OXFORD COUNTY, Maine — A man who stole two law enforcement cruisers Monday was shot by officers and taken into custody, authorities said.
Gary Porter, 37, faces a host of charges. Eleven officers fired shots at him during the encounter, according to the Maine Attorney General's Office.
Police said the incident started at about 7 a.m. in Paris, when officers received a report Porter was acting suspicious. He was arrested on a felony theft warrant and taken to Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway where he was treated and released for "conditions unrelated to the arrest," according to a joint statement by Maine State Police, the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, Oxford police, Norway police, and Paris police.
"Paris Police Chief Mike Dailey transported Porter to the Oxford County Jail [in South Paris]," the statement said. "While attempting to remove Porter from the vehicle at the jail Porter was able to slip his cuffs from the back to the front and move to the driver’s seat and steal the Paris Police cruiser ... Dailey was thrown from the moving vehicle while attempting to stop Porter."
Police pursued the cruiser and Porter crashed on Route 117 in Paris, police said.
"Officers confronted Porter and gunfire was exchanged," the statement said. "Porter was struck but fled and stole an Oxford County Sheriff’s police vehicle which he crashed a short distance up the road. Porter was taken into custody and treated at a local hospital."
Porter was then taken to the Oxford County Jail and charged with two counts of theft, assaulting a police officer, escape, eluding, and violation of bail.
"The Office of the Attorney General will investigate the law enforcement use of force and Maine State Police Major Crimes South will complete a criminal investigation," the statement said.
The 11 officers who fired their weapons were identified as follows:
- Sgt. Dan Hanson, Maine State Police
- Trooper Tyler Nadeau, Maine State Police
- Lt. Justin Brown, Oxford County Sheriff’s Office
- Deputy Jeffrey Howe, Oxford County Sheriff’s Office
- Deputy Danielle Vienneau, Oxford County Sheriff’s Office
- Deputy William Nelson, Oxford County Sheriff’s Office
- Detective Gary Hill, Norway Police Department
- Cpl. Robert Ferdico, Norway Police Department
- Sgt. Allen Coffin, Paris Police Department
- Chief Rickie Jack, Oxford Police Department
- Officer Michael Rioux, Oxford Police Department
"That is all the additional information that will be released at this time," the Attorney General's Office said in a statement Tuesday.
Roads were closed around noon in the area of Route 117 in South Paris during the response.
NEWS CENTER Maine was at the scene, where police were heard telling people to stay inside in the area of a closed intersection of Paris Hill Road and Mink Farm Road. NEWS CENTER Maine crews said the intersection of Hooper Ledge and Buckfield Road was also blocked off. Additional roads in the area may have been closed during the situation as it was unfolding.
Oxford County Sheriff Christopher Wainwright called it an "isolated incident."
"There are no safety concerns for the public," he said in a news release.
A video submitted to NEWS CENTER Maine by a viewer apparently showed law enforcement positioned in a standoff with weapons drawn. After commands were heard from officials, the video appeared to show a person getting into an official agency vehicle and speeding forward, with what seem to be weapons fired.
A witness at the scene commented in the video that it appeared a man was getting into a second law enforcement vehicle and attempting to speed away just before a series of gunshots were heard.
You can watch that video here:
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