Affidavit: Armed man wanted to be killed by police

AUGUSTA – An armed man who caused a disturbance at an Augusta Wal-Mart Supercenter last month was trying to create a situation in which he would be killed by police, according to a police affidavit filed as the suspect made his initial court appearance.

Phillip Urquhart, 42, of Windham chose a Wal-Mart so “police would have a well light[ed] shot when they killed him,” said the Augusta police affidavit filed in District Court on Wednesday. The document says Urquhart was distraught at the time because his wife was leaving him.

Urquhart is charged with terrorizing and criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon in connection with the April 20 incident, in which he allegedly walked into the store holding two loaded handguns and told everyone to get out.

After a two-hour standoff, police talked him into giving up his guns and arrested him without incident.

A state police tactical team and Kennebec County sheriff’s deputies were also called to the store during the incident. No injuries were reported.

In their affidavit to the court, Augusta police quote Urquhart as saying he had been fighting with his wife, who told him she was leaving him and taking their daughter.

Urquhart said he “could not stand to live without his daughter and his wife” and so he drove to the Wal-Mart, where police would shoot him.

Urquhart also is quoted in the statement as saying he did not recall pointing his guns at anybody intentionally.

After the incident, Urquhart was taken to the Riverview Psychiatric Center in Augusta and later to Kennebec County Jail in Augusta.

In his initial court appearance Wednesday via video link, a judge ordered him to undergo mental health counseling and set his next court date for July 10.

Judge MaryGay Kennedy also barred Urquhart from possessing weapons and limited his contact with family members to counseling sessions. Bail remained at $25,000 cash.