Sandy MaloneLewiston, ME – A Lewiston woman literally shot herself in the butt on Tuesday night after she tried to take an officer’s gun from his holster while she was being walked to a police car in handcuffs.
Authorities said that 24-year-old Tameika Girardin was wanted on burglary charges by the Windham police, WMTW reported.
Girardin was arrested by Lewiston police on Aug. 16 and taken to the Lewiston Police Department so she could be retrieved by authorities from Windham.
Windham police officers arrived there and took custody of the suspect, WMTW reported.
The Windham officers were leading a handcuffed Girardin out to their police cruiser when she started fighting with them.
Officials said Girardin reached for one of the officer’s guns that was in his holster, WMTW reported.
A shot was fired as the officer struggled to maintain possession of his duty weapon.
Police said Girardin was struck in the buttocks by a bullet during the struggle, WMTW reported.
The round went through the woman’s butt and ricocheted off the pavement, but authorities said nobody else was hurt.
Officials said the officer’s gun was never removed from the holster before it was fired.
“She was very uncooperative and fighting,” Lewiston Police Lieutenant Derrick St. Laurent told the Sun Journal.
Officers on the scene immediately began rendering First Aid to the wounded suspect and then Girardin was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
She has since been released and booked into the Cumberland County Jail, WMTW reported.
Girardin was processed on a slew of charges related to a prior incident that included assault, criminal mischief, burglary, and violations of release conditions.
Additional charges related to the shooting at the Lewiston Police Department were expected to be forthcoming.
The incident will be investigated by the Androscoggin and Cumberland Counties district attorneys who will determine whether any criminal charges should be filed in connection with the incident, KQXL reported.
Holly Matkin
