FAFO: Maine Man Accused of Trying to Run Over Conservative Reporter ARRESTED — Hit With Four Charges Including Criminal Threatening With a Dangerous Weapon

The man who allegedly tried to mow down a conservative reporter with his vehicle, on camera, is now in custody.

Ryan Hayward, 38, of Bangor, was arrested Friday after police investigated the disturbing incident involving The Maine Wire reporter Joe Sokol outside the Bangor Comprehensive Treatment Center.

According to The Maine Wire, Hayward has been charged with:

• Reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon
• Criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon
• Driving to endanger
• Violating conditions of release

[snip]

And now comes the FAFO portion of the story.

The Gateway Pundit previously reported the shocking video of the confrontation. Sokol was filming from public property when a man in an SUV pulled up, accused him of “invading people’s privacy,” and drove off.

Moments later the same vehicle accelerated off the roadway and onto the grass where Sokol was standing. Sokol jumped clear. He was not hurt. Video shows the Jeep striking his camera equipment. He read the plate, Maine registration 841-LZD, into the camera.

[snip]

In that call, reported by The Post Millennial, Hayward denied he tried to kill anyone, then admitted the reporter “fired me up” and “disrespected me.”

He said he recognized Sokol from prior reporting and was angry about “the way he talks, like, bad about addicts and stuff.” He claimed he is a patient at the clinic and was on his way to get methadone. He hung up after realizing he was talking to a reporter, not a cop.

[snip]

After the near-miss, Sokol confronted staff at the clinic and told them a patient had just tried to run him over. According to the outlet’s video, instead of calling police, a woman repeatedly ordered him off the property.

(*) Full article: https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/10/fafo-maine-man-accused-trying-run-conservative-reporter/