Hartland man takes 4 hostage, then loses gun, gets shot in rear

SKOWHEGAN – A Hartland man was shot in the buttocks when one of the four people he was holding hostage at gunpoint Saturday managed to disarm him and open fire.

Kelly Simpson, 35, was arrested after the incident and was being held Sunday in the Somerset County Jail on four counts of kidnapping and four counts of terrorizing. Bail was set at $150,000 single surety or $75,000 cash.

A corrections officer said his wound was minor.

“He’s here. He’s walking around,” the officer said Sunday.

According to police, Simpson allegedly held the four people hostage in a West Front Street house from midmorning until early afternoon Saturday. At about 2:30 p.m., one of the hostages wrested the handgun from Simpson and shot him. The hostages then called the police.

After being shot, Simpson ran from the house and drove to a nearby hospital, where he was treated and released. He was arrested at the hospital.

Police Chief Butch Asselin was unavailable Sunday to provide details about the situation or to explain what prompted Simpson to hold the four people captive.

Officer Jarod Steadman was assigned the investigation. Maine State Police assisted at the scene.