Police Okay-9 and suspect killed, deputy wounded throughout standoff in Maine; child rescued

A police Okay-9 was killed and an officer was wounded throughout an armed standoff in Maine, officers mentioned Tuesday. The suspect was additionally killed. 

The standoff started on Monday evening. Maine State Police and the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Workplace responded to a home violence report at a house in Portage Lake, Maine, CBS affiliate WGME reported. 

The dispute was between a lady, who has not been recognized, and 29-year-old Steven Righini. The girl instructed police Righini had been combating along with her and pushed her right into a wall, WGME mentioned. When police arrived, the girl was exterior, and Righini was indoors with the couple’s four-week-old toddler, WGME reported. 

Officers tried to take Righini into custody, however he resisted, WGME reported. He then pulled a gun from his waistband and shot on the officers as he ran again into the house. One officer, Deputy Shane Campbell, was shot within the shoulder, WGME reported. Righini then grabbed one other firearm and fired at police cruisers as they tried to again out of the driveway, WGME mentioned. 

One other officer, recognized as Deputy Reid Clark, shot at Righini. Police then spent a number of hours making an attempt to barter with Righini. He refused to give up, WGME mentioned, and ultimately tried to flee the scene in a car. The car was disabled by police. Righini then ran away from the scene. 

The Okay-9, who police mentioned was a four-year-old Belgian Malinois named Preacher, was then deployed to apprehend Reghini, state police mentioned. Reghini fired on the canine, who was struck within the stomach. 

Reghini then pointed his gun at troopers, earlier than he was shot by two different officers, recognized by WGME as troopers Andrew Hardy and Jonathan Russell. Russell was Preacher’s handler, the Maine State Police mentioned. 

Reghini was pronounced useless on the scene. The toddler little one was returned to the mom safely. Campbell, the officer shot within the shoulder, was transported to and handled at an space hospital. Preacher was rushed to an emergency veterinary clinic, the place he was stabilized for a number of hours earlier than he “succumbed to his accidents” early Tuesday morning, police mentioned. Russell and different tactical workforce members had been there when the Okay-9 died, police mentioned. 

“Okay-9 Preacher was greater than only a working canine—he was a devoted accomplice, a protector, and a hero,” mentioned Maine State Police Colonel William G. Ross. “Most individuals won’t ever perceive the sacrifices made by our Okay-9 groups, however final evening, Preacher made the last word sacrifice to guard others from hurt.”