The Maine attorney general has found that a Dexter police sergeant had reasonable cause for shooting and wounding a man in June of 2024.
The Dexter Police Department responded to a report of a man acting strangely at around 2:04 a.m. June 13, 2024, and encountered Christopher Hongo, who was 34 at the time, according to a release signed by Chief Kevin Wintle.
Both Wintle and Sgt. Gary Morin noticed that Hongo was acting aggressively and yelling at them, and fought against the officers while they attempted to take him into custody.
Wintle and Morin had attempted to reason with Hongo to accompany them to conduct a mental health evaluation or he would be placed under arrest for disorderly conduct.
Hongo initially cooperated with the officers, placing his hands on his head and then behind his back. According to the attorney general’s report, when Wintle attempted to cuff Hongo, he started to act aggressively, and Morin warned Hongo he would use a Taser on him. After Morin shocked Hongo with a Taser, Hongo struck Wintle in the face, before he was shocked a second time.
After a physical struggle, Hongo pushed Morin and Wintle over a rocky embankment, according to the attorney general’s report.
Morin was stunned by the fall, becoming disoriented due to injuries to his head and face, and could not determine where Wintle had gone, the attorney general’s office said. Hongo had continued to pursue Morin, so the sergeant pulled his gun and fired a shot as Hongo approached him. Hongo continued to advance toward the officer, and Morin fired a second shot.
Hongo received wounds to both his left and right shoulders.
Hongo then fell on top of Morin and attempted to grab his gun, according to the attorney general’s office. Both Morin and Wintle, who were still on the ground from the fall, said they felt Hongo was attempting to kill them.
Emergency medical service providers arrived at the scene, and transported both Morin and Wintle to Sebasticook Valley Hospital.
Hongo was later indicted for two counts of assaulting a police officer, refusing to submit to arrest and three counts of disorderly conduct. His case is pending, according to the attorney general’s report.
The Maine attorney general’s office has never found a police shooting unjustified.
