Daniel Ryan : “Man with Gas Can Shot by Deputy”

A tragic incident unfolded in Belfast, Maine, as a 65-year-old man, identified as Daniel Ryan, met a fatal end at the hands of a sheriff’s deputy. The man, who was holding a burning gas can, made a distressing call to the Waldo County Dispatch Center on Monday afternoon. In his call, he threatened to set fire to his apartment building in Belfast if law enforcement did not respond promptly, according to a joint news release from the county sheriff’s office and the Belfast Police Department.

As sheriff’s deputies and police officers rushed to the scene, the man’s threats escalated. Upon their arrival at the building, the man reportedly charged at the officers with the flaming gas can in hand. In a tragic turn of events, a deputy, identified as Sgt. Nicholas Oettinger, was forced to take lethal action, resulting in the man’s untimely demise.

Sgt. Oettinger, a seasoned law enforcement officer who previously served in Monroe County, Florida, before joining the Waldo County Sheriff’s office in 2010, will now be placed on administrative leave as the attorney general’s office conducts a thorough investigation into the incident.

Belfast, a quaint town located approximately 35 miles (56 kilometers) south of Bangor, was shaken by the tragic events that unfolded on that fateful day.

As the community mourns the loss of Daniel Ryan and grapples with the aftermath of this tragic incident, authorities are working diligently to piece together the events leading up to the fatal confrontation. The sudden escalation of tensions and the use of lethal force have raised questions and concerns among residents of Belfast and beyond.

The impact of this incident reverberates throughout the tight-knit community of Belfast, prompting reflection on mental health resources, crisis intervention protocols, and the complexities of law enforcement responses to volatile situations.

As the investigation unfolds, the community awaits answers and seeks solace in coming together to support one another in the wake of this tragic loss.