Maine woman settles with state police after allegations of body-slamming, excessive force
Maine Woman Settles Lawsuit Against State Police Trooper Over Alleged Excessive Force
PORTLAND – A Portland resident has reached a settlement in her lawsuit against a Maine State Police trooper who she claims used excessive force during a 2024 encounter in Chelsea, Maine. The agreement, announced on Oct. 13, 2026, provides the plaintiff, Marie Searles, with $54,000 to cover alleged physical injuries and emotional distress.
Searles, who lives in Portland, filed a civil complaint in U.S. District Court in October 2025. She named Trooper Hunter Belanger and his supervisor, Lt. Aaron Turcotte, as defendants. According to court documents, the incident occurred in Chelsea after Searles walked near Belanger’s cruiser while he was drafting a search warrant for a nearby camper. Belanger asked her to speak with him, but she walked away. Searles then alleged that the trooper grabbed her, “flipped her body up into the air,” and slammed her onto the ground. She also claimed that Belanger pinned her with his knee and forced her to the side of his vehicle.
In response, Belanger and Turcotte filed statements in November 2025 that denied the allegations. Their filings contended that the trooper “secured Searles and took her to the ground” and that she “was put on the hood of his cruiser.” The defendants also argued that any injuries Searles sustained were the result of her own fault.
The settlement agreement, released by the Office of the Maine Attorney General, stipulates that the lawsuit is dismissed and that the defendants will pay Searles $54,000. No admission of wrongdoing was made by the state police officers. The payment covers both the physical injuries Searles claims were sustained and the emotional distress she says she experienced.
The case comes amid a broader national conversation about police use of force. In September 2025, a man from Limerick sued the state police after a trooper repeatedly punched him on the face while he was handcuffed on the ground. That case was also the subject of a local investigation by the Maine Monitor and the Bangor Daily News. While the two incidents are unrelated, they highlight ongoing concerns about the conduct of state police officers.
Searles’ attorney said that the settlement was reached after her client “wishes to resolve the matter and move forward.” The attorney added that the agreement does not reflect a settlement of liability, but simply provides a financial resolution.
The Maine Attorney General’s office, which handled the settlement paperwork, did not comment on the details of the agreement beyond the amount and the parties involved.
The case was originally filed in the U.S. District Court, where the defendants’ statements were filed in response. The court documents indicate that the lawsuit was dismissed following the settlement. No further legal action is expected from either side.
Maine state police have not released a statement on the matter. Trooper Belanger and Lt. Turcotte also declined to comment after the settlement was announced.
