Police & Fire

Garland man allegedly threatened Skowhegan shop owner after Pride flag vandalism

By Matt Berg, Bangor Daily News Staff

A Penobscot County man was cited by police for allegedly sending threatening messages to the owner of a Skowhegan vintage boutique and a reporter.

A cease-harassment notice was issued to Robert Gray, 62, of Garland on June 24. On Wednesday morning,June 23, he allegedly sent a threatening voicemail to Jessica Stetson, owner of Old Soul Collective, whose Pride flag had been vandalized earlier in the week, according to the Waterville Morning Sentinel.

Gray also sent several derogatory emails to a reporter who had covered the vandalization, one which suggested that minority groups and their allies “should all be shot.”

Stetson and the reporter filed separate complaints to Skowhegan police June 23, leading to Gray’s citation, the Morning Sentinel reported.

After the voicemail, Stetson temporarily closed the shop out of fear for her family’s safety. She reopened June 25.

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