Escaped Felon Goes on High-Speed Chase in Hospital Gown, Leaves Trail of Destruction and Gunfire

In a shocking series of events, Gary Porter, a wanted felon, managed to escape from police custody while undergoing evaluation at a hospital. After being found unconscious in a chicken coop, Porter was arrested and taken to the hospital by Paris Police Chief Mike Dailey, who accidentally allowed him to slip out of his handcuffs and drive off in Dailey’s pickup truck. A high-speed chase ensued, involving multiple law enforcement agencies, during which Porter crashed a stolen police vehicle and then another police cruiser, both while still handcuffed and wearing a hospital gown. Twelve officers ultimately fired their weapons at Porter, resulting in one bullet wound. The exact circumstances of the confrontation remain unclear, as authorities have not yet disclosed details such as whether Porter obtained a weapon or fired it himself. Porter’s initial court appearance was postponed due to his reportedly altered mental state, prompting a request for a mental examination. Eleven officers involved in the use of deadly force have been placed on administrative leave in accordance with standard procedure in Maine. This incident marks the largest number of police officers to discharge their weapons in a single incident in recent memory in the state.