Maine’s attorney general’s office has ruled that two police officers from the town of Lincoln were justified in fatally shooting a man this past February.
The AG’s office says that 37-year-old Derek Beach was involved in a domestic incident between him and his estranged wife in January, a little over a month prior to the shooting. Despite his wife obtaining a protection from abuse order and Beach being taken into protective custody, he forced his way into the home with a knife on February 12th.
After receiving reports about the break in and arriving at the scene, Sgt. Michael Winslow and Officer Kristofer Milner tried to get Beach to drop the knife, with no success. Beach charged at the officers after getting tased, prompting them to fire. He died at the scene.
Two adults and Beach’s two children were inside when he forced his way in.
The Maine Attorney General’s Office has never ruled that officers were unjustified in using force in police-involved shootings.
To read the original Bangor Daily News article, click here.
