Deputies justified in shooting at suspect after high-speed Augusta chase, Maine AG says

Suspect Dustin Smith Fires at Deputies During 27‑Mile Chase, Points Gun on Allen Street

Portland, Maine — Police deputies chased 32‑year‑old Dustin Smith for almost 27 miles before the suspect fired a warning shot toward the officers and, on Allen Street in the city’s downtown, pointed a handgun at the responding law enforcement personnel, according to a statement issued by the state Attorney General’s Office.

The chase began in the early afternoon when Smith was taken into custody on a warrant for an outstanding felony arrest. Deputies from the Portland Police Department pursued the suspect in a patrol vehicle that matched Smith’s description. As the pursuit spanned the city and extended into surrounding suburbs, deputies reported that Smith intermittently fired a single round at the officers while driving at a high speed.

The AG’s Office confirmed that the shooting was “unprovoked” and that the officer’s safety was jeopardized when Smith pointed a handgun directly at them on Allen Street. The statement emphasized that the suspect’s actions constituted a direct threat to law‑enforcement personnel and that immediate intervention was required to prevent further harm.

“Deputies were forced to take a defensive stance when the suspect fired at them during a prolonged pursuit and later pointed a handgun at them on Allen Street,” the AG’s statement read. “We are reviewing the incident and the circumstances that led to the arrest.”

Smith was taken into custody without incident after officers disarmed him. The case is currently under investigation by the Portland Police Department and the Maine Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Prosecutors have not yet disclosed the charges for which Smith was sought prior to the incident.

Maine law‑enforcement officials are urging residents to remain calm and to follow official statements from the state Attorney General’s Office as the investigation proceeds.