Police are responding to an incident in Oxford County

The Paris police chief was transporting the man to the Oxford County Jail when he handcuffed him and stole the patrol car, police said.

OXFORD COUNTY, Maine — A man who stole two police patrol cars Monday was shot and taken into custody by officers, authorities said.

Gary Porter, 37, faces a variety of charges. Police said the incident began around 7 a.m. in Paris when officers received a report that Porter was acting suspiciously. He was arrested on a theft warrant and taken to Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway, where he was treated and released for “conditions unrelated to the arrest,” according to a joint statement from Maine State Police, the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, Oxford Police, Norway Police and Paris Police.

“Paris Police Chief Mike Dailey transported Porter to the Oxford County Jail (south of Paris),” the statement said. “While attempting to remove Porter from the vehicle at the jail, Porter managed to pull his handcuffs from the back to the front, get into the driver’s seat and steal the Paris Police cruiser…Dailey was thrown from the moving vehicle in the attempt hurled Stop Porter.

Police pursued the patrol car and Porter crashed on Route 117 in Paris, police said.

“Officers confronted Porter and an exchange of gunfire ensued,” the statement said. “Porter was hit but fled and stole an Oxford County sheriff’s police vehicle, which he crashed a short distance up the road. Porter was taken into custody and treated at a local hospital.”

Porter was subsequently taken to the Oxford County Jail and charged with two counts of theft, assault on a police officer, fleeing, eluding and bail violation.

“The Attorney General’s Office will investigate the use of force by law enforcement and the Maine State Police Major Crimes South Division will complete a criminal investigation,” the statement said.

During the response, roads in the area of Route 117 in the south of Paris were closed around midday.

NEWS CENTER Maine was at the scene when police were heard telling people to stay indoors in the area of a closed intersection of Paris Hill Road and Mink Farm Road. NEWS CENTER Maine staff said the intersection of Hooper Ledge and Buckfield Road was also closed. Additional roads in the area may have been closed as the situation unfolded.

Oxford County Sheriff Christopher Wainwright called it an “isolated incident.”

“There are no safety concerns for the public,” he said in a news release.

A video submitted to NEWS CENTER Maine by a viewer appeared to show police officers standing in a standoff with guns drawn. After commands were heard from officers, the video appeared to show a person getting into an official service vehicle and speeding forward with what appeared to be weapons fired.

A witness at the scene commented in the video that it appeared a man got into a second police vehicle and attempted to drive away at a high rate of speed just before a series of gunshots were heard.

You can watch the video here: