On December 20, a thirty-year-old female reported that her ex-boyfriend had threatened violence toward her and her parents. He had also threatened to commit suicide. Officer responded to her residence on Mighty Street and the officer saw a black GMC Yukon stopped in the roadway in front of the home of the victim’s parents. The suspect appeared to be engaged in an “animated verbal argument” with three people standing next to the SUV.

As the officer arrived, he activated his emergency lights. However, the suspect drove around the cruiser and sped off on Mighty Street heading towards Rt. 114.

Witnesses identified him and told the officer that the suspect had a firearm. Gorham Police Officers pursued the vehicle from Mighty Street onto Route 114 and westbound into Standish. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Officer assisted in the pursuit and attempted to deploy a spike mat but the suspect vehicle avoided it and continued west. The pursuit continued westbound on Route 114 toward Sebago for several miles until the SUV left the roadway at a high rate of speed; it came to rest in the trees and vegetation.

Responding officers set up a perimeter around the vehicle and attempted to communicate with the suspect in an effort to safely resolve this incident. Other resources were deployed to the incident including Standish Fire Department and EMS, State Police and tactical elements from both CCSO and the Gorham Police Department. At approximately 5:45pm the suspect was located inside the vehicle. He was deceased.

This incident is still under investigation. The suspect was identified as Joseph Cleaves, 32 of Windham. The Medical Examiner’s Office will be conducting an autopsy in order to determine the suspect’s cause of death.