Mont Vernon shooting still under investigation

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Kathy Cleveland photo

State police were on the scene of what was described as an officer-involved shooting at 15 Pond Road in Mont Vernon Jan. 6. Last week the state attorney general said the shooting was justified.

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MONT VERNON – Police are sharing little information about the shooting of a man by an officer Sunday evening, but the man’s mother says the shooting “could have been avoided.”

State police investigators spent Monday at 15 Pond Road, gathering evidence and conducting interviews as they piece together events that led to a police officer shooting Geoffrey Bidwell, 42, after police were called for a suicidal man.

Reached briefly by phone on Tuesday after she paid a visit to the Massachusetts hospital where Bidwell is being treated, Pam Bidwell said her son was coherent, but his condition was “not good.”

Attorney General Michael A. Delaney said the man was shot “during an interaction with police” after local and state police were called to the house for a report of a suicidal male, later identified as Bidwell.

Pam Bidwell, who said she thinks there should have been two officers on the scene, also said she was outside with the family dog when the shooting occurred inside the house. She said her husband, Augustus, was inside and witnessed the shooting.

She said her son “picked up a piece of wood” to use as a shield but she said she did not know if he was armed with any firearms.

Pond Road, a short loop off Route 13 about a half-mile north of the Route 13-Francestown Turnpike intersection, remained closed through Monday.

The Bidwell home is the first residence on the northern end of Pond Road and is visible from Route 13. A trooper guarding the scene said the road remained closed because investigators were concerned about vehicles passing too close to a triangle-shaped exterior area sealed off with yellow tape Monday, indicating it was part of the investigation.

The home is a large, two-and-a-half story Cape with an attached garage.

Assistant Attorney General Jane Young did not specify whether the confrontation took place inside or outside the home and didn’t identify the officer who shot Bidwell, saying the information is all part of the investigation.

She did say that investigators executed a search warrant on the home and property Monday, but it’s too early to release any information on what, if anything, was discovered.

Dean Shalhoup can be reached at 594-6443 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow Shalhoup on Twitter (@Telegraph_DeanS).

Kathy Cleveland can be reached at 673-3100, ex. 304, or at kcleveland@cabinet.com.