A Somerset County sheriff’s deputy and detective were determined to have acted in self-defense when they shot and killed a 44-year-old Hartland man during the execution of a drug search warrant last year.

The finding came Friday in a letter from Maine Attorney General Aaron M. Frey.

Frey’s letter stated that Detective Michael Lyman and Deputy William Crawford fired their guns at Isaac Robinson because they “reasonably believed that Mr. Robinson was coming at Deputy Crawford with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury to Deputy Crawford.”

The two officers were part of a team executing a nighttime “knock and announce” search warrant at Robinson’s home at 98 Main St. in Hartland at 5:46 a.m. Sept. 10, 2025, Frey wrote. Investigators were looking for drugs, business records, money, drug paraphernalia and firearms.

When there was no response to the announcement of their presence, Crawford breached a door and eight officers entered the home, Frey wrote. Once inside the home, Crawford kicked open a locked door to a room while continuing to announce “sheriff’s office” and “search warrant.”

Crawford saw in the room a dog and a man, later identified as Robinson, Frey wrote. He saw Robinson pick up a knife and another object he believed was a knife sheath.

Crawford yelled multiple times for Robinson to drop the knife while the two were about 10 feet apart, Frey’s letter stated.

Robinson then threw an object with liquid in it at Crawford, who had his firearm in the “low and ready position,” Frey wrote. Crawford ducked and the man ran at him with the knife and the object he believed was the sheath.

Crawford then fired his gun and Robinson fell to the ground, where Crawford attempted to handcuff him, Frey wrote.

Lyman, meanwhile, had heard Crawford yelling and ran downstairs, Frey wrote. He observed Crawford ducking to avoid something that had been thrown at him.

Lyman also witnessed Robinson advance toward Crawford with a baseball bat and an object he could not identify, Frey wrote. He then saw Crawford shoot Robinson; Lyman also shot at Robinson.

Robinson was pronounced dead at the scene. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner determined he died from multiple gunshot wounds. 

Investigators found a machete with a 17.5 inch blade and a 6.5 inch handle next to him and a 25-inch Louisville Slugger baseball bat partially under his body, Frey said in his letter.

“Deputy Crawford told investigators he shot at Mr. Robinson because he believed Mr. Robinson was closing the distance between them quickly and it appeared Mr. Robinson wanted to seriously injure or kill him,” Frey wrote. 

“Detective Lyman told investigators he believed Mr. Robinson had a knife because he heard Deputy Crawford yelling to put the knife down and then saw Mr. Robinson advancing with a bat in one hand and something else in the other, only two or three feet from Deputy Crawford,” Frey continued. “Detective Lyman said he felt he needed to stop Mr. Robinson from hurting or killing Deputy Crawford.”

Detective David Cole, who was part of the team executing the warrant, saw Robinson moving toward Crawford and Lyman with a machete in one hand and an unknown object in his other hand, Frey wrote. The man was less than 5 feet away from Lyman and Crawford, Cole told investigators. Deputy Kehl Chadwick also saw a portion of the incident, including both officers firing their guns.

Body-worn camera footage was also consistent with what Crawford and Lyman described to investigators, Frey noted.

The attorney general’s office reviews all police shootings in the state and hasn’t found one to be unjustified since at least 1990.

The office is tasked with determining whether a criminal prosecution is warranted following incidents involving police use of deadly force. The office’s investigation does not analyze whether there should be personnel actions, whether the use of deadly force could have been averted or whether there might be civil liability.

Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster said via email Friday that his office conducts an internal review after every incident involving deadly force. He did not elaborate on any specific findings in this case.

Lancaster confirmed Friday both Lyman and Crawford remain employed by his agency. Crawford was recently promoted to patrol sergeant.

Robinson, in an online obituary, was described as a hard worker with experience in carpentry, accounting and property services.

“(Robinson) enjoyed providing for his family, being outdoors, and making others smile,” the obituary said. “He liked all board games, loved family gatherings, and enjoyed magic. His family will remember him as out-going, energetic, and full of life. His nieces and nephews will always cherish him as the fun uncle.”