Latest news with #AroostookCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Yahoo
Police K-9 and suspect killed during standoff in Maine
A police K-9 was killed and an officer was wounded during an armed standoff in Maine, officials said Tuesday. The suspect was also killed. The standoff began on Monday night. Maine State Police and the Aroostook County Sheriff's Office responded to a domestic violence report at a home in Portage Lake, Maine, CBS affiliate WGME reported. The dispute was between a woman, who has not been identified, and 29-year-old Steven Righini. The woman told police Righini had been fighting with her and pushed her into a wall, WGME said. When police arrived, the woman was outside, and Righini was indoors with the couple's four-week-old infant, WGME reported. Officers attempted to take Righini into custody, but he resisted, WGME reported. He then pulled a gun from his waistband and shot at the officers as he ran back into the home. One officer, Deputy Shane Campbell, was shot in the shoulder, WGME reported. Righini then grabbed another firearm and fired at police cruisers as they tried to back out of the driveway, WGME said. Another officer, identified as Deputy Reid Clark, shot at Righini. Police then spent several hours trying to negotiate with Righini. He refused to surrender, WGME said, and eventually tried to flee the scene in a vehicle. The vehicle was disabled by police. Righini then ran away from the scene. The K-9, who police said was a four-year-old Belgian Malinois named Preacher, was then deployed to apprehend Reghini, state police said. Reghini fired at the dog, who was struck in the abdomen. Reghini then pointed his gun at troopers, before he was shot by two other officers, identified by WGME as troopers Andrew Hardy and Jonathan Russell. Russell was Preacher's handler, the Maine State Police said. Reghini was pronounced dead at the scene. The infant child was returned to the mother safely. Campbell, the officer shot in the shoulder, was transported to and treated at an area hospital. Preacher was rushed to an emergency veterinary clinic, where he was stabilized for several hours before he "succumbed to his injuries" early Tuesday morning, police said. Russell and other tactical team members were there when the K-9 died, police said. "K-9 Preacher was more than just a working dog—he was a dedicated partner, a protector, and a hero," said Maine State Police Colonel William G. Ross. "Most people will never understand the sacrifices made by our K-9 teams, but last night, Preacher made the ultimate sacrifice to protect others from harm." Details on Chinese retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products set to take effect next week Sneak peek: Kristen Trickle: Autopsy of the Mind Egypt, Saudi Arabia reject Trump's Gaza plan
CBS News
05-02-2025
- CBS News
Police K-9 and suspect killed, deputy wounded during standoff in Maine; baby rescued
A police K-9 was killed and an officer was wounded during an armed standoff in Maine, officials said Tuesday. The suspect was also killed. The standoff began on Monday night. Maine State Police and the Aroostook County Sheriff's Office responded to a domestic violence report at a home in Portage Lake, Maine, CBS affiliate WGME reported. The dispute was between a woman, who has not been identified, and 29-year-old Steven Righini. The woman told police Righini had been fighting with her and pushed her into a wall, WGME said. When police arrived, the woman was outside, and Righini was indoors with the couple's four-week-old infant, WGME reported. Officers attempted to take Righini into custody, but he resisted, WGME reported. He then pulled a gun from his waistband and shot at the officers as he ran back into the home. One officer, Deputy Shane Campbell, was shot in the shoulder, WGME reported. Righini then grabbed another firearm and fired at police cruisers as they tried to back out of the driveway, WGME said. Another officer, identified as Deputy Reid Clark, shot at Righini. Police then spent several hours trying to negotiate with Righini. He refused to surrender, WGME said, and eventually tried to flee the scene in a vehicle. The vehicle was disabled by police. Righini then ran away from the scene. The K-9, who police said was a four-year-old Belgian Malinois named Preacher, was then deployed to apprehend Reghini, state police said. Reghini fired at the dog, who was struck in the abdomen. Reghini then pointed his gun at troopers, before he was shot by two other officers, identified by WGME as troopers Andrew Hardy and Jonathan Russell. Russell was Preacher's handler, the Maine State Police said. Reghini was pronounced dead at the scene. The infant child was returned to the mother safely. Campbell, the officer shot in the shoulder, was transported to and treated at an area hospital. Preacher was rushed to an emergency veterinary clinic, where he was stabilized for several hours before he "succumbed to his injuries" early Tuesday morning, police said. Russell and other tactical team members were there when the K-9 died, police said. "K-9 Preacher was more than just a working dog—he was a dedicated partner, a protector, and a hero," said Maine State Police Colonel William G. Ross. "Most people will never understand the sacrifices made by our K-9 teams, but last night, Preacher made the ultimate sacrifice to protect others from harm."
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Yahoo
Police kill Aroostook County man who shot deputy, killed police dog
Feb. 4—Police killed a man who they say shot a deputy and killed a police dog during an hours-long standoff Monday in Aroostook County. The incident began Monday morning when Maine State Police and the Aroostook County Sheriff's Office were called to 20 Ranger St. in Portage Lake, where a woman told police she had been fighting with 29-year-old Steven Righini. She said he had pushed her into a wall and was inside the house with their 4-week-old infant. A man who identified himself as Stephen Righini of Maine posted a video to X during the standoff, where he said he was fighting for "righteousness and Christianity to be restored in this country." After trying unsuccessfully to get Righini to come outside, troopers and deputies tried to take him into custody. While struggling with the officers, Righini pulled a gun from his waistband and shot at them as he ran back into the house, according to state police spokesperson Shannon Moss. As deputies and troopers attempted to back out of the driveway, Righini grabbed another gun and fired at the cruiser, striking Deputy Shane Campbell in the shoulder. Deputy Reid Clark then shot at Righini, Moss said. Over the next several hours, state police attempted to negotiate with Righini, who police said refused to surrender and eventually tried to flee in a vehicle. A state police tactical team was able to disable his car, and he fled on foot, according to police. In the social media video, the man appeared to be crouched with a rifle while recording himself. He said police wanted to take away his newborn daughter after he had a small argument with his wife, and alleged that police tried to arrest him because of his political beliefs. "Now they're trying to arrest me simply because I do not believe in gay rights and abortion," the man said. Just before 8 p.m., Righini shot and a state police K9 named Preacher, who was rushed to an emergency veterinarian for surgery. Preacher, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, died early Tuesday morning while supported by his handler, Sgt. Jonathan Russell. Posts on the same social media account show the man apologizing for shooting the officer, but saying he was defending his daughter. Police say he then pointed his gun at the troopers and was shot by Russell and Trooper Andrew Hardy. Righini was pronounced dead at the scene. Campbell was taken to Northern Light Hospital in Presque Isle for treatment and released Monday. Preacher, the injured dog, was taken to an emergency vet with serious injuries before dying early Tuesday. The infant was not injured and was returned to her mother. Clark, Hardy and Russell are all on paid administrative leave, which is standard protocol while the Office of the Attorney General investigates the use of deadly force. Campbell was previously a Farmington police officer and a school resource officer at Mount Blue High School. Moss said Preacher served the greater Southern Field Troop area and the tactical team. Russell and Preacher attended the Maine State Police K9 Patrol School in the fall of 2023, where they became certified as a patrol team. "K-9 Preacher was more than just a working dog — he was a dedicated partner, a protector and a hero," Maine State Police Colonel Ross said in a statement. "Most people will never understand the sacrifices made by our K-9 teams, but last night, Preacher made the ultimate sacrifice to protect others from harm." Copy the Story Link
