BELFAST – Waldo County Sheriff Scott Story will be spending Christmas thankful that no bystanders were hurt when a prisoner escaped from one of his deputies, commandeered his cruiser and gun, crashed the car into a storefront and unleashed a barrage of gunfire in downtown Ellsworth.

“I’m just so grateful that nobody got hurt and that the officer is home with his family for Christmas. This situation could have ended a whole lot worse and I’m totally grateful that it didn’t,” Story said Tuesday.

The shooting erupted in Ellsworth Monday when escaped prisoner Rodney E. Williams, 27, of Trenton opened fire at police after smashing the stolen police cruiser into the front of a travel agency.

Williams was shot by police, and the wounded Williams retreated to the Shoegazer shoe store and gave himself up an hour later after being talked out by Hancock County Sheriff William Clark. He was in fair condition Tuesday at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

Still unclear is how Williams managed to overpower Waldo County Jail inmate transfer officer David Drever, 63, of Jefferson.

Story said police were still trying to sort out the details of Williams escape because Drever was having difficulty recalling what exactly happened. Story said state police had not yet been able to interview Drever because of his condition.

“Clearly he was in a state of shock after the events,” Story said. “He’s having to deal with that today, but he’s home and he’s resting.”

What is known is that Drever was taking Williams and another prisoner, James Moody, 20, of Searsport, from the Waldo County Superior Court in Belfast to the Maine Correctional Center in South Windham when he was overpowered by Williams.

Moody told police that Williams pretended to be sick and that when Drever pulled over and let the prisoner out to vomit, Williams jumped him, grabbed his .40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun and ordered Drever to drive him to Ellsworth.

The cruiser stopped after turning down a dirt road in Penobscot, where Williams released Drever. Story said that, contrary to initial reports, Williams did not shackle Drever to a tree. Williams also let Moody out of the vehicle. Moody helped the disoriented Drever flag down a passing car and place a call for help from a nearby store.

“I spoke to Mr. Moody yesterday and thanked him for assisting our deputy,” Story said. “Probably at several times he had the opportunity to break custody. I think what he did says a lot about his character. Clearly he’s made some mistakes to get him in the situation he is in, but he stepped up to the plate.”

Story said that department policy requires that all transported prisoners be placed in restraints. He said it also was a policy that whenever an inmate takes sick while in transport the guard is required to drive to the nearest medical facility while also notifying headquarters or the nearest law enforcement agency of the change in plans and direction.

Story said it was still undetermined whether Drever followed the established procedures. He added the restraint requirement was instituted after an inmate escaped from the Belfast District Court earlier this year.

Story noted that Drever, who has worked on and off for the department over the years, had just returned to work a few weeks ago after having been gone for more than a year. The department was still attempting to determine whether Drever was aware of the revised prisoner-transport policies.

“Not everything is black and white,” he said. “There are times when an officer has to use discretion but I don’t think it is appropriate to question his decision until we have all the facts.”