NAPLES, Maine — A York County sheriff's deputy shot and injured a man Sunday after the man allegedly fired shots at officials during a standoff in Naples.
The incident happened around 11:15 p.m. on Horace Files Road after the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office responded to a call for assistance from a man who appeared to be intoxicated, according to a news release issued Monday by the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office.
When officials arrived at the scene, they made contact with the caller by phone, and he apparently told them to leave his home. While deputies were clearing the scene, the man fired multiple gunshots in deputies' direction, according to the release.
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Emergency Services Unit Tactical Team and the Southern Maine Special Response Team were called in to assist as deputies continued to negotiate with the man. During negotiations, the man exited the home and shot at members of the tactical team, leading York County Sheriff's Deputy Alex Markellos to fire back at the man, the release stated.
The man who was shot was identified as 36-year-old Eric Sweda, officials said. Sweda exited the home and was taken into custody before being taken to Maine Medical Center with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, according to the sheriff's office.
Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce told NEWS CENTER Maine Sweda has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated reckless conduct with a firearm, and criminal threatening.
Markellos, a member of the Southern Maine Special Response Team since 2021, also shot a man named Nicholas Goodwin in November while serving an arrest warrant for domestic violence terrorizing and violations of conditions of release at a home in York. Goodwin "brandished a firearm," York police said at the time, leading Markellos to shoot him. Goodwin survived.
"In both incidents, [Markellos] was assigned to a forward position that was likely to intercept the threat involving the potential use of deadly force by each offender," York County Sheriff William King told NEWS CENTER Maine in an email Tuesday. "It is my understanding that in each situation, the individuals who were shot displayed firearms in the direction of Deputy Markellos and in the latest incident, the offender actually discharged a firearm in his direction."
The Office of the Maine Attorney General is investigating the case, which is standard procedure for officer-involved shootings. King said Markellos has been temporarily placed on administrative leave.
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