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Maine Wire reporter Joe Sokol appeared to narrowly avoid being run over by an unruly critic in footage captured by the publication on Thursday.
In the video, Sokol was seen talking to a man prior to the incident, with the latter criticizing the reporter for filming outside the Bangor Comprehensive Treatment Center.
“You’re invading people’s privacy here. Confidentiality, you realize that?” the driver said.
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“I’m invading people’s privacy? By being in public with a camera? And doing a report?” Sokol responded.
The driver then proceeded to drive away as Sokol continued his report, describing the man as “possibly intoxicated.” As he was speaking, Sokol suddenly backed away, apparently avoiding a near collision with what appeared to be the same man’s vehicle. Sokol could then be heard reciting the suspect’s license plate numbers through the knocked-down camera as the car kept driving.
The Maine Wire also showed additional footage which featured security footage of how close the vehicle approached Sokol, as well as Sokol approaching the center’s owner, suggesting the suspect was connected.
“Your patient just tried to run me over,” Sokol accused in the footage.
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The female owner, however, accused Sokol of attempting to intimidate her and demanded he leave the property.
In a comment to Fox News Digital, Sokol confirmed that he was investigating an addiction clinic and that police were notified and on the scene. Though the suspect was identified, Sokol was not yet sure if he was apprehended. He added that this was far from the first time he faced an attempt on his life.
“I currently have an active death-threat investigation that has sat on the district attorney’s desk for more than a month,” Sokol said. “I have been assaulted multiple times; one of those incidents resulted in a charge, which the state dropped last week. Violence and aggression toward Maine Wire reporters is never addressed in Bangor. About three weeks ago, my cameraman, Adam Stade, was nearly attacked by several homeless people in the city. One councilor’s wife—Michael Beck’s—actually asked the police to intervene regarding our coverage (attached). Most of the city council refuses to comment on the subject generally.”
The conservative-leaning Maine Wire also released a statement honoring Sokol reacting well under pressure and providing additional detail regarding Sokol’s investigation.
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“Joe was there to ask questions about a methadone clinic that, according to The Maine Wire’s reporting, has received roughly $25 million in taxpayer funding via Medicaid. This is essentially a taxpayer-funded drug dealing operation at the heart of Bangor, Maine. We will continue to investigate this organization, its enablers, and the employees who appeared to be accessories after the fact rather than Good Samaritans,” the statement read.
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It continued, “We extend our sincere thanks to the men and women of the Bangor Police Department for their professionalism and compassionate response. We will cooperate fully with their investigation, including providing the vehicle information, the identity of the driver, his social media history, the VIN number on his vehicle, his romantic history, our account of what happened, and our opinion as to what should happen to the driver and the taxpayer-funded methadone slingers who helped him become intoxicated before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
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