Use of force by officers warranted

WESTBROOK – The state attorney general decided Wednesday that three Westbrook police officers and a Cumberland County sheriff’s deputy were justified when they shot a man who attacked them with a knife.

Attorney General Steven Rowe said Sgt. Michael McCaffrey and Westbrook police Officers Thomas Roche and John Hanlon were justified in using deadly force against Thomas Moulton, 41, during in incident last April.

Cumberland County sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Kerry Joyce also was justified in shooting Moulton with four beanbag rounds from a shotgun, the report said.

The officers were justified in using deadly force because they believed Moulton was threatening their lives, and the sheriff’s deputy was justified because he believed Moulton was threatening to commit suicide, the report said.

Moulton was struck by at least two of the rounds. He was taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where he underwent surgery and later recovered.

The April 22 incident followed a motorist’s report that Moulton’s white Chevrolet Camaro was sitting on a road near Westbrook High School. The car had apparently hit something, which knocked off the left front tire and the oil pan, Westbrook police Chief Paul McCarthy said.

Moulton refused to cooperate with officers and remained inside the car. Police then spotted two knives, a club and a container of bear repellent, McCarthy said.

When police broke a window on the passenger side of the vehicle, Moulton sprayed them with the pepper spray, temporarily blinding some of the officers. Moulton fled with the knife, and officers began to chase him.

Police cornered Moulton, setting off a two-hour standoff during which he threatened police negotiators and himself with the knife.

A half-ounce of cocaine, an ounce of marijuana and several thousand dollars in cash were later found in Moulton’s possession, police said.