WOODLAND, Maine — Police in Aroostook County are investigating a home invasion and burglary Saturday in which the intruder was shot.
The Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department was releasing few details about the incident Tuesday.
According to the department, a homeowner in Woodland called 911 on Saturday to report that someone had kicked in the door to his home on New Sweden Road.
The suspect, whose name was not available, entered the home and was shot.
The police have not released the name of the homeowner.
The victim was taken to Cary Medical Center in Caribou and then to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. No other information about his condition or the case was released.
Maine State Police are assisting with the investigation.
Anyone entering a home that way should expect the same greeting!
yup
except homeowner should have used .44 magnum so us taxpayers won’t get stuck with the medical bills
I like 00 Buckshot better, harder to miss.
Play follow the little red dot and then you dont have to re coat all your walls ! .44 wadcutter does a NICE job !
I agree! But, if the poor SOB did not have a weapon to defend himself then the homeowner will be charged.
Not knowing all of the facts it’s hard to judge. Each state has different laws about how people can defend themselves in their homes…..Notice in the article it doesn’t say if any charges have been filed, granted the details of this are limited. Draw your own conclusion, but they homeowner cleary chose to be judged by 12 rather than carried by 6
i believe in Maine you are justified using deadly force inside your home but that it does not necessarily apply outside the home including your yard and outbuildings
Moral of the story–don’t forget to sweep away the drag marks after you bring them inside.
A Closer Look At Maine’s Castle Doctrine Law {Part 1}
http://www.wabi.tv/news/30152/a-closer-look-at-maines-castle-doctrine-law-part-1
“The law basically provides is, that we all have the right to use deadly force to defend ourselves from what we reasonably believe to be the use of deadly force against us,” said William Stokes, the Deputy Attorney General. “And the second thing, and if you can with complete safety, the law requires that you try to avoid the use of deadly force, if you can, but if you reasonably believe you can’t retreat, then you don’t have to, you can defend yourself.”
The actual law as written in Title 17A, Chapter 5, Subsection 104 at
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/17-a/title17-asec104.html
gives a little bit different spin than the interview above. There is no duty to retreat in your home, not does the assailant have to be using deadly force against you, only the criminal trespass and a reasonable belief that the person is attempting to commit another crime while there.
I know this I was just trying to give them a basic understanding.
When trying to give “them” a basic understanding perhaps you could give a more accurate overview of the law instead of the watered down Stokes version.
Thanks, RyanRobbins, for the link to the law as written. It is important that citizens know their actual rights.
The problem is the above comment under the reference to the law is wrong….in pulling the trigger you must believe that deadly force is imminent against you and you have no right to shoot someone for simply trespassing on your property without threat…..someone running out from behind your garage or stealing your lawn mower without threat to a person is not justification for shooting….you would do yourself a service to re-read Kevin’s comment and ignore the other…..
One would think someone kicking down a door in a home with such force would warrant such actions. I would do it in a heartbeat. I will protect my children first. Anyone breaking into someone’s home should realize there may be a bullet headed their way before breaking in!
I agree….the issue(s) being debated seem to be around what is justified inside one’s dwelling and outside on one’s property….in my above comment the law is quite ambiguous, in yours quite clear….
I believe the discussion is about defending yourself inside your home. You would do yourself a service to re-read caprountree’s initial post: “i believe in Maine you are justified using deadly force inside your home
but that it does not necessarily apply outside the home including your
yard and outbuildings.” Thanks.
The discussion(s) have blossomed into including homes, subsequent buildings and outside private property itself and people making blanket statements regarding the law applying the same to each….once again, there needs to be an imminent threat of bodily harm presented in order to use deadly force in response, which is much easier to define if someone enters one’s home uninvited….and again, go re-read yourself because the comment you refer to mentions the inclusion of the properties I have referenced….
also says in there somewhere to give them a chance to leave/warn them unless you believe it is going to compromise your safety.
After taking several gun classes and reading multiple sources re: self-defense & “retreat”, the law may allow for using deadly force but common sense and good teaching advises to use all means, even sensible retreat, to avoid pulling the trigger…..if I am in a confrontation in my yard and I can safely retreat into my house and call authorities avoiding the threat, then that seems to be the reasonable defense…..if I do the above and the confrontation continues at or beyond the door-step, then the trigger will be pulled…..every situation is different and people saying that it’s best to shoot first then consider other choices are, IMHO, not being responsible gun owners….it’s like hunting…..once you pull the trigger the fun is over….shooting another human being carries with it something that one will never know unless they have been there….simply, do whatever you can to avoid pulling the trigger, but if you feel that pulling is necessary then do so….taking classes and going over possible scenarios is great preparation…..
well put.
however I will state if you are being victimized on your property such as theft and vandalism non-deadly force is authorized under our castle doctrine law to end the criminal trespass and/or criminal activity. I.e. combative hand to hand, baseball bat, 2×4, etc. or even just wielding a gun will often stop intrusion and illegal activity quick but if the gun comes our you must be prepared to use it and not just brandish it.
That’s right. Someone can be in your yard vandalizing your property, stealing your car, etc, and you are supposed to just watch them and call the police… Who will then show up in a couple of hours to take a report from which nothing will ever be done….
you are authorized to use non-deadly force to stop the commission of a crime on your property or criminal trespass. So if someone is vandalizing your car go hit them with a 2×4.
The chance of killing someone if you hit thew with that 2×4 is actually quite high. Then YOU will be charged.
still not true. You tried to use non-deadly force. every situation is different so charges should be filed on a case by case basis.
Also how you use an impact bludgeoning weapon determines your intent most times. Striking major muscle groups biceps, calves, buttocks, is not an attempt to kill but to dissuade.
Hitting someone with a 2×4 can clearly be defined as “deadly force”…..cracking someone in the head to try to stop them from stealing your car may be appropriate but only if they threaten you with harm first….is it worth possibly killing someone who may pose no threat to you even while committing a crime against you?
You are allowed to use REASONABLE FORCE to stop any crime!
Not true…..please be careful re: what you think is allowable and what is justified in regards to use of force….and your comment is too general in regards to a right to act on behalf of yourself or property…..
1. A
person in possession or control of premises or a person who is licensed
or privileged to be thereon is justified in using
nondeadly force upon another person when and to the
extent that the person reasonably believes it necessary to prevent or
terminate the commission of a criminal trespass by such other person in
or upon such premises.
If someone is stealing your car you have a right to stop them, with reasonable force, if they are unarmed and you are equal in physical stature hand to hand or wrestling is probably reasonable or maybe an impact weapon. If they are much larger it isn’t unreasonable to stop them with a weapon in that case. like I said case by case basis.
I also specifically said not hitting someone in the head. If you slam a bat across someones legs it will hurt like hell but will most likely not kill them. If you brain someone with your louisville you can certainly expect bad results.
Once again, I have tried to show that the laws may be clear in some instances and cloudy in others….there is no bright-line-rule about the amount of force someone can use to protect their home and property….usually or generally the amount of force must be proportionate to the action of the person threatening the home or it’s occupants…..what you and I do could be very similar or greatly different…..my thoughts are if I confront someone on the inside of my thresholds then the strongest force necessary will be immediately used….outside the threshold, different story…..
also not true read our castle doctrine law.
It is true….the Castle Doctrine is specific to a threat while inside your dwelling (i.e. home, garage, auto) outside your home the “rules” are different and one must be able to prove a deadly threat was imminent, and common sense dictates that there are other options besides pulling the trigger first….put some scenarios in your mind and then go thru the options…..if you are in your home and someone enters without an invite then by all means pull the trigger, outside your “dwelling” you have the responsibility to do whatever is reasonable to avoid pulling the trigger and a threat must be present in order to do so……
dude read section 5. what do you not get about this. I am saying you can use non-deadly force outside your home on your property.
here is a scenario for you. You awake to the sound of glass breaking outside. you peer out your bedroom window and see someone smashing the window in your detached garage. You wake up your better half up and have her dial 911. You see/hear your garage door roll up, you see someone walking begin walking your motorcycle out of the garage toward the street. Now maybe they have the key, maybe they rigged it, maybe they have a truck waiting around the corner, the police are still 5-10 minutes away what do you do?
I grab my shotgun and proceed outside and order them to stop and flee. Now this is where we come back to non-deadly force, brandishing a weapon and issuing verbal threats/commands is still non-deadly. If they ignore you and keep walking away with your motorcycle unfortunately there is no imminent threat. If they are still on your premises you can go up to them and slam them in the back with your buttstock… still non-deadly. However this is the gray area if during this close range confrontation they turn on you and try to fight you for the gun you brought out and they are killed in the scuffle that is where you can get into some trouble. However if you order them to stop, and they wheel around with a gun deadly force becomes authorized.
“Dude”, really??…..not disagreeing with everything you stated but don’t be confused re: non-deadly force vs: reasonable force….and the scenarios between shout and shoot in intervention can be gray areas at best…..non-deadly force means force not likely to cause death or great bodily harm….your example of “slam them in the back with the buttstock” could very well fail an example of non-deadly force and you would have to pursue the would be thief to do this thus you have become an aggressor….the scenario of being outside in the open whether on personal property or not changes the game….the laws regarding force seem more clear depending on what side of the “threshold” the situation takes place….if you are confronted by someone inside a personal dwelling (i.e. home, garage, outbuilding) then very clear you can use force in response…..in the situation you give it is less clear and response needs to be appropriate for the threat of imminent harm….remember, if you are ever in court you your actions will be judged by a jury of your “peers” which may be worse than someone steeling your motorcycle…..
Who wouldn’t load a gun when they hear someone knocking down their door in the middle of the night.
Who would sit on there couch and text the person to come in and then put 5 bullets in him?????????????????????????????
That did not happen Turboo04736!!! The door was kicked in while it was locked and deadbolted. The gun was not immediately shot, first the homeowner was attacked. Next the homeowner fired his gun. The evidence will proove this all to be true.
Mine dosent have to wait to be loaded…..empty gun is as useful as broken fingers !
Well Said!
When your door gets kicked in I don’t think you have to worry about what a jury would think.
not true. google castle doctrine in ME.
In that case, shoot to kill!
Now it’s time for a pharmacist to let a druggie robber meet the same fate.
Why bother with the story if you dont have all the details?
Because it is news…
Actually, it’s not. They needed to fill blank space so this was their way of doing it.
This took place on Saturday, is reported by BDN at 7:07 on Tuesday and this is all the information???
Probably the police didn’t tell the media before today. The BDN would have had it sooner but their psychic reporter is on vacation.
Actually, it hit the local media/web blogs, etc. on Saturday. The BDN has CLEARLY just decided that it will focus most of its attention of Portland and southern Maine; just read where the stories are from on a daily basis. The County and the rest of northern Maine get increasingly second-rate attention (and I am NOT blaming the two good reporters; I blame management).
Nice work, homeowner.
Homeowner 1, scumbag 0!
That door you just kicked in was locked for your protection, not mine.
I would have done EXACTLY the same thing!! It’s you’re right to protect yourself!! Way to go…..
Maybe this will make a few of those scum bags think twice
about breaking into someone house. I would have put a few more rounds into him
for safe measures. Kind of hard for them to testify against you in court when
they are in the morgue. Good to see the good guys win one once in awhile. He
should be receiving a commendation from the local Police.
invade a home invite a bullet.i would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.there is nothing in this house worth dying for. many other quotes come to mind,and i agree with every one.why do so many comments show up on a no brainer like this when a judge lets a dangerous man out on bail for severely beating his wife and violating the previous bail conditions? election time is right around the corner and there is more going on than national elections.look close to the timing and tone of the supposed news of the day.
by the way,i think the invader should be number 3 or 4 for the next darwin awards.
Sounds like it was the guy that took off in New Sweden and they busted a week later?? Enquiring minds want to know..
Well here is one guy at least that may not ever do this kind of thing again. Don’t know what was used but best weapon in this situation, IMHO, is a 12 ga shotgun or .45 cal handgun, something that throws a lot of lead. When someone invades your home like this, you do not have time for fancy shooting, you need a weapon, and the determination, to put the guy on the ground just as quick as you can!
In Maine, if you kick in the door of an occupied dwelling, the people inside have the reasonable expectation that you did not come in to say hello, but on the other hand likely intend to do great harm to the occupants, thus deadly force is usually justified. These guys pulling this stuff off are usually druggies with records as long as my arm. No jury in Maine is going to convict any homeowner for using deadly force when his home has been entered forcefully like this!
More people need to be armed, and ready to take just this kind of action as the police cannot protect us from this kind of event. If some no-account decides to break into your home this way, YOU are the only one who can protect you and yours. By the time the police get there, you will be beyond help, most likely!
well it took a week, but this major incident finally made the BDN……….maybe they will kind of keep us updated a bit as time goes on?? Like when charges are laid?? No need for major secrecy here.
I hate to see it, but if more thieves and intruders were shot and gravely wounded, there would be less crime. I am going to get myself a gun.
I happen to know both parties involved and I still don’t have the whole picture. I will say this though, the guy that got shot is also fresh out of prison.
Anyone breaks down the door at my house WILL die of lead poisoning quite rapidly, there will be no mercy. There is a sign on my door that states basicaly the same thing.
It is a much healther option for a criminal to seek out a unarmed victim that would like to rely on 911 instead of themselves.
yeah and take an hour to respond to help just like here in Lubec, WASH Co.
10 years in prison and on probation.
I see the ones who are crying about gun control haven’t commented at all…..Someday, they will see that people need to protect themselves from this kind of scum. My hat goes off to this guy!
Gun Control…… Two hands on the grip!
Very nicely said ;o)
Isn’t the victim is this story the person who had their house broken into?
Notice the reporter stated ”
The victim was taken to Cary Medical Center in Caribou and then to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor”.. Why would the home owner need to be transported to the hospital (sarcasm intended). WTF…when will Bangor Daily News realize that dirt bag loosers that break into a home are SUSPECTS…NOT VICTIMS!!!
The victim is the homeowner not the burglar.
Have any family members or friends of the burglar that got shot, posted ‘how much they care for him,how this could have happen to anyone and then try to turn their dear one into a folk hero’, yet?
gossip_girl_caribou seems to have some first hand knowledge
Not sure how?
Regardlesss….I like Phil’s comment: homeowner cleary chose to be judged by 12 rather than carried by 6
EXACTLY! When you live in the country and someone is kicking your door in, by the time you call 911 and there’s a response, you and your family could be dead. If you take away our guns and right to protect ourselves, the criminals will still have theirs and then where will we be.
I live in Woodland. The gossip is flying. The first thing that I heard on Monday morning was the Names Crouch & Ketch. 5 to 6 shot were fired.
Whatever the case, Mark is not the owner of the property and if the homeowner locked his door, Mark should have left, period! Go get a sherriff to escort him to get his things, NOT kick the door in and physically assault the homeowner. He got what he deserved. If my door was kicked in, I’d shoot first ask questions later!
I generally don’t agree with shoot first ask questions second mentality. Wickedgoods sentiment of working within the legal system is right on. If he had some claim to be there or had belonging on premises he can call a Sheriffs deputy day or night to work toward a resolution on that.
Especially if they knew each other, he knew this guy didn’t want him in the house and he knew he had gun/s yet he still forced his way into the house?
What was so important to get at that hour?
Gossip Girl,
This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Gossip it is, but incorrect facts.
The_truth60
I like your comment because you did not get angry about the gossip that is out there. You took the time to explain the history between the 2 people.
I hope your right. The truth will prevail…
There’s a difference between ugly untrue gossip and the truth. I’ve known both parties their whole lives. Ketch vs. Crouch. That speaks for itself. They were NOT roommates. I won’t disclose many details at this point due to the investigation. Despite whatever reason Crouch decided to show up in the middle of the night was no excuse to kicked down a metal door, enter into the home, assault Ketch to the point he had to shoot in self defense. The physical evidence will speak volumes. Personally, anyone who knows the truth would do the same thing if put to the test. History has repeated itself. Several years ago before Crouch went to prison, he broke into Ketch’s home beating him with a baseball bat. Too bad he wouldn’t have pressed charges then. Maybe people should inquire why Crouch just spent 10 years in prison and remains on probation . The truth will prevail…
So True Tom
Mark lived with his mother. If your adrenaline were pumping and you were struggling to get the attacker off you in the dark, who knows how many shots you could get off. Depends on if the gun is semi-automatic or not, I guess.
Where are all the anti-gun libs telling us the perp “Was turning his life around”?
Good for the homeowner…and the one who got shot was not the victim…the victim was the homeowner.
Yay!!! For gritting the target. Boo for not hitting vital organs
Excellent ! people are wising up and protecting themselves and whats theirs. That reminds me to stop and purchase a box of 12 Ga 00 buck on the way home.
“Stupid is as stupid does”! Yep, that pretty much sums it up. Lesson 101 for criminals in Maine – Most Maine homeowners possess firearms. I love a story with a good ending. I guess we’ll have to start posting signs on our doors for the criminals. My will state, “Beware of Sig Sauer, It does bite”!
If somebody is kicking my door in I’ll tell them “Hold it right there. I gotta call my lawyer and see if it’s okay to shoot you.”
For those asking where the anti-gun scumbags are: here’s one. The fact that most posters here think this single story had a “happy” ending AND that no one seemed to know what kind of force is legitimate in defending one’s home exemplifies why we need gun control laws. People should not be taking the law into their own hands by using such deadly force against an alleged burglar.
Nancy, I have a concealed weapons permit issued by the Maine State Police. I had to take a handgun safety course, plus pass an extensive background check in order to obtain that. In the safety course there is much discussion about the laws surrounding a perons right to defend himself and others from harm if attacked.
I can assure you that if anyone enters your home by use of force, you have substantial justification to use deadly force to protect yourself and your family as one who breaks down the door to your house is not coming there to check up on your health.
If YOU don’t want to carry a weapon, and have the ability to protect yourself against possible harm that is your decision, and your right. I choose to carry the means to protect myself, and my loved ones, from this kind of attack, and that is my decision…….and my right as an American citizen.
Well said.
yeah, nancy, and when YOUR door gets kicked in, the kicker has a gun or a knife or a baseball bat, and is threatening you or your loved ones, you go right ahead and call the cops. maybe you can sit with the perp over tea & crumpets while the cops are on their way, wouldn’t that be nice?
what do you suggest is this case, the guy kicked the door in and started assaulting the home owner? Let the home owner get beat to death? Let the wife and kids (not sure if there were any)watch? Maybe they are next because they’re witnesses? No, sorry…the only one going to the hospital in my house will be the intruder!
I’m right there with you!
So are you suggesting that people live in fear of not being able to protect themselves if needed? I wonder if opinions would change if they or a loved one were murdered at the hands of these criminals. Home broken into, brutally raped, tortured, and killed with no way to protect themselves or their families.
excuse me, we live in america not england
you should post your address so all the local junkies know where to get some free stuff.
Below a commentor has mentioned the name of a particular person as being the man who was shot by the homeowner.
The Maine Sex Offender list has a man by that name with address of Woodland, 04736, next to Caribou. Wonder if that person is the same person mentioned below.
The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.
Could this be the same guy who robbed and killed the other guy in Woodland?
I doubt that, he was in prison at the time.
No Dana, the invader has been in prision the past 10 years for a pretty heinous crime in fact. I don’t even think he has been out for over a month.
It is too bad that the killer is still out on the loose. :-(
Lets just sit on the couch with a loaded hand gun (a small caliber) and tell the person to come in ,while the door is locked , then shot 5 shots into him …………. you people make me want to puke there is a word for what you are
Wonder where you are getting your fiction?
Keep trying to spin your lies Turboo4736. The evidence already prooves you wrong. It’s people like you that make ME want to puke!!!
Woodland Maine Sex offender listJuly 6 at 5:03pm · Latest version by Woodland Maine
Invader! Check it out
Before calling 911 Mr. Homeowner should have gone through the perps pockets to see if he had enough money to repair the door he just kicked in, then call the cops or the undertaker. More Mainers should be armed and ready to defend themselves. I for one carry all the time because you never know when something like this is going to happen to you.