AUGUSTA, Maine — After facing harsh criticism, Sgt. Aaron Skolfiled says his side of the story leading up to the mass shootings in Lewiston last October was omitted in a final investigation.
In a press conference Tuesday, Sgt. Skolfield shared previous phone calls and information that he says would exonerate him from accusations of inaction when dealing with Robert Card in the months leading up to the shooting.
"The investigation did not show the unvarnished facts, they only showed what they wanted to," Sgt. Skolfield expressed regarding the independent commission that was tasked to create a final report on the months leading up to and following the shootings.
Following the release of the report, Gov. Janet Mills expressed her disappointment towards the Sagadahoc County Sheriff sergeant claiming he "should have done more" to prevent shooter Robert Card from having access to guns.
"When they established the Commission, the Governor and the Attorney General asked the appointees only to follow the facts, wherever they may lead, in an independent and objective manner, biased by no one and guided only by the pursuit of truth. The Governor was not involved in the Commission’s investigation," Mills' office said in a statement. "Following the completion of the Commission’s work, the Governor only offered her reaction to their report – in which she said she has full faith and confidence in the facts as determined by the Commission and agrees with the Commission’s observations."
However, Sgt. Skolfield explained that concerns expressed to him were downplayed by leaders of the U.S. Army Reserve. As well, while the report explains Skolfield was at Card's home for only 16 minutes to perform a wellness check on him on Sept. 16, Sgt. Skolfield claimed he was there for "hours."
"Please take note of what is missing from the timeline paints a very different picture of what was portrayed to you," Sgt. Skolfield said.
As Skolfield, a Republican, runs for sheriff in November, he claims state leaders politicized the commission's final report last month as he runs against Democrat Sheriff Joel Merry.
While the commission's final report claims Sgt. Skolfield's knowledge as of Sept. 2023 authorized him to utilize the yellow flag law, Sgt. Skolfield disagrees. Instead, Sgt. Skolfield claims state leaders are avoiding the use and discussion surrounding Maine's underutilized Progressive Treatment Plan, which is currently available in Maine to help individuals in crisis get the help they need. If a person doesn't adhere to their treatment, it can be mandated.
"Had I been trained on the Progressive Treatment Plan, maybe I or a number of others could have helped the process get started to get the help [Card] needed," Sgt. Skolfield said.
Now others are working towards forming a nonprofit to help advocate for the use of PTP.
"Governor Mills has made sure that people that make referrals to PTP have not been trained or even made aware of the program," Bob Staples said, who lost his son after he got hit by a train while experiencing a mental health crisis.
"Since Brett's death, I've talked to about 70 people in the medical and law enforcement fields. Only one had vaguely heard of the program," Staples explained.
In a statement sent to NEWS CENTER Maine, a spokesperson for the independent commission said:
"Every member of the Independent Commission took their responsibility to ask questions and find the facts very seriously without regard for politics and the final report speaks for itself. To suggest otherwise is irresponsible and does a disservice to the people of Maine, particularly the victims and their families.
"The Commission received and considered written testimony from Shattering Silence Coalition, Maine Chapter, insisting that Robert Card could have been enrolled in the PTP program. In order for PTP to be ordered, however, Card would have had to have been diagnosed with a “persistent and severe mental illness,” and there would have had to have been a “suitable individualized treatment plan” in place for him. In addition, he would have needed access to licensed and qualified community providers able to support the treatment plan. The fact is that not even the first step, a long-term diagnosis, had been accomplished."