LEWISTON, Maine — Police have finally divulged details about Robert Card, who shot and killed 18 people in Lewiston on Wednesday.
Sagadahoc County’s Sheriff Joel Merry issued a press release Monday afternoon, stating it was in the people's best interest to make all of the information about Card public, according to Maine’s Freedom of Access Act, and after numerous media requests.
Merry said a member of Card’s family contacted the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office on May 3, stating Card’s mental health had started to decline in January. The family expressed concern for Card’s well-being and said he had access to firearms.
After speaking with the family, the sheriff’s office spoke with representatives of the 3rd Battalion 304 Training Group and connected them with Card’s family, who assured the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s office that Card had received medical attention. Card’s unit sergeant also told police he himself would speak with Card, according to the release.
Four months later, in September, the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office received an email from Card’s Army Reserve unit in Saco, who asked for a wellness check on Card. Merry said a deputy visited Card’s residence on Sept. 15, but Card was not at home.
The sheriff’s office then sent a File 6 alert—an attempt to locate teletype—to other law enforcement agencies, according to the release.
Merry stated File 6 alerts are common and are issued by law enforcement when trying to locate a person. He said the alert included a warning that Card was known to be armed and dangerous and included details of his behavior, urging officers to use “extreme caution.”
On Sept. 16, both a Sagadahoc County deputy and a supporting deputy from Kennebec County returned to Card’s residence but did not find Card. His car was at the location. At first, the deputies knocked repeatedly on the door, not seeing Card or hearing any voices, Merry stated in the release. Later, one of the deputies said, “he might have heard someone moving around in the trailer,” but no one answered the door.
Following the unsuccessful wellness visit, the Sagadahoc County deputy reportedly contacted Card’s unit commander, who told police Card no longer possessed any weapons from the reserve unit. The commander said they were trying to get treatment for Card and thought “it was best to let Card have time to himself,” according to the release.
A Sagadahoc County deputy contacted Card’s brother on Sept. 17, who told the police he would work to secure any firearms Card had access to. Merry said his deputy also asked the family to call back if they thought Card needed an evaluation or was a risk to himself or others.
The File 6 alert was canceled on Oct. 18.
“We believe that our agency acted appropriately and followed procedures for conducting an attempt to locate and wellness check,” Merry said in the release. “My office will evaluate our policies and procedures for how we conduct wellness checks with the goal of making any improvements that are in the interest of public safety while balancing the rights of individuals.”
“Our hearts are breaking for the families and friends of the people who were killed and injured,” Merry said.