Woman charged in April 2 standoff
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
CROUSEVILLE — Police have identified the woman involved in a standoff with police earlier this month, following her recent arrest in connection with the incident.
“Louise Rushinal, 45, of Crouseville, was arrested,” said Washburn Police Chief Roy Guidry Jr., in a phone interview Friday.
“Rushinal was the subject of a police standoff April 2 at a residence on Flewelling Drive and was arrested following her release from the hospital,” said Guidry. Rushinal had been hospitalized for unspecified medical care following the nearly 10-hour standoff.
Guidry said Rushinal was in custody and is being held at the Cumberland County Jail, awaiting a bail hearing. Due to the Monday holiday, Guidry doubted she’d appear in court before Tuesday.
The police chief said the matter began as a domestic dispute.
“On April 2, Rushinal assaulted her live-in boyfriend with a firearm — hit him with it and threatened him with it. He escaped to a neighbor’s house and contacted police,” said Guidry.
The chief said things escalated from there.
“Rushinal barricaded herself in her home with the scoped rifle — a 444 Marlin lever-action rifle. After approximately nine hours she threw the rifle out a window and surrendered to police. She was transported by Crown Ambulance to The Aroostook Medical Center for self-inflicted stab wounds. The injury was deemed non-life-threatening but did require her hospitalization,” said Guidry.
Rushinal was later transported to a Bangor health care facility, where she remained until her arrest. She is facing three counts in connection with the standoff, which involved local and state police, including the State Police Tactical Team.
“Rushinal has been charged with domestic violence assault, a misdemeanor; criminal threatening with a firearm, a felony; and creating a police standoff, a civil infraction,” said Guidry.
