BANGOR, Maine — The man who allegedly broke into an Eddington home and was shot by his ex-girlfriend last month was embroiled in a custody dispute with the woman, according to a court document.
Christian Tattan, 42, of Carmel was arrested Monday and charged with burglary, a Class B crime, aggravated criminal mischief, a Class C crime, and violation of a protection order, a Class D crime.
No one else has been charged in connection with the shooting, Penobscot County District Attorney R. Christopher Almy said Tuesday in an email.
Tattan remained Tuesday at the Penobscot County Jail unable to post $1,000 bail.
He is expected to appear before a judge at 1 p.m. Wednesday if he does not post bail before then.
Tattan, who witnesses described as unarmed, was shot once in the upper left ribs area by the mother of his a 6-month-old daughter early Sunday, June 12, paramedics told investigators. The wounds were described by personnel at Eastern Maine Medical Center as not life-threatening.
Information about when Tattan was released from the hospital was not available Tuesday afternoon.
An affidavit in support of a search warrant to obtain Tattan’s DNA and cellphone and to examine his truck outlined events leading up to the alleged burglary and shooting at the home of Renee Lee, 39, who gave birth to their child in November.
Lee told police that she broke up with Tattan in June 2015 and that he was arrested two months later after he threatened her, the affidavit said. Lee was granted a two-year protection from abuse order against Tattan on Aug. 19, 2015, according to court records.
That order was in place when her daughter was born at EMMC, Lee told police.
“She stated that the protection order was in effect at this time and that he came down the hospital halls yelling, ‘Daddy’s here’; that he came into her room and grabbed the baby from her; that when hospital staff asked him to go wait in the family room, he verbally antagonized and assaulted [Lee’s 16-year-old daughter] as she was walking by to go get something to eat,” according to the affidavit.
Tattan and Lee most recently were in court concerning custody of the baby on June 2, according to the affidavit. Lee told investigators that because Tattan would not agree to complete counseling, parenting classes and supervised visits, a trial to determine custody had been scheduled for October or November.
Members of Tattan’s family told investigators that Tattan was drinking heavily at several bars in Bangor the night of June 11 but was dropped off at his mother’s home by 4 a.m. June 12. Relatives also said that Tattan was upset that Lee would not allow him to see his daughter, the affidavit said.
Lee told police that she was awakened about 6 a.m. June 12 by the sound of her first-floor bedroom door being kicked in. She grabbed a .45 caliber pistol off her nightstand and told Tattan to get out of her room or she would shoot him, the affidavit said. Lee tried to fire the gun but it did not go off because it was not loaded.
“[Tattan] smacked it out of her hand,” the affidavit said. “He ripped the covers off of her and hollered that he wanted his baby. The baby was in a portable crib beside her bed [but Tattan] did not notice the baby in the room. She told him the baby was not there.”
The two went into the kitchen, where Tattan slammed Lee against a kitchen counter, then went upstairs hollering that he wanted his baby, the affidavit said. Tattan allegedly got into an altercation with a male houseguest, who pointed his .22 caliber revolver at Tattan and told him to leave or he would shoot him. While that was happening, Lee grabbed her .380 caliber pistol off the refrigerator.
“[Tattan] began to walk out of the parlor area then turned around and started back toward [the houseguest],” the affidavit said. “[Tattan] told him to use the gun or he would take it away. Lee was behind him [and she] sidestepped from behind [the houseguest] and shot [Tattan] as he came towards them.”
Lee told police that she fired her pistol twice “but a shell jammed and she ‘had to jack another one in,’” before firing the round that struck Tattan.
Tattan went outside and tried to get into his 2006 white GMC pickup truck parked in the driveway, the affidavit said. When paramedics arrived, he was lying next to the truck.
When police arrived, the baby was still sleeping in the crib next to Lee’s bed, the document said.
Tattan allegedly forced open the front door, which was locked with a deadbolt, to gain access to the house.
If convicted Tattan, who has a criminal history in Penobscot County, faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000. He also could be ordered to pay restitution to repair damage to the home.