESTER -- A York man is facing numerous charges after allegedly pulling a knife on a Maine State Police trooper whose car he had run off the road.

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Off-duty state police trooper Jon Leach, left, wrestles Jerry Larravee, center, to the ground with State Police Lt. Brian Scott Monday in Manchester. Leach, who is on sick leave following shoulder surgery, disarmed Larravee, 47, after he pulled a knife after driving in the wrong lane of traffic, according to police.

Staff photo by Andy Molloy

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Jerry Larravee, 47, who is staying in Manchester, was charged with operating under the influence of drugs, operating after revocation, refusing to submit to arrest or detention, assault on a police officer and criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon.

Larravee was being held Monday evening at the Kennebec County jail. A bail amount was not immediately available.

The confrontation began around 10 a.m. Monday as off-duty Trooper Jon Leach was driving south on Pond Road in his personal vehicle.

Leach met Larravee's vehicle traveling north in the southbound lane, Maine State Police Lt. David Tripp said. "The vehicle nearly forced four or five vehicles off the road and struck Trooper Leach's vehicle," Tripp said.

Leach then followed Larravee's car to the intersection of Pond Road and U.S. Route 202. Leach confronted Larravee as he got out of his car and identified himself as a trooper, Tripp said.

Larravee tried to leave, Tripp said, but Leach, who was off duty after undergoing shoulder surgery, said he had to wait for responding police.

"The subject began to pull a knife on Trooper Leach," Tripp said. "Trooper Leach was able to disarm the subject prior to him getting the knife unfolded."

Leach subdued Larravee until Maine State Police Lt. Brian Scott arrived and took Larravee into custody.

Leach was treated at MaineGeneral Medical Center for minor injuries and released, Tripp said. Larravee was not injured.

None of the injuries Leach suffered Monday will keep him out of work, but the trooper continues to recuperate from the shoulder surgery, Tripp said.

"He felt the risk to the motoring public was greater than the risk to himself to keep the person in that location," Tripp said.