Pion Faces New Charge

September 11, 2012

NEWPORT - Roger Pion, the 34-year old accused of crushing seven police vehicles with a tractor, is scheduled for arraignment Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 9 a.m. on a new count: driving with a suspended license.
An Orleans Superior Court Judge has found probable cause that when Pion took a tractor and drove through Newport City streets up to the Orleans County Sheriff's Department and crushed six cruisers and a transport vehicle, he did not have a license to drive on the roads.
Pion was already arraigned 13 other charges stemming from the tractor incident and pleaded innocent. He was held on $50,000 bail and released on August 30 after posting bail. Pion is facing counts including aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, leaving the scene of a crash, and disorderly conduct.
After Pion left the sheriff's department on Aug. 2, a Newport City Police car followed the tractor, and when Pion saw the tractor behind him, he allegedly backed the tractor towards the car. According to police, Pion had a loaded gun in his possession during the arrest but made no attempt to use it.
Since his arrest, Pion has become a hero of sorts to some who feel the police at times use excessive force.