Aaxon M. Faey 125 Presnracor Sr Site 26 rromey seu Fatah Os Stare oF Marne Osrice oF THe Arronwey GENenat a Acs towns ye ‘Tre dauns eae ae netay 704 = Sue Nonpieane Sion" ees Avousta, Maine 04333-0006 ax (207) $96 3291 January 27, 2003 Shawn D. Gillen, Sheriff ‘Aroostook County Sheriffs Office 25 School Street Houlton, Maine 04730 Greetings Sheriff Gillen ‘This office has completed its investigation and legal review of the incident on April 14, 2021, in Mars Hil, involving the use of deadly foree by Deputy Isaac Ward that resulted in the death of Jacob Wood, age 28, of Litleton. Factual Summary (On Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at about 2:56 a.m. the Houlton Regional Communications Center received 2911 eall:kom # man who said he was calling from 17 Scovill Sweet in Mars Hill +e refused to give his name and over the course ofthe call he communicated to the dispatcher that, hhe wanted to die, and he wanted assistance to complete his desire. ‘The caller was angry that a ‘woman he was with would not kill him, he was prepared to take that woman hostage, and he expressed he was prepared o kill people if he had to in order to provoke a lethal response against him, The dispatcher also learned from the man that he hada knife and had already stabbed himself inthe leg. The dispatcher asked the caller if he would be willing to go tothe hospital i she sent ‘an ambulance. The caller responded, “I don't want a fucking ambulance. I want @ fucking gun force. Iwill kill people tonight." The eal lasted approximately 10 minutes. Throughout the call, the man was heard arguing with a woman in the background, Neighbors, who heard a commotion in the apartment in which the caller was situated, checked the apartment and called 911 to report thatthe initial caller was Jacob Wood. They reported that Mr. Wood was bleeding from the leg. They further identified the woman who lived in the apartment and expressed concer for her safety. Sel. Erica Pelletier and Deputy Isaac Ward were dispatched fom their respective homes, to respond to the call. A approximately 3:24 am, they atrived at the apartment complex inuniform and separate marked cruisers. Deputy Ward drove to the last building inthe complex: followed by Set, Pelletier. Both officers shined their headlights and spotlights in the area in the front ofthe building whereit appeared that a man was seated behind a woman. They observed the ‘man, later identified as Jacob Wood, pull the woman up. Me. Wood was shirtless and covered in blood. Both officers observed Me, Wood with his right hand around the bac of the woman’s neck and the blade end of a knife against her throat. Deputy Ward initially drew his handgun and commanded Mr. Wood to let the woman go. ‘When Mr. Wood refused the command, Deputy Ward retrieved his scoped rlle. Deputy Ward positioned linsell in dic ease ofthe open door of his ervincr with his rifle over the tp of the ‘opening between the windshield and the door. Although Deputy Ward was equipped with a body ‘camera, the video was obscured by the door ofthe cruiser. However, the eamera recorded a series ‘of commands that Deputy Ward directed at Mr. Wood: “Let me see your hands. Let go of her. Let go of her. Let go of ket. Let go of her. Let go of her. Put your hands up.” Sgt Pelletier joined Deputy Ward in direting commands at Me. Wood, Mr, Wood refused the commands and, ‘with the knife still held to “he woman’s throat, yelled something tothe effect of he was “going to doit” The woman, in distress, cried out thatthe man was going to doit Deputy Ward, whe estimated that he was about 20 yards from Mr. Wood and the hostage, ‘observed that “he was still standing out beside her, with te knife around her throat, not listening tw the commands, so I hada clear shot at his torso.” Deputy Ward fired twice at Mr. Wood, who fell the ground and died atthe scene, ‘The woman suffered a graze wound on her left side." At the time Deputy Ward shot Me. Wood, Sgt. Pelletier sad that she was prepared to use deadly force ‘with her handgun but she “couldn't get a clear shot beeause ofthe angle."® Both officers believed that deadly force was necessary to prevent Mr. Wood from Killing the woman. After Deputy Ward shot, he fold the woman that he thought the man was going to kill her, to which the woman responded, “Iknow. He wanted to. He wanted suicide by cop.”* A post-mortem examination conducted by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner determined Mr. Wood's ease of death to be a gunshot wound to the chest. Dr. Flomenbaum also noted a stab wound to Mr. Wood's right thigh; incised wounds to his neck, torso, left upper forearm, left lower forearm and right hand; and well-healed old scars on both forearms. The toxicology test results rovealed that Mr. Wood's blood contained a level of methamphetamine ‘known tobe associated with violent and irrational behavior, and a blood alcohol concentration of 0.148%, and three other drugs of abuse. Mr. Wood had a medical history of schizophrenia and polysubstance abuse "Twas ater dtermined that he dntance from Deputy Wats spent casings next to his euise to where Me. Wood lay fer being sot wes SB Tet and that Me- Wood Was stuck by a slagle ballet othe ches while the Woman Was raced bythe other ble. 2 Sp Peltier only eure rr materaity eave two days bere and had not yet had an opportunity to qualify consrifle. Asa esl she had ot ben sued ele and was ame only witha handgun, > Thekife was a Kershaw fog kif inthe open poston 75 inches lng with the lade measuring 3.5 inches.Discussion and Legal Analysis ‘The Office of the Attorney General has exclusive responsibility for the direction and control of any eiminal investigation of a law enforcement officer, who, while acting in the performance of the offcc’s duties, uses deadly force.’ The detectives who conduct these investigations ate indepenfent of any other law enforcement agency. The sole purpose of the investigation in this matter was to determine if a criminal prosecution was watranted ot if self dfense or the defense of others was reasonably generated by the facts. Any such prosecution ‘would require the State to disprove defense of self or others beyond a reasonable doubt.’ The ‘estigation uid wut iuclude an analysis of whether any personnel action might be warranted, whether the use of deadly free could have been averted, or whether there might be civil liability Indeed, state law provides that the fact that conduct may be justifiable under the Maine law does not abolish or impair any esher remedy available under the law, ‘Whether the use of force by a law enforcement officer is reasonable, is based on the totality of the paiticular circumstances and judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, allowing forthe fat that police officers are often forced to make split second decisions about the amount of foree necessary in a given situation, The legal analysis requires careful attention tothe facts and circumstances of each case, including the severity ofthe crime threatened ‘or commited and whether the suspect poses an immediate threat tothe safety of others. Conclusion Itis the determination ofthis offic that when Deputy Ward shot Mr. Wood, he reasonably believed that Mr. Wood was imminently threatening unlawful deadly force against the hostage. “Mr. Wood refused requests to drop the knife held against the throat ofthe hostage. Deputy Ward resorted to deadly fore only when Mr, Wood refused repeated requests to release the hostage and clearly stated that it was his intent to Kill her, Al the facts and circumstances point to the conclusion that Deputy Ward acted in defense of the hostage, Sincerely, fporen WW rn ‘Aaron M. Frey ‘Attomey General SSMRS.§ 200-8 * Under Maine law, fr al enorcemen office to Inv flly ae deadly force in sel defense rte defense of others, tw reuienente ut Be mt. Fir, the person must ressonably tlie tat deadly fc simminenty treatned nt the person or anther parson an, second, the pean must reasoably Believe thatthe wseof deadly Tre is essay (0 defend the person rahe pron. 17-A MRS. § TQ),