Reporter Narrowly Escapes Being Run Over Outside Maine Methadone Clinic

Maine Wire reporter Joe Sokol narrowly avoided being struck by a vehicle on Thursday while investigating a taxpayer-funded methadone clinic in Bangor, Maine. The incident occurred after a confrontation with the driver of a dark SUV outside the Bangor Comprehensive Treatment Center.

In footage captured by The Maine Wire, Sokol is seen speaking with the driver, who criticizes the reporter for filming in the vicinity. "You're invading people's privacy here. Confidentiality, you realize that?" the driver asks. Sokol retorts, "I'm invading people's privacy? By being in public with a camera? And doing a report?"

The driver then sped away as Sokol continued his report, describing the man as "possibly intoxicated." Suddenly, Sokol backed away, appearing to evade the same vehicle as it drove past him. Sokol was heard reciting the vehicle's license plate numbers into his camera as it continued to drive away.

Additional footage, including security camera video, showed the proximity of the vehicle to Sokol. Sokol also approached the center's owner, suggesting a connection to the driver. "Your patient just tried to run me over," Sokol stated, according to the report. The owner reportedly accused Sokol of intimidation and asked him to leave.

Sokol confirmed to Fox News Digital that he was investigating an addiction clinic and that police were notified and responded to the scene. He was unsure if the driver had been apprehended.

In a statement, The Maine Wire noted that Sokol was investigating the clinic, which has reportedly received approximately $25 million in taxpayer funding through Medicaid. "This is essentially a taxpayer-funded drug dealing operation at the heart of Bangor, Maine," the statement read. "We will continue to investigate this organization, its enablers, and the employees who appeared to be accessories after the fact rather than Good Samaritans."

Sokol also indicated that this was not the first time he had faced threats. "I currently have an active death-threat investigation that has sat on the district attorney's desk for more than a month," he said. "I have been assaulted multiple times; one of those incidents resulted in a charge, which the state dropped last week." He added that violence toward Maine Wire reporters has not been addressed in Bangor and cited a separate incident where his cameraman was nearly attacked by homeless individuals. He also mentioned that a city councilor's wife had asked police to intervene regarding their coverage.

The Maine Wire expressed gratitude to the Bangor Police Department for their response and pledged full cooperation with their investigation. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Bangor Comprehensive Treatment Center for comment.