News/Commentary

Investigative reporter dodges alleged attempted murder in the nick of time

October 2, 2026 | | Print Article

The lack of impulse control seems to be reaching a crisis level in America, where people fly off the handle at the slightest provocation, feeling fully justified in their actions for no other reason than being offended.

The latest example of this took place this week in Maine, outside the Bangor Comprehensive Treatment Center. Maine Wire reporter Joe Sokol appeared to narrowly avoid being run over while reporting outside the methadone clinic — the facility has received around $25 million in Medicaid funding from 2018 to 2024, according to the outlet.

The “lunatic” claimed the reporter was “invading people’s privacy” by filming a story in public, and after a brief exchange, drove off. As Sokol attempted to go back to his reporting, the vehicle reappeared at a high rate of speed, coming right at the reporter, who saw the threat and managed to avoid the car as it took out a tripod holding his camera.

“Some lunatic just attempted to murder our reporter @iAmJoeSokol. We have the entire chilling interaction on camera. We will take all necessary actions to demand justice,” The Maine Wire posted on X, while sharing the footage.

Sokol captured the man’s license plate as he sped off, and the story takes a strange twist when the man reportedly called the Maine Wire.

Identifying himself as Ryan, the man said he was a patient at the clinic. He said Sokol had “no right to be there,” but denied that he tried to run him over. Ryan admitted he was familiar with the reporter and his work, claiming he “talks bad about addicts.”

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Bangor police are reportedly investigating the incident, but there have been no arrests announced.

Turns out, this is not Sokol’s first encounter with unruly people who don’t appreciate free press:

“I currently have an active death-threat investigation that has sat on the district attorney’s desk for more than a month,” Sokol said in a statement. “I have been assaulted multiple times; one of those incidents resulted in a charge, which the state dropped last week. Violence and aggression toward Maine Wire reporters is never addressed in Bangor. About three weeks ago, my cameraman, Adam Stade, was nearly attacked by several homeless people in the city. One councilor’s wife — Michael Beck’s — actually asked the police to intervene regarding our coverage (attached). Most of the city council refuses to comment on the subject generally.”

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Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story, as seen on X:

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Tom Tillison
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