WESTBROOK, Maine — A man was shot and killed by police early Saturday morning in Westbrook after local officials said he reportedly resisted arrest, assaulted officers, then armed himself with metal objects and advanced toward the responding officers.
Police responded to a call around 3:25 a.m. about a domestic disturbance at a home on Arlington Avenue, according to a news release issued by the Westbrook Police Department.
The woman who called public safety officials reported that her son, who had mental illness, was hurting them and that she was scared, the release stated. Police said in the release that the suspect, identified as 37-year-old Ryan Nichols, had an active felony warrant for assault.
Officers responded to the scene and attempted place Nichols in custody, but he apparently fled the area to a nearby house, where police said he continued to resist arrest.
The officers used "less lethal weapons" in an attempt to subdue him but were unsuccessful, then Nichols apparently "armed himself with metal objects" and advanced toward the responding officers while ignoring commands to surrender, according to the release.
Westbrook police Sgt. Brian Grasser and Officer Maxwell Sawyer then shot Nichols, who was pronounced dead at the scene after the officers and other emergency responders attempted first aid care.
Both officers who were involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, and the case is being investigated by the Maine attorney general's office, which is standard protocol with cases that involve a police shooting. The Maine State Police Evidence Response Team assisted the attorney general's office with their investigation.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Nichols' age because of incorrect information provided. That has since been corrected.