Maine police searching for suspect who killed deputy
NORRIDGEWOCK, MAINE — A man scheduled to appear in court to face gun charges Wednesday killed a sheriff ’s deputy in Maine, stole his cruiser and robbed a con- venience store, officials said.
The fatal shooting of Som- erset County Cpl. Eugene Cole around 1:45 a.m. on U.S. Route 2 in Norridgewock triggered an intensive manhunt for the shooter in and around the heavily wooded rural town about 60 miles west of Bangor.
Aircraft and armored vehicles were seen around Nor- ridgewock, and schools were locked down as federal, state and local law enforcement officials searched for 29-yearold John Williams, of Madison, Maine, who police said abandoned the cruiser after robbing the store.
“Many times we’re able to say that there is not an ongoing threat, but that’s not the case today,” said State Police Lt. Col. John Cote. “There certainly is an ongoing public threat. He’s considered armed and dangerous.”
Cole’s death is believed to be the first killing of a law enforcement officer in Maine blades and straws are comin nearly 30 years. The last monly used when snorting time an officer was killed lines of narcotics. Williams in the line of duty was in was not charged with any 1989, according to the Maine drug offenses.
Department of Public Safety. A judge gave Williams
On Wednesday afternoon, $7,500 bail, which was lowpolice escorted Cole’s body ered by a Superior Court to the state medical examinjudge to $5,000. He posted er’s office in Augusta. Police bail on March 31 and was due at intersections along the way to return to court Wednespaid tribute as the vehicle carday for a probable cause rying Cole’s body passed by. hearing.
Police said Williams is Residents in Norridge5-foot-6, 120 pounds with wock, a town of about 3,500 blue eyes and brown hair huddled in the rain, as state in a ponytail. Maine records police cruisers and federal didn’t indicate a lengthy crim- agents investigated a blueinal record, but Williams grey home believed to where was arrested last month in Williams lived with his girlHaverhill, Massachusetts, friend. and charged with improper “We’re a little on edge. It’s storage and carrying a fire- unnerving knowing there’s arm without a license. a guy running around out
He was found with a 9mm there,” said Tasha Raymond, handgun and a 16-round mag- who was home with her two azine after he told the police children. that he dozed off while drivGov. Paul LePage ing on Route 495 and drove expressed his “deepest coninto a ditch. An officer wrote dolences” to Cole’s family in in the report that Williams a tweet. “If you live in Somappeared tired and impaired, erset County and the surbut denied having consumed rounding area, please coopany alcohol or illegal drugs. erate with law enforcement
Police also found containand stay safe,” the Repubers with a powder residue, lican governor said. LePage a pocket knife, razor blade also directed all U.S and state and short drinking straw. flags to be flown at half-staff The report noted that razor for at least three days.