OLD TOWN, Maine — Maine Department of Public Safety Spokesman Steve McCausland said a man was shot and killed Tuesday morning in Old Town in an armed confrontation with troopers.
The incident took place outside a home on Bodwell Street on French Island.
The Maine State Police Tactical Team and negotiators were called to the home after Old Town Police requested assistance around midnight. The shooting took place just before 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
No police officers were injured.
The man who was shot and killed has been identified as Thomas Powell, 31, of Old Town.
McCausland said Powell was the suspect in a burglary in Surry, which happened around 3 p.m. on Monday. Their investigation determined a white Honda Pilot SUV had also been stolen from the scene.
Old Town Police checked the residence where Powell lived Monday evening and around midnight, officers found the Honda parked at Powell’s residence at 28 Bodwell St. Before the arrival of the SUV, Old Town Police received a call reporting gun shots in the area of that address.
According to McCausland, Old Town and State Police established a perimeter around the residence, secured search and arrest warrants for Powell, and did a limited evacuation of adjacent residences. State Police Crisis Negotiators
and the State Police Tactical Team were sent to the scene. EMS personnel were also staged a short distance from the scene.
Around 2:30 a.m., officers made attempts to contact Powell through a PA system and got no response. Attempts to contact Powell remained unsuccessful until about 8:30 a.m. when Powell briefly appeared in a doorway. McCausland said he fired shots from a rifle at officers before retreating back into the residence.
According to McCausland, Powell again exited the home again a few minuted later and an armed confrontation resulted in Powell being shot and killed by
State Police. The incident ended just before 8:40 AM.
A background check of Powell by NEWS CENTER Maine shows he has a lengthy criminal history, including unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs, burglary, failure to appear after bailed, and assault on an officer.
As is the case with every officer involved shooting, the Maine Attorney General's Office will investigate the incident. They have sent a team of investigators to Old Town.
The troopers using deadly force were Trooper Garret Booth and Detective Scott Duff -- both members of the Maine State Police Tactical Team. They have both been placed on administrative leave with pay, which McCausland said is normal protocol in these cases.
Neighbors in the area were asked to evacuate about two hours before the shooting.
"We just got dressed and left the house," Ron Miller said.
Miller and his wife, Laurie said they live across the street from where the shooting happened. They told NEWS CENTER Maine it's a house with apartments inside it and they don't know the neighbors.
They said they were surprised something like this happened so close to home.
"This areas gotten a little rougher over the last few years but nothing like that," Miller said.
