Under new law, Maine AG releases video of Augusta police shooting within weeks - WGME
AUGUSTA (WGME) -- The Maine Attorney General is releasing video of a deadly encounter between Augusta police and a man at a homeless shelter last month.
The quick release is because of a new law, in direct response to reporting by the CBS13 I-Team, which forces the state to speed up investigations into police shootings, and also gives the AG discretion to release video footage of the incidents.
Once a request is made for the video, the AG has 30 days to make a decision. In this case, Attorney General Aaron Frey granted the I-Team's request in full.
On the evening of October 13, Augusta Police say officers responded to the Bread of Life homeless shelter for a report of a man threatening other residents with a knife.
Cameras from police cruisers captured audio from the officers as they approached and then entered the building.
Officers can be heard making contact with the suspect, who was later identified as Dustin Paradis, 34.
Officers are heard telling Paradis to drop the knife.
In response, a man, presumably Paradis, can be heard saying, "Kill me."
Police continue asking Paradis to put down the knife, until surveillance video shows Paradis move forward quickly, with knife in hand.
That’s when officers fired their weapons.
CBS13 isn’t sharing that video or audio because of its graphic nature.
Police say Paradis died at the scene.
Those who knew him tell CBS13 he was a person with autism and lived at the shelter.
On the audio recordings, witnesses are heard telling police Paradis had injured another resident earlier by throwing a bowl at the back of his head.
In a press conference immediately after the incident, Augusta Police Chief Jared Mills said officers are trained in de-escalation techniques and work closely with a mental health professional.
"We do actually have a mental health worker who works with us. He was working that night," said Mills. "He did not have time to get to that response. It was that immediate and that grave of a situation."
Mills tells the I-Team he’s been able to review the video as well and says it reflects exactly what happened when officers were called.
The AG's Office is still investigating the use of deadly force and whether it was justified.
source: https://wgme.com/news/i-team/under-new-law-maine-ag-releases-video-of-augusta-police-shooting-within-weeks
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