THORNDIKE, Maine (WGAN) Maine’s Attorney General says the use of force by police against a Thorndike man in 2019 was justified.

Then 33-year-old Eric Fitzpatrick was hospitalized after getting shot by a Maine State Police Trooper but survived his injury.

Police were called to Fitzpatrick’s home the night of November 26th. According to a report released Friday by the AG’s office, police got word that Fitzpatrick, who said he was intoxicated at the time, was trying to use a taser on his ex-wife, who he was living with.

After arriving at the home, the report says that Trooper Thomas Bureau fired two rounds at Fitzpatrick, who was aiming a taser and what was believed to be a pistol at him.

Police later discovered that the object which appeared to be a pistol was a pepper spray gun.

Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey says his office concluded that, due to limited lighting inside the home and previous assertions from Fitzpatrick that he had a handgun and was threatening to use it on police, Trooper Bureau acted in defense of self and others when he shot Fitzpatrick.

Police discovered a ballistic vest and a gun belt with a Glock pellet pistol in a holster on Fitzpatrick’s person.

Fitzpatrick was indicted for criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and terrorizing with a dangerous weapon. As part of a plea agreement, he was sentenced to two years probation and required to undergo psychological counseling and treatment. He’s also prohibited from having contact with his ex-wife.

Fitzpatrick was also convicted of domestic violence terrorizing in connection with a separate incident in April of 2021, and sentenced to two years’ probation to be served concurrently with his criminal threatening sentence.