Lewiston shooting under scrutiny

LEWISTON – Three police officers who fired at a hammer-wielding man have been placed on office duty while a review of the shooting is undertaken by the state Attorney General’s Office.

Investigators believe Vince A. Berube, 40, of Norway had suffered self-inflicted wounds before he drove to the Police Department and started banging on patrol cars with a hammer Wednesday night.

He was shot when he made a move toward an officer who responded by firing her gun along with two other officers, police said.

Investigators said they had received information that Berube may have acted deliberately to try to get officers to shoot him. The phenomenon is known among law enforcement agencies as “suicide by cop.”

“We have indications of that, but we’d like to speak with Mr. Berube before making that determination,” Chief William Welch said.

Investigators said they found knives and blood in the cab of Berube’s truck when they searched the vehicle.

Medics said Berube was suffering from more than a dozen stab and slash wounds before he drove to the Police Department and backed his pickup truck into the police station’s fenced-in parking lot.

Berube underwent surgery at Central Maine Medical Center early Thursday. He was listed in critical condition early in the day, but, hours later, Berube’s family asked that the hospital release no further information about him.

He was believed to be recovering at the hospital on Friday, but his condition was not known.

Investigators said the incident unfolded when police Officer Carley Conley encountered Berube while walking through a back door into the compound at about 9:40 p.m. Wednesday.

Investigators said Conley called for backup and confronted Berube near the man’s truck. “He became enraged. He came at the officer, threatening her,” Welch said. “Officer Conley was definitely in fear for her life.”

Conley drew her gun and fired at Berube and it is believed two bullets struck him. Police said Officers Matt Vierling and Eric Syphers then came outside and fired at Berube until he dropped to the ground.

What prompted Berube to drive into the police yard with a hammer was still being debated on Thursday.

Some people in the neighborhood said the Norway man was angry because Lewiston police had arrested his wife. However, there was no record of such an arrest, the Sun Journal newspaper reported.