BELFAST, Maine — The man who was shot by Belfast police last summer at a traffic stop was arrested again this weekend after a brief manhunt in the woods that ended peacefully.
Benjamin Thompson, 27, of Belfast, reportedly was visiting a residence at the Piper Stream Mobile Home Park on Saturday night when police responded to a loud music complaint there, according to Belfast Police Chief Mike McFadden.
Officers arriving at the home noticed a man who ran out the back door and into the woods. They learned who he was from one of the occupants of the home, realized that he was subject to bail conditions and called for a police dog to help look for him, McFadden said Monday.
However, before the dog arrived, an officer located Thompson walking out of the woods and onto Route 52. Sgt. John Gibbs spoke with Thompson, who said that he had consumed a small amount of alcohol, which did violate his bail conditions. Thompson’s blood tested at .02 percent alcohol, and police arrested him.
They also searched his own trailer, which is allowed under another condition of his release, and found drug paraphernalia inside, including straws with powder residue, pills and other items of contraband, according to McFadden.
He was charged with violating conditions of release and issued a summons for the sale and use of drug paraphernalia.
Last June, Thompson had engaged in a car chase with police after a Searsport officer tried to pull him over for a noisy exhaust pipe.
Thompson didn’t stop, and continued into Belfast, where Officer Dan Fitzpatrick of the Belfast Police Department ultimately pulled his car over about midnight at the intersection of Route 141 and Smart Road in Belfast.
When Thompson emerged from his vehicle, he allegedly did so holding a loaded shotgun in his hands. He refused to put the weapon down when Fitzpatrick ordered him to do so, police said later. The officer then shot Thompson.
Residents who live nearby told the BDN that they had heard four or five shots fired that night.
“The wife and I were getting ready for bed. I thought I heard five shots fired. There were lots of police,” said a resident who lives about 300 feet from where blood stained the road. “I heard someone yell, ‘I’m shot.’ It was so loud. Then he said, ‘Shoot me — I don’t want to live anymore.’”
Thompson was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor for treatment and initially was listed in critical condition there.
The Attorney General’s Office is investigating the shooting of Thompson, an Iraq War veteran. In 2010 there were five police-involved shootings in Maine and in 2009 there were four, according to Brenda Kielty, a special assistant at the Attorney General’s Office.
The Waldo County Grand Jury indicted Thompson in August on charges of criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, threatening display of a weapon, having a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, criminal operating of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants and failure to stop for a police officer. He is awaiting trial on those charges.
A Waldo County Jail official said Monday afternoon that Thompson was still in custody on the most recent charge.
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They really need to utilize the red eye reduction feature on their camera.
I don’t know…I think it highlights the potential for evil doing. ;) The story with the man and woman arguing for 12 hours…the picture of him is a good one for showcasing the red eye feature. I might buy that one, j/k.
We coddle and nurture these people…..
Let’s send a big “Thank You” to the VA’s office….. Thanks for helping this kid out. Clearly, he had mental issues upon his return from serving his country. OUR country. The VA will do anything in it’s power to avoid helping these kids. Very sad. Very disgraceful. Very un-American….
We have to support our Veterans, particularly the ones who may be suffering from some sort of post-traumatic stress. Just imagine going from a place where it seems everyone is trying to kill you to the Belfast area where there is little support for these young people. Give our VETS treatment instead of jail!
I’m sure he was an angel from a good family before the Army did this to him.
Tell me more about this really affected him more than the thousands that come home just fine (not to say that many don’t).
This Veteran is part of “the many”. No one is making excuses for this Veteran. You know of ZERO Veterans that returned “just fine”. If, you don’t have any knowledge on a topic, it would be in your best interest to not comment on said topic. You are the epitome of a clueless American.
You’re profess to be the all knowing to end all knowledge, ie who I know or if in fact I am a veteran myself or not:
I had an uncle that was a lifer in the Navy
I spent a lot of time with 4 great uncles who fought Hitler
I had a very good friend that was a field medic in Nam
One of my brothers was a fireman on the Nimitz when the plane crash-landed on deck setting off a conflagration
Another brother whose 2 sons in law were in Iraq
A next door neighbor who’s on his 3rd tour in Afghanistan….
A good friend who sat on a destroyer off the coast of Korea in that mess… Enough??
I’m sure they were somewhat changed (who wouldn’t be?), but NOT ONE has a criminal record and all had/have happy families, save for 1 divorce.
The several I know that came back like this one did were predisposed to these kinds of antics anyway.
Now, before you throw a ‘blanket’ over ALL veterans and another one over commenters on this (or any site), you might stop trying to emulate the epitome of the dreaded Know-It-All!
Chances are, you spout off on the gay topics here without personally knowing any yourself, too!
My point to you, sir, is that none of the returning Veterans are “just fine”. Saying “just fine” implies that no additional help/support is required for these brave Americans. That is not the case. Some Veterans mask their emotions better than others. I never assumed you didn’t know Veterans, personally. I apologize if that’s how my post came across to you. My point stands. Obviously this Veteran had some psychological issues prior to his deployment. I know this Veteran. I’m proud to know what this Veteran has done for OUR country. You should be, too.
I hope you get the chance to read a post of mine on the topic of homosexuality. Sounds like I would surprise you.
And my point was that the war may not have turned him into what he is.
And that Is how your post came across. I do have experience with vets and their problems (more than I listed).
Their was a 20 year old Nam vet that lived across the road from us, and he spent most of his time digging caves in the woods and stashing grenades and other weapons. Harmless kid, but his parents were reported first cousins. It wasn’t like he or your friend was subjected to agent orange.
I also stated that they all would come home ‘changed’ (who wouldn’t?), but there are few (in the greater scheme of things) that need life long sessions on a couch for PTSD.
On your alleged comments on gay topics, are you speaking from your wealth of knowledge, or from a personal aspect of actually knowing any and their issues (and that was just an example to make a point, anyway)? Just don’t assume that you’re the only one with knowledge on a subject. Peace.
He is a good kid Buzlno…You don’t know him….You should not judge him because some make it through WAR ok and others do not… I have many family members who have been there and made out ok but many do not…By the way, it was the Marines that did it to him, not the Army
If you say so. I still think that he had a propensity for this and also didn’t have a snow white record before “the Marines DID this to him”. (Emphasis mine)
A ‘good kid’ is all relative to the area where he is judged to be so.
I’ve known this young man since he was a kid. He has always been very polite, considerate, and actually some what shy before, during, and after his 2 tours in Iraq. The military trained him to be a machine and he must have met their standards or he would not have been sent to war to protect our country. Ben has been to hell and back like four times. Any one that posts negative comments about him must have no idea what he has seen or lived through. Personally, I want to thank you Ben for your commitment to serving your country and I wish the VA had been more helpful when it was time to adjust to civilian life. Wayne