Man pulls handgun and threatens rival for girlfriend at Maine Walmart

Occurred December 31, 2013.


On New Year's Eve, a 23-year old man, Matthew Dewitt, was in the parking lot of a Walmart store in Ellsworth, Maine, when he got into a confrontation with another man over his former girlfriend.  He then pulled a gun on the man and threatened to kill him.

From an article:

Matthew W. Dewitt, 23, was arrested New Year's Eve after officers from multiple agencies went to Walmart on Myrick Street, Ellsworth police said. Police had been told a man with a handgun was outside the store. Responding officers found Dewitt in a vehicle parked in the Walmart parking lot.

Dewitt is accused of pointing a handgun at his rival during a confrontation in the parking lot over Dewitt's former girlfriend, according to police. Dewitt was arrested without further incident on charges of criminal threatening and threatening display of a dangerous weapon, Ellsworth police Sgt. Shawn Willey wrote in an incident summary report.

The article didn't say if Dewitt had a conceal carry license.

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Maine caller phones Walmart asking to buy assault weapon "for school tomorrow"

Occurred November 14, 2013.


A young man called the Walmart store in Newport, Maine, asking if they sold assault rifles, stating, "I need it for school tomorrow."  Upon transfer to the sporting goods department (!), he hung up before transfer was complete. No caller ID was determined.

As a result, area schools and police were put on alert.

From an article:

Newport and Pittsfield schools were placed on alert Friday after a young male called a local Walmart on Thursday, asked if the store sold assault rifles and reportedly said, “I need it for school tomorrow,” according to Newport police. 

Newport police Chief Leonard Macdaid said security at Walmart in Palmyra called him on Thursday afternoon to report the call made to the store. 

“He asked if they had assault rifles there,” Macdaid said on Friday morning. “When the lady told him, ‘I’m not sure, I’ll transfer you to sporting goods,’ the young male said, ‘I need it for school tomorrow.’” 

Macdaid said the young male hung up before the transfer was complete and no caller ID was available. 

“We have no idea where the call came from,” said Macdaid. “We’re erring on the side of caution and have put out a statewide police bulletin.” 

Maine State Police and Pittsfield police were also made aware of the indirect threat, said Macdaid. 

The woman at Walmart said the young male who called “wasn’t irate or threatening. He was talking calmly,” said Macdaid. 

All eight of RSU 19’s schools began operating their “shelter in place” procedures, Superintendent Greg Potter said Friday. The schools are controlling access to buildings and are restricting outdoor activities. The procedures may continue into next week, he said.

Read more here: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2013/11/14/2797650/shots-fired-in-airport-thruway.html#storylink=cpy

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Man steals Airsoft gun from Maine Walmart

Occurred April 24, 2013.


A 27-year old man, Nick Tatu, stole an Airsoft pellet gun from a Walmart in Auburn, Maine.  Police were called, and a pursuit occurred in neighboring woods before Tatu was captured and the gun recovered.

From an article:

The weapon was an Airsoft pistol, police said, taken by a suspect last seen headed toward the back of the store at about 5:15 p.m. 

Several officers searched the area behind Walmart and neighboring stores but there was no sign of the suspect. 

Witnesses reported seeing the man run into the woods in the area between Walmart and BJ's Wholesale Club. Police soon followed, entering the heavily wooded area between Park Avenue and Summer Street. 

Auburn police Sgt. Laurie Woodhead said the officers soon came upon some of the store packaging that had contained the gun. That led them to an area where they found Nick Tatu, 27, still in possession of the Airsoft pistol. 

Auburn police Officer Justin Richardson caught up with Tatu and arrested him, police said, but the suspect didn't go willingly. 

Tatu was taken out of the woods and charged with theft, criminal threatening, criminal trespass, refusing to submit to arrest and violating conditions of release stemming from an earlier arrest. He remained at the Androscoggin County Jail later Wednesday.

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