ELLSWORTH, Maine — A local man wanted by police in connection with a suspected shooting incident was taken into custody early Tuesday morning as he tried to return to his residence, according to police.
Ellsworth police Chief Harold “Pete” Bickmore said Aaron Wagner, 41, was arrested around 3:30 a.m., nearly a day and a half after Wagner allegedly shot out a rear window of an occupied SUV at Deane Street Apartments. No one was hurt in the incident.
Police had the apartment complex under surveillance and took Wagner into custody without a struggle, Bickmore said.
Dozens of law enforcement officers from multiple area law enforcement agencies had been searching for Wagner since the suspected shooting, which occurred a shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday. Wagner had been spotted several times since the shooting, mostly in the vicinity of Bucksport and Christian Ridge roads, but managed to elude police until early Tuesday.
Ellsworth schools remained closed Monday as police thought Wagner might be armed and weren’t sure if families were aware of the situation. School and city officials were concerned about children who might wait by the side of the road for their bus or walk to school, especially in the part of Ellsworth where Wagner had been seen.
Local schools opened as usual Tuesday morning.
Bickmore said Monday as police were searching for Wagner that they believed he may have a gun but said Tuesday morning that no firearm or shell casings have been recovered. He said the investigation remains open, and police still are trying to determine whether Wagner had a firearm or may have used some kind of projectile to shatter the window of the SUV.
Bickmore declined Tuesday to comment on the circumstances that may have led to the shooting but reiterated that police were concerned about his mental health and wanted to take him into custody before he might hurt someone or himself.
“We knew we were dealing with an individual who needed some help,” Bickmore said. “This was a dangerous situation, and it may be attributed to mental health.
“The police department is charged with keeping the public safe, and that is our first priority,” the police chief added. “I’m glad we could mitigate the safety concern and bring Wagner in safely.”
According to a copy of Wagner’s criminal history, obtained Monday from the State Bureau of Identification, Wagner has a criminal record consisting mostly of misdemeanors that date back to 1993. Most of his convictions are for property crimes such as theft, burglary, criminal mischief or criminal trespass, but he also has convictions for violating protection orders and one each for harassment by telephone and for assault.
Matthew Foster, district attorney for Hancock County, said Tuesday that Wagner’s mental health issues have resulted in some charges from prior incidents being dismissed because Wagner was found at the time to be not competent to stand trial. Foster said his office nonetheless is moving ahead with charging Wagner in this incident, knowing that Wagner’s mental health issues could be a factor in the outcome of the case.
Wagner is facing Class C felony charges of reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and aggravated criminal mischief, according to police.
