3 min read

PARIS — An all-night standoff ended Friday morning when a man who threatened to harm himself surrendered to police at his home at 11 Kingsbury Lane. No one was injured.

Lt. Michael Dailey said James Newcomb, believed to be in his mid-30s, came outside at about 9:30 a.m. and was taken to St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston for an evaluation. He said he would be charged with reckless conduct.

“We’ve had prior dealings with him, but none to this extent,” Dailey said, explaining that Newcomb had made a similar threat in the past.

Police received a call shortly after midnight that Newcomb was threatening to harm himself at his home, located on a dead-end street off Gary Street. Dailey said Newcomb’s wife and two children left to call 911 after he picked up a firearm. He said police heard a single gunshot, possibly from a rifle, after they arrived and attempted to contact Newcomb by phone.

The Maine State Police Tactical Team was brought in after Newcomb broke off contact around 2:30 a.m. Members of the Norway and Oxford police departments, Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, Paris Fire Department and PACE Ambulance also responded. Dispatchers from the Regional Communications Center in Paris went to the scene to set up another radio network that Newcomb could not monitor.

The Tactical Team spoke with Newcomb through a megaphone. Police also closed the roads surrounding the Kingsbury Lane, let neighbors know what was going on, and notified the Oxford Hills School District because of bus routes being affected.

Advertisement

Craig Reilly, a neighbor on nearby Gary Street, said he has worked with Newcomb for several years at Keiser Homes in Oxford.

“He’s a nice guy,” Reilly said. “He doesn’t bother anyone. He keeps to himself.”

Reilly said he learned of the standoff at around 3 a.m.

Police also set up a command area at Bessey Motors, which has a service center and body shop near Newcomb’s residence. Owner Gene Benner said police informed him about the situation at 4 a.m. and asked him to tell his workers because it was unknown how long the standoff would continue.

“We basically just shut down until 9:30,” Benner said.

Benner estimated that more than 30 police vehicles were at the dealership, which provided phone jacks, electricity and bathrooms for the responders. Benner said he was impressed with the police response.

Advertisement

“It made me proud to know the caliber of our state police,” he said.

[email protected]

Lt. Michael Dailey of the Paris Police Department pets a dog at a Kingsbury Lane home Friday morning after an all-night standoff with a man who surrendered to authorities and was hospitalized.

Chief David Verrier of the Paris Police Department said it appeared a shot was fired from the bedroom of a residence on Kingsbury Lane during an all-night standoff that ended Friday morning.

Members of the Maine State Police Tactical Team stand outside Bessey Motors on Route 26 in Paris after an all-night standoff with a nearby resident ended Friday morning.

Comments are no longer available on this story