A Franklin County deputy shoots a man after he repeatedly asked him to drop his gun and call for help

PHILIPS: A Franklin County deputy tried to get a man with a gun on a bridge to drop the gun and call for help, but he refused Tuesday and the man allegedly pointed the gun at the deputy, who shot him, according to a news release from Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr.

Lawrence Scott died at the age of 61 from his wounds.

At approximately 5:47 p.m., the Franklin County Regional Communications Center received a call
from a person reporting that there was a man there who was possibly suicidal and may have been involved
possession of a BB gun.

A second caller reported that there was a man with a gun on the Salem Township side of the bridge in Phillips. Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy Jesse Clement arrived on scene and located the man, later identified as Scott.

“Deputy Jesse Clement attempted to persuade Mr. Scott to seek assistance, but he refused,” Nichols wrote. “Deputy Clement repeatedly told Mr. Scott to drop the weapon, but he refused. Mr. Scott then raised the gun towards Deputy Clement and did so
shot by deputy.”

MaineHealth EMS provided first aid at the scene, but Mr. Scott did not survive, Nichols wrote.

Deputy Clement will be placed on administrative leave per standard protocol among all police officers
took part in shootings.

The Attorney General’s Office will investigate the use of deadly force. Further inquiries should be directed to the Office of the Attorney General. Nichols wrote that when an officer uses deadly force, the Attorney General’s Office responds and investigates the officer’s use of deadly force.

Clement, who has more than 10 years of law enforcement experience, earned a degree in criminal justice from the University of Maine Augusta. He began his career as a correctional officer at the Kennebec County Correctional Facility in Augusta.

Clement worked for the Carrabassett Valley Police Department for two years and in 2016 moved to the Farmington Police Department, where he earned the rank of sergeant in 2021.

In March, he became a deputy with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.