The shooting of a Maine homicide suspect by a Boone County deputy has been ruled justified. Boone County Sheriff Roy Martin says after the Arkansas State Police’s investigation into the incident, the 14th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office ruled Deputy Tyler Nichols’ actions were appropriate when he shot 20-year-old Spridal Hubiak of Waterville, Maine.
According to the state police, Flippin police officers responded in the early morning of Dec. 31 to a suspicious vehicle call and located a male asleep in his vehicle. After identifying the subject as Hubiak, officers were advised he was wanted in Maine for a homicide occurring three days earlier. Hubiak then fled the scene.
During a pursuit, the state police and the Harrison Police Department deployed spike strips on U.S. Highway 62/412 nearly a mile east of the intersection with U.S. Highway 65. Hubiak turned onto Highway 65 and into the parking lot of the White Oak Station in Bellefonte. The vehicle crashed, and witnesses state Hubiak exited with an AR-style rifle in his hand.
Deputy Nichols fired at Hubiak and struck him multiple times. No officers were injured. Hubiak was transported to North Arkansas Regional Medical Center in Harrison and later to Cox Medical Center South, where he is currently in the custody of the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Maine Department of Public Safety, Hubiak was an employee of a liquor store in Waterville, where another employee was found dead Dec. 27. The Maine State Police identified the victim as 52-year-old Angela Bragg of Waterville. Hubiak is facing a murder charge in Bragg’s death.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI