Police officer was justified in killing Bucksport man, AG rules

An Auburn police officer was acting in self-defense when he shot a Bucksport man to death nearly two and a half years ago.

That’s the conclusion of investigators with the Maine attorney general’s office, which released on Friday their findings in the shooting death of 36-year-old Joseph Arbour. The Maine attorney general’s office investigates any time an officer in the state uses deadly force.

On the morning of Sept. 27, 2021, a man called police to report that a man, later identified as Arbour, allegedly had guns and was holding a woman hostage on the second floor of the Value Inn Motel on Center Street in Auburn, according to the report.

Officer Andrew Shute was the first cop on the scene, and when he approached the room, he heard a man and woman arguing but they became silent when he knocked on the door. Security cameras later showed Arbour and three other people fleeing the room by a balcony.

Sgt. Steven Gosselin, a then-24-year veteran with the Auburn Police Department who had recently completed a week-long hostage crisis negotiation training, also responded to the Value Inn Motel.

Upon his arrival, Gosselin saw a “suspicious” man, later identified as Arbour, walking away from the motel toward Center Street at “what he thought was a fast pace,” according to investigators.

Believing that he was connected to the possible hostage situation, Gosselin called out to Arbour, asking him to stop and talk with him, but Arbour kept walking away and appeared to have something in his hand.

Gosselin then tried to reach and grab Arbour, who turned and pointed a black Hi-Point pistol at the officer, according to the report.

In response, Gosselin pulled out his gun and ordered Arbour to drop the firearm. Arbour then put the gun to his own head and threatened to kill himself.

Gosselin again told Arbour to drop the gun. Arbour lowered the pistol to his side, but he continued toward Center Street. At this point, Gosselin fired three shots at Arbour, according to the report.

The Maine medical examiner’s office determined Arbour died from a gunshot wound to the back. A toxicology report found Arbour had fentanyl and methamphetamine in his system.

The investigators concluded that Gosselin “reasonably believed” that Arbour posed a threat to the officer and the public given Arbour had already brandished a firearm, refused to comply with orders to drop the gun and was suspected in a hostage situation.

“All the facts and circumstances point to the conclusion that Sgt. Gosselin reasonably believed he was acting in self-defense and defense of others at the time he used deadly force,” the investigators wrote.