Lawsuit against Maine State Police officers will move forward
A federal lawsuit alleging brutal force by Maine State Troopers during a 2024 arrest is set to proceed after a judge allowed several of the plaintiffs’ claims to stand. Justin Savage and his partner, Shawna Morse, both of Limerick, are seeking more than $100 million in damages from the state, the Maine State Police, and four individual officers—Trooper Jamie Fenderson, Sergeant Adam Schmidt, Detective Anna Ritland, and supervising Colonel William Ross.
The incident giving rise to the suit occurred on March 16, 2024, at the couple’s residence. According to officer‑worn camera footage obtained through a joint investigation by the Maine Monitor and the Bangor Daily News, troopers arrived at the home after reporting a disturbance. Savage and Morse said they had not committed any crime and were bewildered by the officers’ presence. The encounter quickly intensified, and Savage was placed in handcuffs.
Court documents describe a series of aggressive actions by the officers after Savage was restrained. Sergeant Schmidt is accused of grabbing Savage from behind, lifting him off the ground and throwing him headfirst onto the pavement. Shortly thereafter, while Savage was being secured in a patrol vehicle, Trooper Fenderson allegedly struck him in the face, causing bleeding. Savage was then further restrained with a seatbelt, leg shackles and a mask that covered his entire face. He told officers he was having trouble breathing—an issue he attributed to the mask, his asthma, or both—and tried to draw their attention.
Savage eventually managed to unbuckle his seatbelt and attempted to open the vehicle door. Troopers pulled him back to the ground, at which point Fenderson is said to have held Savage’s head steady with one hand and repeatedly punched him in the face with the other, up to thirteen times. The lawsuit claims the other officers on the scene did not intervene. As a result of the assault, Savage required reconstructive surgery and suffered what the plaintiffs describe as lasting, permanent internal injuries.
Morse, who was also detained, says she experienced emotional distress and an immediate fear for her own safety and that of Savage. The couple further alleges that troopers falsified official reports and disposed of physical evidence, including the mask placed over Savage’s head.
Initially, Savage faced charges of assault, assault on an officer and refusing to submit to arrest; Morse was charged with refusing to submit to arrest and obstructing government administration. All criminal charges against both were later dismissed.
The state moved to dismiss many of the civil claims, and U.S. District Judge Stacey Neumann recently ruled on those motions. She dismissed allegations of spoliation of evidence, noting that Maine treats spoliation only as a remedial doctrine, not an independent cause of action. She also dismissed federal defamation and reputational‑harm claims, but allowed analogous state‑law claims to continue. Other counts—including assault, battery, unlawful arrest and excessive use of force—were upheld, meaning the core of the plaintiffs’ case will move forward.
In a written statement, Jeffrey Bennett, one of the attorneys representing Savage and Morse from the firm Legal‑Ease, characterized the troopers’ conduct as “outrageous and unlawful” and vowed that those responsible “will be held accountable.” Bennett added that the next procedural step will be to depose the officers involved, emphasizing that “the facts of this case are captured on video and are shocking.”
The lawsuit now advances to discovery, with both sides preparing for depositions and further litigation. The outcome could have significant implications for how allegations of excessive force against state law‑enforcement officers are handled in Maine.
