A sheriff’s deputy was justified when he shot a man during a confrontation last fall in Stonington.
That’s the conclusion of investigators with the Maine attorney general’s office, which on Friday released their report into the shooting of 35-year-old Erik Himpler of Stonington.
Himpler’s mother, who isn’t identified in the report, called 911 about 3:50 p.m. on Oct. 5, 2024, to report that her son had threatened to buy gasoline and burn down their house, investigators wrote.
Himpler was known to be armed with a knife and had a handgun, which was missing from the home along with ammunition. He had a history of poor mental health and had reportedly mentioned “suicide by cop” to his mother, according to the report.
Hancock County sheriff’s Deputy John Stanley found Himpler about 4:25 p.m. walking along the road near an intersection leading to his home.
The deputy slowly drove up behind Himpler, who — investigators note — police had probable cause to arrest for criminal threatening, got out and told the 35-year-old to put his hands up and walk toward the cruiser.
Himpler crossed his arms, shook his head and then continued walking down the road toward his home, according to the attorney general’s office.
Stanley continued to slowly follow Himpler down the road in his cruiser when Himpler suddenly crossed the road, went through a gap in a fence and onto a nearby lawn. The deputy got out of the cruiser, took out his stun gun and followed Himpler, investigators wrote.
After a brief exchange, Himpler allegedly pulled out a handgun and appeared to rack it. Stanley dropped his stun gun and took out his pistol, telling Himpler, in an exchange recorded on the deputy’s body camera, “Dude. Don’t. Don’t. Drop it.”
Himpler allegedly raised the handgun, and Stanley fired four times, hitting Himpler in the left arm and right thigh, according to the report. When Himpler’s gun was recovered, police found 10 bullets in the magazine and one in the chamber.
Himpler was taken to the hospital and survived his injuries. He currently faces charges of criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, illegal possession of a firearm, refusal to submit to arrest and domestic violence terrorizing.
Investigators concluded that Stanley believed that Himpler posed an “imminent threat” to the officer’s safety and Stanley had no cover to get behind. Additionally, investigators wrote that Himpler had refused repeated orders to surrender and pointed a loaded gun at Stanley.
“All the facts and circumstances point to the conclusion that Deputy Stanley acted in self-defense when he discharged his firearm,” investigators wrote.
