Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey found that two police officers were justified when they shot at, and injured, a man who allegedly led them on a chase and shot at them last year.
The encounter happened on Dec. 14, 2025, across several central Maine towns, ending in Augusta.
Dustin Smith, 33, was wanted at the time for allegedly trafficking scheduled drugs, having a firearm illegally, terrorizing, assault, and violating conditions of release.
A notice issued to area police two days before the incident said Smith had two guns and had made comments to his parents about “suicide by cop.” Smith had also allegedly made threats against an Augusta police detective who was investigating a drive-by shooting. Police were notified that Smith was looking for a detective’s home address “to take them out,” according to the AG’s office.
On Dec. 14, 2025, Kennebec County Sheriff’s Deputy Elijah Curtis tried to pull over a car based on a tip from a neighbor who said Smith might be one of the four occupants. The car allegedly sped away.
Deputy Jeffrey Boudreau joined the chase and was able to identify the driver as Smith, who, during the chase, allegedly called 911 and threatened to kill everyone in the vehicle if police did not back off, the AG’s office said.
Smith allegedly fired a gun out the window of his car toward the deputies, as the chase continued through the Whitefield, Windsor and Cooper Mills area. He later claimed to have fired it into the air as a warning.
Police slowed Smith’s car by putting out spike mats, and a man and a woman reportedly got out of the car when Smith was making a turn. The chase ended on Allen Street in Augusta.
Smith allegedly exchanged gunfire with police. The Augusta detective who Smith had previously threatened rammed Smith’s car with a police vehicle pushing it into an adjacent parked truck, the AG’s office said.
Smith ultimately surrendered. He was taken to Maine General Medical Center and treated for what appeared to be a bullet graze to the left shoulder, the AG’s office said. A female passenger was taken into custody uninjured.
According to the AG’s office, Smith confirmed after the encounter that he had contemplated “suicide by cop” to avoid going to jail.
Deputy Boudreau told investigators from the AG’s office that he fired at Smith because he believed Smith was going to kill him. He noted that Smith had fired at him during the chase, and when he arrived at the Allen Street address, he saw the driver’s door of Smith’s car open with a pistol pointed directly at him.
Deputy Curtis told investigators he was scared for his life and feared he would never see his wife and children again, according to the AG’s office.
The AG’s office investigates all uses of deadly force by law enforcement officers.
Attorney General Frey concluded from the investigation that the deputies had acted in self defense, noting that they knew Smith was dangerous and did not return fire during the 27-mile chase, only shooting when Smith stopped on Allen Street and pointed a gun at both deputies.
The Maine AG’s office has never ruled against a police officer who has used deadly force.
