The father of a man who died of a stab wound on Vinalhaven a year ago has filed a lawsuit asking the court to order the Maine Attorney General’s office to turn over investigative files related to his son’s death.
The lawsuit filed on behalf of Lester Feltis also claims that the AG’s office wants a confidentiality agreement because it knows there was misconduct by law enforcement and does not want that information to become public.
Roger Feltis
Attorney Amy Fairfield filed the Freedom of Access lawsuit in Lincoln County Superior Court in Wiscasset on Tuesday.
Feltis’ son, Roger Feltis, died June 14, 2020, on Vinalhaven. Police say he died from a stab wound after confronting a couple he believed were harassing him.
The AG’s Office presented that case to a Knox County grand jury during the first week of July 2020 but a majority of jurors did not find probable cause to believe that a crime had been committed.
The lawsuit, however, contends that several eyewitness statements make it clear that the killing was not self-defense.
“Every witness who witnessed Roger’s murder said the same thing: Roger Feltis approached the residence of the two persons who ultimately killed him and, as he stood outside on the deck leading to the residence and was hollering to the occupants about his brake lines on his truck being cut, the male stepped onto the porch wielding an ax, which caused Roger to back up away from the residence,” the lawsuit states. “Suddenly, the female rushed onto the porch and at Roger and began punching him and hollering to the male to “hit him. Hit him with the ax,” or words to that effect, which is what the male did, ultimately killing Roger.”
The lawsuit also contends that law enforcement officers committed some type of misconduct, but neither the lawsuit nor Fairfield detailed those allegations.
“Plaintiff knows of information in the file that is misconduct that should have led to final discipline, and based upon what is known, it is unfathomable that the conduct was not punished,” the lawsuit states.
“The Office of Attorney General cannot conceal known misconduct on behalf of law enforcement by utilizing statutory confidentiality, and interpretation, to suggest that the entire file is confidential under any circumstances,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit asks the court to rule that the father has the right to the investigative reports without having to sign a confidentiality agreement that would prevent that information from becoming public.
A spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office said late Tuesday afternoon that it had not yet been served the lawsuit and had no comment.
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