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A man was arrested following an altercation that led to a possible stabbing at Ushuaia dance club Saturday, March 5, according to the Orono Police Department. Jonathan Gardiner, 18, of Glenburn, allegedly approached a 17-year-old juvenile male from Brewer in the patio area of the club and accused the man of talking to his girlfriend. The juvenile claimed that he had never seen Gardiner prior to this incident. A friend of the juvenile, a 19-year-old, stepped between him and Gardiner in an effort to stop the interaction. Gardiner and the 19-year-old then began fighting. Both men claimed that they had been stabbed. The juvenile was allegedly stabbed on his left arm and the 19 year-old in the left abdomen area.
At this point, bouncers and others broke up the fight and the police were called. Units from Old Town, Orono and a state trooper responded to the scene, and Gardiner was taken into custody.
After being taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center, Gardiner was arrested and taken to Penobscot County Jail. He faces charges of aggravated assault and aggravated reckless conduct. Gardiner may face further charges due to bail conditions from prior incidents. He is due in court on April 4 at 9:30 a.m.
Whether or not a stabbing actually occurred is unsure, according to several sources. A six-inch, fixed-blade knife was confiscated from Gardiner following the incident and witnesses at the scene claim that they saw the knife in Gardiner’s hand with blood on it. According to police, immediately following the incident, Gardiner stated that he had used the knife to “protect himself.” Reports state that he further said, “People won’t f*ck with me again.” Despite this, Gardiner claims that he never actually used the knife, according to Ushuaia club owner, Alex Gray.
“The guy involved said he didn’t stab anyone, and at this point, I’d tend to believe him,” Gray said.
Gray was restraining Gardiner on the ground when police arrived. he thought initially that a stabbing had occurred, but is unsure that it actually happened after more information has been released. “This really has been sensationalized,” Gray said.
Gray explained that the wounds were all minor, pointing out that the abdomen puncture was cared for with two band-aids. Regardless of these claims, Orono police are taking the incident extremely seriously, according to detective Andrew Whitehouse.
“We’re investigating this as an incident involving a stabbing,” Whitehouse said. “We have the medical records to go from.”
Several attendants of the club reported pat-downs being conducted by club bouncers. According to Gray, this is standard procedure and occurs every weekend.
“We started doing pat-downs several weekends before this incident,” Gray said.
According to Whitehouse, heightened security would assist in preventing incidents like this, but is not necessarily realistic in an area like Orono.
“This isn’t something occurring every weekend here,” Whitehouse said. “Do I think it could happen again? Sure, and metal detectors and pat-downs would help.”
Whitehouse said that no change in policy has yet been brought out because of this incident, but encouraged club-goers to be safe.
“Obviously we don’t always know what is going to happen next,” Whitehouse said. “I think we’re living in a day and age when you can’t be too cautious.”
