Several cruisers and tactical units were seen in the area, according to nearby residents.
DIXMONT (NEWS CENTER Maine ) — A man is in custody after police say he barricaded himself inside a home causing a nearly 20-hour standoff with dozens of police officers.
61-year-old Michael Grendell is now facing charges for criminal threatening and wreckless conduct, according to court documents released by the Penobscot County District Attorney's Office.
The standoff ended with an explosion, that police say they had no choice but to use.
"You know our hand was forced in some ways from Grendall's continuing to engage in shooting from his residence. At a certain point we needed to take steps to protect our officers and neighbors." Cpl. John Cote, of Maine State Police said. "He was at first armed with a baseball bat which he relinquished but picked up a firearm -- ignoring commands not to do so. At that time Grendell was shot."
Grendell was taken by life flight to a Bangor hospital and is currently in critical condition.
The documents said Grendell reportedly shot at a friend and neighbor Thursday afternoon. When police responded to the scene, the incident escalated.Cpl. Cote said there was no danger to the greater public throughout the incident. ”It certainly could have ended much worse," Cpl. Cote said. "It certainly could have ended with that man’s death or the death or injury of one of our officers. So we have a suspect who is alive and in custody. We’ll take that.”The Attorney General's Office is now investigating."The victim, in this case, describes his relationship with the defendant as being his best friend. That this behavior was completely out of the ordinary," ADA Marianne Lynch said. "And he had significant concerns for his friends' mental health."The spokesman for the Maine Dept. of Public Safety, Steve McCausland said the man shot at State Police several times during the morning on Friday, June 29. The man is being treated for injuries sustained during the standoff on North Road in Dixmont. Troopers, including members of the tactical team, negotiators and members of the bomb team, had been at the home since Thursday afternoon. More than 40 state and local officers were on the scene. New Hampshire State Police were called to help but were called off before they arrived.
