An incident that started as a domestic disturbance in Aroostook County Monday, ended with a wounded sheriff's deputy and police dog and the death of a man from Portage at the hand of law enforcement agents.

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According to Maine Department of Public Safety Spokesperson Shannon Moss, it all began when a woman called authorities saying she'd been fighting with her husband. The woman alleged that 29-year-old Steven Righini had pushed her into the wall of a home at 20 Ranger Street in Portage. Moss says the woman was asking law enforcement to help her leave the residence with her 4-week-old infant.

Members of the Aroostook County Sheriff's Department and the Maine State Police responded and found the woman outside of the residence, but the baby was still inside the residence with Mr. Righini. Authorities went back and forth with Mr. Righini through the window and did get him to come out at one point, but when they tried to arrest him, he resisted and ran back into his house, while shooting at them with a gun he pulled from his waistband.

"As the Deputies and Troopers attempted to back out of the driveway Mr. Righini then grabbed another firearm and fired at the retreating cruiser, striking Deputy Shane Campbell in the shoulder."

Sheriff's Deputy Reid Clark returned fire in the direction of Righini, Moss says, at which point Maine State Police negotiators stepped in and spent the next several hours attempting to get Righini to come out from the home, and surrender his baby to authorities.

"Mr. Righini refused to surrender and eventually tried to flee the residence in a vehicle.  Maine State Police Tactical Team members disabled Mr. Righini’s vehicle, and he fled on foot."

Righini eventually shot at a Maine State Police K-9 that was trying to catch up to him, and then took aim at the authorities, once again.

"Troopers Andrew Hardy and Jonathan Russell then shot Mr. Righini, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The infant child was not injured and was returned to her mother. "

Moss says the members of law enforcement who were directly involved in the shooting, Deputy Reid Clark, Trooper Andrew Hardy, and Trooper Jonathan Russell, have all been placed on administrative leave, according to the standard operating procedure when there's a case of police using deadly force.

The police dog, a K-9 named Preacher, was taken directly into surgery at the local emergency veterinary clinic. Meanwhile, the Deputy who was shot was taken to the local hospital where his injuries were treated. He has been released.

The Maine Attorney General's office is investigating the situation.

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