AUGUSTA (AP) – Attorney General Steven Rowe says a Portland police officer was legally justified when he shot and killed a motorist who tried to drive off after a traffic stop two months ago.

Rowe concluded that Officer Nicholas Goodman had reason to believe his life was in danger when Albert Kittrell sped away while the officer was partially inside Kittrell’s sport utility vehicle and was being dragged along at high speed.

The 48-year-old Kittrell died of two gunshot wounds. Goodman suffered knee, hand and facial injuries from being dragged and falling from the moving vehicle.

A second officer who was grappling with Kittrell inside the SUV managed to bring it to a stop after the driver was shot.