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Maine AG concludes use of force by Bangor police officer was justified

Maine AG concludes use of force by Bangor police officer was justified

Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio


Maine’s Attorney General has determined that the use of force by a Bangor police officer in 2018 was justified.

The office of Attorney General Aaron Frey said Monday that the officer was justified in shooting 40-year-old Brian Barker multiple times in March of 2018. It happened after police responded to a call from Barker’s girlfriend, who told police he was high on drugs and threatening to kill himself with a knife.

Barker was hit by three bullets after allegedly provoking officers to shoot him. Police say officers urged him to put the knife down 20 times before they shot him. He survived the shooting.

Frey wrote Monday that the decision comes after review of video, which the AG says supports the story told by Officer Dylan Hall, who used deadly force against Barker.

Audio and video of the incident has not been made public.

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