Sheriff's Deputies Defend Response to Warnings About Lewiston Shooter's Mental Health

Deputies Cite Limitations of Maine's Yellow Flag Law in Handling of Case

Sagadahoc County sheriff’s deputies defended their response to two reports about the declining mental health of Robert Card, the gunman responsible for the Lewiston mass shootings, before the incident occurred.
Deputy Chad Carleton, who responded to a report about Card's mental health, stated that his options were limited, especially given that Card hadn’t committed any crime.
Carleton mentioned that Maine’s yellow flag law, which allows police to seek court orders to remove firearms from people who are experiencing a mental health crisis, can be cumbersome.
The commission also questioned Sgt. Aaron Skolfield, who responded to a Sept. 15 request for a welfare check on Card. Skolfield was asked about a memo that had been shared with him from Card’s Army Reserve unit, including one part in which a fellow reservist was described as saying he was worried Card was “going to snap and do a mass shooting.”
Gov. Janet Mills and Attorney General Aaron Frey have introduced legislation that would give the commission subpoena power to compel witness testimony and documents to aid in its investigation.