PITTSFIELD — A man dressed as the Batman villain The Joker was arrested on charges of operating under the influence early Sunday morning.

Dennis Lalime, 64, of Pittsfield, lost control of his 2002 Buick Regal and went off Crawford Road at about 2 a.m., according to Sgt. Timothy Roussin of the Pittsfield Police Department.

Additional Photos Dennis Lalime Contributed photo

Lalime suffered no injuries, but his car was damaged as it struck multiple trees and a rock before it came to rest.

In the mugshot picture police took of Lalime a short while later, he is wearing white facepaint with large black circles around his eyes, and his hair is dyed green, all trademark features of The Joker, the archrival of comic book superhero Batman.

A nearby homeowner heard the crash and called police, leading to Lalime’s arrest by officer Greg Sides.

Roussin said Lalime, who told police he was coming home from a Halloween party in Old Town, was cooperative.

The number of alcohol-related crashes in the state has gone down significantly in recent years, from a high of about 1,800 in 2006 to 1,168 in 2011, the most recent year on record, according to the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety.

In that same year, there were 7,272 arrests for operating under the influence, and 38 alcohol-related fatalities.

The bureau recommends that those who will drink alcohol before traveling plan ahead by designating a sober driver in advance.



Matt Hongoltz-Hetling — 861-9287

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