PORTLAND — A frequent critic of local government arrested in November at a Scarborough Town Council meeting and charged with criminal trespass pleaded not guilty in a Jan. 10 arraignment. 

Michael Doyle, 69, of Falmouth, was arrested by Sgt. Mary Pearson during the public comment period of the meeting. He later called his arrest “unlawful” and said, “you can’t arrest people for asking questions.”

He is scheduled to appear in Cumberland County Unified Court again in March for a dispositional conference to determine how the case will proceed. 

Doyle began the public comment period by ridiculing the town’s bid for an Amazon headquarters at Scarborough Downs. He then suggested Town Manager Thomas Hall left his previous job in Rockland under suspicious circumstances. 

Chairman Shawn Babine intervened to stop Doyle, followed by Councilor Bill Donovan, who told Doyle he had to respect the chairman.

When Babine asked him to leave, Doyle refused and was arrested.


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