Thorndike Man Shot, Wounded During Confrontation with Police

Police say a Thorndike man was shot and wounded Tuesday night by a State Trooper, during an armed confrontation outside the man's home.

Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland says troopers responded to the Ward Hill Road just before 11:00 to a report of a neighborhood disturbance, which turned into a domestic incident between 33-year-old Eric Fitzpatrick and his girlfriend. When troopers arrived, there was an armed confrontation in front of Fitzpatrick's home, during which he was shot and wounded by Trooper Thomas Beaulieu.

Fitzpatrick is being treated for two gunshot wounds at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center. Trooper Beaulieu, who is a 7-year veteran of the State Police, was not hurt. He is currently on paid administrative leave, pending an investigation by the Maine Attorney General's Office. This is standard procedure for all officer-involved shootings.