FRYEBURG, Maine — The Office of the Maine Attorney General is investigating the circumstances that led a Fryeburg police officer to shoot and kill a man Tuesday night.
Kenneth Ellis, 52, died at the scene after being shot by Fryeburg police officer Michael St. Laurent, Fryeburg police said in a release Wednesday. Ellis allegedly approached the officer while holding a knife.
In a release Wednesday, New Hampshire's Conway Police Department said Ellis refused to pull his pickup truck over for officers after they received a complaint that he was driving erratically through Conway Village, leading to a chase that made its way into Maine. New Hampshire officials ceded the chase to Fryeburg police and the Oxford County Sheriff's Office, according to the release.
Officials tried to stop the vehicle on Main Street in Fryeburg, where it hit multiple vehicles and then crashed into a snowbank in front of Norway Savings Bank. That's when Ellis allegedly exited the vehicle and approached St. Laurent while holding a knife.
Oxford County Sheriff's Deputy Justin Groetzinger was reportedly taken to a hospital with injuries from a separate crash where he struck a vehicle that turned in front of him on Main Street, police said. His injuries are not considered life-threatening, according to police.
"There does not appear to be an immediate or continuing threat to the general public," Oxford County Sheriff Christopher Wainwright told NEWS CENTER Maine.
Maine State Police are investigating the crashes and working to identify witnesses to the incident.
St. Laurent has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol as the attorney general's office conducts its investigation.
This story will be updated.