Office of the Maine Attorney General

Deadly Force Review Panel Report on Dexter, June 13, 2024

June 13, 2024 – Dexter Use of Deadly Force Incident

As required by 5 M.R.S. section 200-K, the Maine Deadly Force Review Panel submits the following report of the use of deadly force incident in Dexter on June 13, 2024, involving Sergeant Gary Morin of the Dexter Police Department, which resulted in serious injury to Christopher Hongo, age 34. By statute, after the release of the report of the Attorney General, the Panel shall examine deaths or serious injuries resulting from the use of deadly force by a law enforcement officer. The purpose of the examination is to find independently whether there was compliance with accepted and best practices under the circumstances or whether the practices require adjustment or improvement. The Panel may recommend methods to improve standards, including changes to statutes, rules, training, and policies and procedures, to ensure best practices that promote increased public and officer safety. It should be noted that the Panel’s “Observations” are case-specific bullet points that have been pulled directly from the incident case file and are primarily intended to highlight key pieces of information. The Panel’s “Recommendations” should be viewed as potential system-level issues to consider during future critical incidents. The Panel is not charged with undertaking a de novo review of the Attorney General’s determination regarding the legality of the use of deadly force by law enforcement; discussions and recommendations of the Panel are independent of the Attorney General.

Synopsis

During the early morning hours of June 13, 2024, a 911 caller reported that Christopher Hongo had returned to the residential premises from which he had been removed earlier and was being loud and disorderly. Dexter Police Chief Kevin Wintle encountered Mr. Hongo at the premises and issued several disorderly conduct warnings. Mr. Hongo failed to heed the warnings. When Chief Wintle attempted to arrest and handcuff him, Mr. Hongo pushed Chief Wintle and Sgt. Gary Morin, who had been summoned as backup, over a tall rock wall and down an embankment. As Mr. Hongo started toward Sgt. Morin, Sgt. Morin fired at Mr. Hongo. Struck by the gunfire, Mr. Hongo fell on top of Sgt. Morin. Mr. Hongo survived but was hospitalized for several days.

Information the Panel Reviewed

Before its April 23, 2026, meeting, the Panel members received the investigative materials compiled by the Attorney General. The materials included all original investigative data, such as interview recordings, reports, forensic reports, photographs, emergency communications, camera footage, and other relevant materials. The Panel also reviewed the Attorney General’s March 10, 2025, report and the Internal Review Team's April 25, 2025, report.

Panel Discussion

On April 23, 2026, the panel met via Zoom to review and discuss the incident. The discussion covered the suspect’s diagnosis, criminal history, institutional records, the absence of a toxicology report, and the availability of backup assistance.

Case Specific Observations

  1. The 34-year-old suspect in this incident is a convicted felon. His prior criminal history includes multiple convictions from 2013 to 2015 for offenses such as burglary, theft, and drug theft. Prior to this incident, the suspect had no history of violent crime.
  2. Following the shooting, the suspect was hospitalized at Eastern Maine Medical Center (EMMC) from June 13 to June 21, 2024. His hospital records document a history of schizophrenia, including multiple episodes of psychosis. According to these records, his family reported that he had become increasingly psychotic and debilitated since late 2023.
  3. The suspect agreed with Dexter PD and EMS to voluntarily undergo a mental evaluation at Mayo Hospital on June 11, 2024. According to subsequent EMMC admission records, the suspect was evaluated by the telepsychiatry team at Mayo Hospital on June 11, 2024. At that time, he did not meet the criteria for emergency involuntary hospitalization and was discharged to his home, despite his family's apparent report that he had been psychotic, believed people were after him, had been "howling like a wolf," and had been blurting out his thoughts. His girlfriend, with whom he resided, reported noticing changes in the suspect's behavior following his layoff from work on June 10, 2024. After the suspect's return to their apartment following his June 11 evaluation, his girlfriend left to stay with another family member out of concern for her personal safety.
  4. On June 14, 2024, the Somerset County Probate Court granted the suspect's mother's petition to appoint her as the suspect's emergency guardian.
  5. The Panel concurs with the Internal Review Team's observations that the suspect's mental health condition continued to deteriorate after his June 11, 2024, evaluation, and that if the suspect "had received adequate care and/or treatment options during his initial visit to the hospital, this incident may have been avoided altogether." The Panel also notes the IRT Team's statement that "While technically outside the scope of this review, we [the IRT Team] would be remiss if we did not point out our concerns related to the issue of untreated and/or undertreated mental health issues in Maine, particularly in rural areas lacking in essential services." The Panel lacks the data and resources necessary to evaluate the clinical and legal validity of the medical conclusion that the suspect was not suitable for inpatient involuntary (or voluntary) admission on June 11.
  6. The Panel commends the IRT team for its well-written report, which includes detailed conclusions and recommendations.
  7. The Panel concurs with the IRT team's observation that both Chief Wintle and Sgt. Morin made valiant efforts to de-escalate the situation. Chief Wintle was confronted by a younger, stronger, and aggressive person and initially chose de-escalation rather than immediately attempting to exercise physical control over the person.
  8. The Dexter PD vehicle's WatchGuard system was not engaged during the incident. Although a feature of the camera system allowed post-incident video recapture, it did not capture any audio of the event. Neither officer involved was equipped with a body-worn camera. The IRT report noted that “the Dexter Police Department does allow for the use of Body Worn Cameras; however, it is at the discretion of each officer.” As the IRT team observed, "Video evidence is crucial in today's policing environment ..."
  9. At the time of this incident, officers of the Dexter Police Department were not issued firearms or ammunition by the department.
  10. The Panel observes that medical practitioners may rely on reliable third-party information when assessing whether a person meets the criteria for emergency involuntary hospitalization.

System Level Recommendations

  1. Cruiser and/or body cameras should be mandatory equipment for all law enforcement agencies statewide. The department should allocate this equipment, and its use should be governed by department policies. Officers should carry the audio pack for the cruiser camera on their person when responding.
  2. Firearms and the appropriate FBI-tested and approved ammunition should be department-issued equipment.
  3. The Panel recommends that medical practitioners conducting a blue paper evaluation seek information from law enforcement and family members before rendering judgment.

Factual Summary

A woman called 911 early in the morning of June 13, 2024, and reported that Christopher Hongo had returned to an apartment building where he was not allowed, and was walking in circles outside with his shirt off while talking to himself. The woman was familiar with Mr. Hongo and expressed concern for her safety, describing him as both violent and delusional. It was also reported that law enforcement had been involved with Mr. Hongo very recently.

In response to the 911 call, Chief Kevin Wintle of the Dexter Police Department arrived at the scene shortly after the call. Chief Wintle approached an apartment where he believed Mr. Hongo would be, and found the door damaged and partially open. He announced himself from the doorway as "Dexter Police" and asked for Christopher. In response, Mr. Hongo, agitated and yelling, told Chief Wintle to leave. Chief Wintle, concerned for his safety, retreated. Mr. Hongo followed him outside.

Mr. Hongo spoke rapidly and erratically on a range of unrelated topics. He was confrontational, yelling in Chief Wintle’s face and dancing around while throwing air punches toward Chief Wintle. At one point, Mr. Hongo said he was going back to his apartment to get a bat. He went up the stairs but returned outside without a bat. Chief Wintle repeatedly warned Mr. Hongo for disorderly conduct. Although Chief Wintle thought Mr. Hongo might hit him, he did not attempt to arrest Mr. Hongo himself due to concerns for his own and Mr. Hongo's safety and called for backup. He did, however, draw his taser as the confrontation with Mr. Hongo escalated, just before backup arrived.

Eyewitnesses described Mr. Hongo as aggressive and in Chief Wintle’s face. In apparent concern for Chief Wintle’s safety, the original 911 caller placed a second call to 911, reporting that “the officer,” Chief Wintle, was being "very lenient," that Mr. Hongo was trying to fight him, and that "I don't know if he called for backup, but he needs it."

Sgt. Gary Morin of the Dexter Police Department arrived at the scene. Sgt. Morin, unfamiliar with Mr. Hongo, asked him to sit on the front bumper of Chief Wintle’s cruiser while Sgt. Morin obtained information from Chief Wintle about what was going on. Mr. Hongo agreed to sit on the front bumper. The officers decided to try to convince Mr. Hongo to accompany them to the hospital for a mental health evaluation. If that failed, they would arrest him for disorderly conduct to try to get him help. Mr. Hongo refused to go to the hospital. He was agitated and wanted to fight. Sgt. Morin attempted to calm him down. When his attempts failed, Sgt. Morin told Mr. Hongo to turn around and put his hands behind his back. Mr. Hongo initially complied with the instruction to turn around, putting his hands on his head before placing them behind his back. Chief Wintle prepared to handcuff Mr. Hongo, at which point Mr. Hongo became aggressive. Sgt. Morin warned Mr. Hongo that he was going to be tased before deploying the taser against him. Mr. Hongo was initially stunned but recovered to land a blow to Chief Wintle's face just as Sgt. Morin tased him a second time. Mr. Hongo went down in response to this second lasing, but got right back up and started attacking Sgt. Morin. In response, Sgt. Morin attempted to subdue him by pushing him up against the car and putting him in a headlock. Sgt. Morin was unable to gain control of Mr. Hongo. Mr. Hongo pushed Sgt. Morin down an embankment of jagged rocks. Sgt. Morin landed face-first on the rocks and suffered lacerations to his head and face. Chief Wintle then attempted to subdue Mr. Hongo, but was unsuccessful and was himself pushed down the embankment of jagged rocks.

At this point, Mr. Hongo turned his attention back to Sgt. Morin and started down the embankment. Sgt. Morin, who was on his back in pain and bleeding from injuries to his head, face, and neck, was unable to get up. He also did not see or know where Chief Wintle was. He did not believe he could defend himself without drawing his firearm. As Mr. Hongo came down toward him, Sgt. Morin fired one shot. Mr. Hongo screamed and continued coming at Sgt. Morin, who fired a second shot. Both shots were fired while Sgt. Morin was on the ground. Mr. Hongo fell on top of him and began fighting for control of Sgt. Morin's gun. Mr. Hongo eventually stopped and rolled off Sgt. Morin. Sgt. Morin told investigators that he thought Mr. Hongo was going to kill him. Chief Wintle later reported that he had never seen someone that violent toward two officers. He thought Mr. Hongo was going to kill either Sgt. Morin or him.

When firefighters and EMS personnel arrived, Mr. Hongo and Sgt. Morin were lying on the ground. Mr. Hongo, Chief Wintle, and Sgt. Morin were transported by ambulance to a hospital emergency department, where they were treated for their injuries. Mr. Hongo sustained two gunshot wounds, one to each shoulder.

The Penobscot County Grand Jury later indicted Mr. Hongo on multiple charges stemming from the June 13th encounter, including two counts of assault on an officer (Class C) for injuries he allegedly inflicted on Chief Wintle and Sgt. Morin, refusing to submit to arrest (Class D), and disorderly conduct (three counts; Class E).

Panel Members

  • Stephen Burlock, Esq., Assistant District Attorney (Retired), Chair
  • Benjamin Strick, Vice President of Adult Behavioral Health, Spurwink, Vice Chair
  • Michael Alpert, Greater Bangor Area Branch NAACP
  • John Chapman, Esq.
  • Jack Clements, Chief of Police, Saco
  • Sandra Slemmer, designee of Alice J. Briones, D.O., Chief Medical Examiner
  • Anna Love, Chief, Attorney General Investigations
  • Joel Merry, Sheriff, Sagadahoc County
  • Joshua Daley, designee of Lincoln Ryder, Director, Maine Criminal Justice Academy
  • Michael Sauschuck, Commissioner, Department of Public Safety
  • Fernand LaRochelle, Citizen Member

Note: The individuals serving on the Panel are appointed to apply their professional expertise to discussions of these complex cases. Therefore, members of the Panel may be familiar with or have contact with individuals involved in the case under review. In such cases, members must report these affiliations to the Panel, and this information is recorded in the meeting minutes. If panel members determine they have a conflict of interest, they are excused from voting on the panel’s findings and recommendations for that case.