By Renee Worthing
Register Reporter


The caretaker of a mentally challenged man was arrested and charged May 18 for operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol and endangering the welfare of a child.
Sanford Police Department Maj. Gordon Littlefield said 29-year-old Portland resident James Swaka’s blood alcohol content was three times the legal limit when he hit a car on Brook Street before being stopped by police.
 Police were dispatched to the area at 3:12 p.m. after  a caller reported Swaka, who police said had been consuming alcohol at the caller’s residence, became belligerent and threatened to drive back to Portland after being asked to leave.
 Littlefield said while police were on the way to the scene, Swaka crashed into a parked car.
Swaka, an employee of Granite Bay Care, was transporting a 20-year-old mentally challenged Granite Bay Care client he was supervising, as well as Swaka’s 12-year-old son at the time, Littlefield said.
  Littlefield said the client was released to the care of a Granite Bay Care official and Swaka’s son was released to the care of an aunt.
Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Public Communications Director John Martins said because DHHS contracts with Granite Bay Care, the incident must be reported to DHHS. 
Martins said he was not certain if Granite Bay Care reported the incident yet, but said DHHS would investigate the incident.
A person who answered the phone at Granite Bay Care refused to comment.