BREAKING: Waterville Police Officer Shot (UPDATE)

UPDATE (7:30 PM on Dec 22nd)

According to a press release from Maine Public Safety spokesperson Stephen McCausland, Waterville PD officer Timothy Hinton stopped a car along Route 201 based on a shoplifting complaint from Walmart.  Richard Murray-Burns of Harmony, the driver of the vehicle, fired on Hinton.

Hinton was fired upon as he in his cruiser and as the gunman’s car left the scene, Hinton, who was wounded,  began the pursuit until other officers could pick up the chase. Police officers from several police agencies  were involved in the pursuit, along Routes 201 and 23, ending at Route 2  in Canaan when several officers fired and wounded the suspect.

The suspect used an "assault-style" weapon.

Hinton was released from the Thayer unit of MaineGeneral in Waterville at about 4:30 PM

Murray-Burns continues to be treated at EMMC in Bangor.

As is standard in officer involved shootings, the Maine Attorney General’s Office  is investigating the incident and a team of investigators were sent to Canaan.  Eight police officers  shot at the suspect and they have each been placed on administrative leave with pay, which also is standard procedure.

Original story follows

UPDATE (4 PM on Sunday Dec 22nd)

According to WGME, the police activity in Canaan stemmed from the shooting, and wounding, of a Waterville Police Department officer.  The initial incident happened at around 1 PM on Sunday afternoon.  The officer was taken to MaineGeneral in Waterville with non-life threatening injuries.

Law enforcement tracked the suspect to the intersection of Route 2 and 23 in Canaan, where a brief shootout occurred.  The suspect was shot, but his current condition is not known.

Law enforcement has yet to comment on what precipitated the initial shooting.

The original story follows...

According to WABI TV, there is a heavy police presence in the Central Maine town of Canaan.

Reports indicate that at least one police cruiser has been shot and another vehicle has multiple bullet holes in it.

This story will continue to be updated