Deputy who failed to complete wellness check on Robert Card is running for sheriff

A sergeant from the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Department who was named for failing in his actions to remove weapons from the perpetrator of the October mass shooting in Lewiston is running for sheriff. 

While the Independent Commission to Investigate the Facts of the Tragedy in Lewiston found shortcomings throughout the department, Sgt. Aaron Skolfield was specifically mentioned for making only “limited attempts” to contact Robert Card when he was called to do a wellness check the month before the Oct. 25 shooting. Additionally, the commission said Skolfield failed to follow up on leads and review the available information that showed Card was a threat. 

“Sgt. Aaron Skolfield… should have realized that he had probable cause to start the Yellow Flag process,” the commission wrote in an interim report released Friday, referring to the state’s process to temporarily remove weapons from people who are deemed dangerous to themself or others.

Skolfield, a Republican who lives in Bowdoinham, is running against current Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel Merry, a Democrat, according to information from the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions in the Office of the Secretary of State.

Skolfield did not immediately respond to an interview request.

‘Abdication of law enforcement’s responsibility’

In the interim report, the commission stated that Card was responsible for his own conduct. He may have committed a mass shooting even if the sheriff’s office or other law enforcement confiscated his weapons, it noted. 

But in September, the U.S. Army Reserve, which Card was a member of, asked the sheriff’s department to do a wellness check on Card because of concerns they had regarding his mental health. Skolfield tried to reach Card, but never actually made contact with him because he wasn’t home or didn’t answer the door, according to the testimony Skolfield gave the commission in January. 

Skolfield also visited Card’s father’s house and attempted to reach Card via telephone. All attempts were unsuccessful and he ultimately decided to give Card space. 

That’s when Skolfield started talking with Card’s brother, who told him he would take Card’s weapons from him. Skolfield was scheduled for vacation the next day. The commission asked Skolfield why he didn’t pass the job off to someone else while he was on vacation, since he never actually completed the wellness check. But Skolfield said he felt it was resolved based on the assurances from Card’s brother.

However, the seven-member commission unanimously found that asking Card’s family to remove Card’s firearms was “an abdication of law enforcement’s responsibility.” Further, the department failed to follow up with the family to ensure they had secured the weapons.