Maine news, sports, weather from Waterville Morning Sentinel

SKOWHEGAN

Man, dog back on the streets

By Doug Harlow dharlow@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

SKOWHEGAN -- An 84-year-old homeless man and his Rottweiler were back on the streets of Skowhegan Wednesday, less than a day after being taken in by a couple in Benton.

Rod Rodriquez was seen outside the police station Tuesday night just before midnight, according to an entry in the radio log at the regional communications center. Later, at 6:48 a.m. Wednesday, a caller from the nearby Dill Center on Water Street reported Rodriquez's dog was barking and growling, frightening people coming to the center.

Rodriquez was seen later Wednesday morning with a large pile of his belongings strewn along the brick wall of a building next to the Dill Center.

Then it started to rain.

"He's out in the rain," Skowhegan Police Chief Michael Emmons said Wednesday afternoon. "He's been around and around this building, inside and out, for most of the day; all his stuff's still on the sidewalk over by the Dill Center."

When approached for a comment Wednesday, Rodriquez said he and his dog didn't care much for the local newspaper because of a photograph of him that was published Tuesday.

"He and I are furious at your rotten, little gossip rag," Rodriquez said. "We still need a place with a roof over the head."

Skowhegan police began dealing with Rodriquez late last week when he arrived with his dog. Police set him up temporarily at a "homeless park" on Coburn Avenue after he refused to go to the shelter at a church on McClellan Street.

Food and water were donated, but Coburn Avenue residents complained and Rodriquez was moved to another temporary camp off Russell Road. Emmons said a couple from Benton, who he declined to identify, then took Rodriquez in, but that quickly turned sour.

"I've called the couple in Benton, but they haven't returned my calls," he said. "It sounded like he got into a little confrontation and decided it was enough to leave and the gentleman brought him back and dropped him and his stuff off."

Town Manager John Doucette Jr. said he was told there had been a problem involving the couple's dog and Rodriquez's dog.

A woman later in the day Wednesday donated a dome tent, a sleeping bag and a waterproof bag, but Emmons said Rodriquez still had no place to put the tent.

"I haven't given it to him yet because where am I going to put him?" the police chief asked. "I can't give him permission to pitch it any old place. If somebody just had a field somewhere he can still pitch the tent and stay dry in the tent. My hands are tied; I'm at a loss now. He's got to help himself."

By late Wednesday afternoon Rodriquez's belongings were still stacked in the rain by the Dill Center wall, and police were trying to find Rodriquez to set him up in a dry place for the night.

Doug Harlow -- 474-9534

dharlow@centralmaine.com