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Monday, November 9, 2026Nov 9

‘American Pie’ singer McLean’s arrest shakes his Maine town

This Monday, Jan. 18, 2016 photo provided by the Knox County Jail shows Don McLean. A jail supervisor said "American Pie" singer McLean bad been arrested on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in Maine. (Knox County Jail via AP)
This Monday, Jan. 18, 2016 photo provided by the Knox County Jail shows Don McLean. A jail supervisor said "American Pie" singer McLean bad been arrested on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in Maine. (Knox County Jail via AP) This Monday, Jan. 18, 2016 photo provided by the Knox County Jail shows Don McLean. A jail supervisor said "American Pie" singer McLean bad been arrested on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in Maine. (Knox County Jail via AP)

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – The picturesque town of Camden was reeling on Tuesday from the arrest of “American Pie” singer Don McLean, a fixture in the community.

Police arrested McLean on a misdemeanor domestic-violence charge on Monday, and he later posted $10,000 bail and was released from jail. Police and court officials didn’t say much about the arrest on Tuesday other than McLean will be in court to respond to it next month.

Select Board member Leonard Lookner, a retired former restaurant owner, said “the entire town was shocked” by McLean’s arrest.

McLean is well known in the Midcoast town of about 5,000 residents for holding charity concerts to raise money for education, Lookner said. He said McLean’s wife, photographer Patrisha McLean, is known for opening her beloved rose garden to local residents.

“They are both really special people,” Lookner said. “I must say I was absolutely shocked. We all were. He’s done wonderful things for the community.”