Man in ’98 standoff begins Bangor trial Defense claims mental illness led to incident

BANGOR – Bangor Police Sgt. Jeffrey Millard said it was just “by the grace of God” that he did not shoot 39-year-old Dean Douglas during a tense police standoff at a Bangor apartment building two years ago.

Douglas, convicted in 1998 on charges stemming from another police standoff in 1997, has been incarcerated since the September 1999 standoff. He went on trial Monday at Penobscot County Superior Court charged with Class B aggravated assault and two Class C charges of criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon.

Millard and Officer Robert Hutchins were both cut during a struggle with Douglas that subsequently ended the standoff, which lasted several hours. Neither injury was life-threatening and both officers were able to return to work a few days after the incident.

The jury-waived trial is being presided over by Justice Francis Marsano and testimony is expected to wrap up this afternoon.

Douglas could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted on the Class B charge and five years each on the class C charges.

Douglas is being represented by attorney Julio DeSanctis, who told Marsano Monday that Douglas had a lifetime of mental health disorders and had been diagnosed with a bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Douglas became well-known in 1997 when, during a standoff with police, he threatened to fire shots if he didn’t get a pizza delivered. He subsequently fired 25 rounds at police. A jury acquitted Douglas of attempted murder, but convicted him of reckless conduct with a firearm.

He served less than two years in prison and was on probation for that charge when the September incident occurred.

That Douglas had fired at police before made them fearful when they heard from a sheriff’s deputy that Douglas had been drinking and was talking about guns and anger at the government on Sept. 8.

On Monday, Penobscot County Sheriff Deputy Thomas Burgess testified that Douglas made some comments about an assault rifle and using it on some federal employees. Under cross-examination by DeSanctis, Burgess said he did not recall Douglas making any direct threats toward police officers.

Yet, Bangor police officers later testified that it was their understanding that Douglas had made threats to “take out” police officers with an assault rifle.

Bangor Police Sgt. Thomas Reagan said he decided to have police form a perimeter around the Curve Street apartment because he was concerned that Douglas was drinking, which was a violation of his probation. He said he also was concerned that Douglas was going to cause trouble after speaking with Douglas’ daughter and a neighbor who said Douglas was unstable.

DeSanctis made an issue during questioning as to whether the police had any reason to have surrounded Douglas’ apartment in the first place.

Douglas eventually left the complex and walked to nearby Center Street. Millard testified that Douglas was carrying a three-foot machete in one hand and a knife in the other.

“We obviously did not want him walking through the neighborhood like that,” the officer testified.

Millard said when Douglas lunged toward Officer Hutchins, Millard had his hand on the trigger and was pulling it but Douglas backed off.

Finally, Officer Greg Sproul knocked Douglas off his feet with a shield and police tackled him. Hutchins and Millard were cut during the scuffle.

DeSanctis claims Douglas never intended to hurt the officers and said his client is not criminally responsible because of his mental health condition. Douglas had been hospitalized and diagnosed with psychosis days before the incident.

Two doctors testified on Monday and disagreed over whether Douglas was criminally responsible for his acts.