Authorities in Maine launched a dragnet Wednesday after a man shot and killed a sheriff’s deputy, stole his cruiser and then robbed a convenience store, officials said.
Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster said Corporal Eugene Cole was killed around 1:45 a.m. on U.S. Route 2 in Norridgewock, located about 30 miles north of the state capital of Augusta. Cole was one of two cops shot dead nationwide, with a Dallas police officer succumbing to his wounds Wednesday morning after being injured the day before.
“He was one of the finest deputies that you would want to meet,” Lancaster said of Cole at a news conference.
Corporal Eugene Cole was killed early Wednesday. Authorities are now looking for 29-year-old John Williams. (Somerset County Sheriff’s Office)
Authorities said the suspect, 29-year-old John Williams, stole Cole’s police cruiser after the shooting and drove it to a Cumberland Farms store, a 24-hour gas and convenience store, and robbed it. Lancaster did not not disclose any details about what happened before the deputy was shot, saying that authorities would release further details by Wednesday afternoon.
After fleeing the store, Williams abandoned the vehicle, which was found around 5 a.m., officials said. It is not known if Williams is in another vehicle or on foot.
Officers work the scene of a shooting at a Cumberland Farms convenience store in Norridgewock, Maine, Wednesday, April 25, 2018. (Lexie O’Connor/WGME via AP )
“Many times we’re able to say that there is not an ongoing threat, but that’s not the case today,” State Police Lt. Col. John Cote said at a news conference. “There certainly is an ongoing public threat. He’s considered armed and dangerous.”
Williams is described as being 5-foot-6, 120 pounds and having blue eyes and brown hair in a ponytail, Lancaster said. Williams was previously arrested in Massachusetts on March 22 on firearms violations, according to a police report.
The FBI told WGME they are sending assistance to help the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office and Maine State Police with the investigation.
Cole was a member of the sheriff’s office for 13 years and had a son, according to Lancaster.
A sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed early Wednesday in Norridgewock, Maine. (WGME)
“We have lost an outstanding deputy today,” he said.
Police and sheriff’s deputies could be seen holding weapons near the convenience store. Authorities are now conducting a manhunt in the area, including using helicopters to try to locate Williams.
OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN 2018
Maine Gov. Paul LePage asked for residents in Somerset County and the surrounding area to “stay safe”
Our deepest condolences go out to the family of fallen Deputy Sheriff Corporal Eugene Cole. If you live in Somerset County and the surrounding area, please cooperate with law enforcement and stay safe.
— Paul R. LePage (@Governor_LePage) April 25, 2018
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family of fallen Deputy Sheriff Corporal Eugene Cole,” LePage wrote on Twitter. If you live in Somerset County and the surrounding area, please cooperate with law enforcement and stay safe.”
Senator Susan Collins said on Twitter she was “deeply saddened” by the news.
I am deeply saddened to learn Cpl. Eugene Cole was killed in the line of duty in Norridgewock this morning. Cpl. Cole served the citizens of Somerset County for 13 years with honor & distinction, & Maine will be eternally grateful for his brave actions to protect his community.
— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) April 25, 2018
“I am deeply saddened to learn Cpl. Eugene Cole was killed in the line of duty in Norridgewock this morning,” Collins said. “Cpl. Cole served the citizens of Somerset County for 13 years with honor & distinction, & Maine will be eternally grateful for his brave actions to protect his community.”
Residents of the town of about 3,500 people were urged to be vigilant, as there are heavy woods in the area.
“We’re a little on edge. It’s unnerving knowing there’s a guy running around out there,” Tasha Raymond, who was home with her two children, told the Associated Press.
The last time a Maine officer was shot and killed in the line of duty was 29 years ago on March 31, 1989, according to WGME. Maine State Police Detective Giles Landry was gunned down in his police cruiser outside a mobile home in Leeds while investigating a child abuse case.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/04/25/maine-officer-shot-and-killed-responding-to-robbery.html
Hey Foxnews,
WTF does a dead cop from the previous day, in another part of the country, from a totally unrelated incident, have to do with this story?
If journalists were to reference ANY relative coincidence in every story about cops and bullets, there would be encyclopedia sized volumes on cops shooting dogs, blacks, kids…
Yet, if a cop dies on the job or off, it becomes national news, with more details to follow(soon as we make them up), and make a tidy sound bite.
Hashtag Bullsh*ttery
Williams was arrested in Massachusetts last month on firearm charges, and was scheduled to appear Wednesday in a Massachusetts courtroom for a probable cause hearing, according to the Essex District Attorney’s Office.
Massachusetts state troopers found Williams and a female companion on the side of Interstate 495 shortly before 4 a.m. in Haverhill, Massachusetts, on March 22. They were in the breakdown lane and when police stopped, Williams and the woman were acting frantically, according to a police report. Their car had run off the road, and there was significant damage to the right rear wheel, the trooper wrote. As troopers talked with Williams, they conducted a pat-search and found in his pockets several small plastic baggies with a white and tan powder residue.
Williams told troopers he fell asleep at the wheel.
Police searched the car and found more baggies with powder residue, including in the possession of his passenger. In the trunk they found a loaded 9 mm Smith and Wesson magazine loaded with 10 rounds. Nearby was a black pouch containing a black and silver 9 mm handgun that had the slide portion of the weapon separated from the frame, along with more ammunition.
Although Williams told troopers he was permitted legally carry the gun in Maine, troopers charged him with improper storage of a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license, unattended ammunition, possession of a large capacity firearm (9 mm Smith & Wesson with a 16 round magazine), marked lanes violation and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
The passenger was also written a summons for possession of half a Percocet tablet.
According to the Essex District Attorney’s office, Williams was arraigned later the same day, and a Massachusetts judge imposed $7,500 bail. Five days later during a bail review hearing, bail was reduced to $5,000. Williams posted the amount March 31 at 5:10 a.m.
Folks, there’s no threat to the general public just the cops who were after him to seize his weapons.
I hope he gets totally away and that folks help him out if he needs it.
a black and silver 9 mm handgun that had the slide portion of the weapon separated from the frame
troopers charged him with improper storage of a firearm
Of course this guy knows that they can’t infringe on his 2nd Article right and he let them know that he knows by doing exactly what that 2nd Article was designed for.
Good for him, I hope he is victorious.
“He was one of the finest deputies that you would want to meet,”
HE IS NOW!!!
Kudos to the killer… hope he smokes a few more of the scumbag jewb#tches!
But NO innocent bystanders.
“…The last time a Maine officer was shot and killed in the line of duty was 29 years ago….”
Well hopefully this is the beginning of a new trend….. for cops all over the country.
All over New England talk radio news today. The liberal judge who let him go was the not so honorable Timothy Feeley. The suspect Williams is on the lamb and was 2006 Class President at Skowhegan High School. This was the 3rd case in less than 2 weeks of a liberal Massachusetts judge letting go of a perpetrator by leniency or greatly reduced bail that went on to commit a more heinous crime. Governor appointed…..his mug shot looks like a meth head …he’ll probably play the Class President card because it’s all he’s got. NOT the photo here.
All over New England talk radio news today. The liberal judge who let him go was the not so honorable Timothy Feeley. The suspect Williams is on the lamb and was 2006 Class President at Skowhegan High School. This was the 3rd case in less than 2 weeks of a liberal Massachusetts judge letting go of a perpetrator ( with lengthy record) by leniency or greatly reduced bail that went on to commit a more heinous crime. Governor appointed…..his mug shot looks like a meth head …he’ll probably play the Class President card because it’s all he’s got.
Are you one of these lovers of cops that murder our people? “Williams was due in court in Massachusetts following an arrest last month for several firearm charges.”
Would you have shown up in court on several firearm charges when you should know that your 2nd Article to your Bill of Rights says NOTHING shall infringe upon it?
“Twenty-nine-year-old Madison, Maine, resident John Williams was arrested by Massachusetts State Police in Haverhill last month and charged with carrying a firearm without a license, possession of a large-capacity firearm and other offenses, said Carrie Kimball-Monahan, spokeswoman for the Essex District Attorney’s Office.”
Since when are the above accusations NOT an infringement?
“A Maine man was arrested early Thursday morning for firearm and motor vehicle violations after he drove into a ditch off Interstate 495 in Haverhill, State Police said.
John Williams, 29, of Madison, Maine, was charged with illegal gun possession and driving offenses, among other charges, police said in a statement Thursday night.
Troopers patrolling the highway noticed Williams’ car was stopped in the breakdown lane around 3:50 a.m.. The vehicle “appeared to have driven off the road into a ditch,” the statement said.
Troopers found Williams in possession of a firearm he was not licensed to carry. He was arrested and booked at the State Police barracks in Medford. Bail was set at $10,000, the statement said. ”
Do you read ANYTHING about being licensed to carry or possess guns in the 2nd Article?
NO, you don’t!
Is driving into a ditch a crime? NO, it isn’t!
“Police questioned Williams, who displayed droopy eyelids, slurred speech and bloodshot, glassy eyes, police said. A pat frisk of Williams turned up a pocket knife and several plastic cellophane bags with white and tan powder residue, police said.
A pat frisk of William’s passenger turned up a plastic bag with residue, a shortened drinking straw, and white powder residue inside the pocket of the woman’s hoodie along with a half of a Percocet pill, police said.”
Is it a crime to have droopy eyelids, slurred speech, etc.? WTH, a pat frisk!? This in violation of Article 4 of the Bill of Rights! Where was the warrant!?
Anyway, you disgust me as you side with the police state! I’ve watched your comments here since you started commenting and you appeared to be informed. After this comment you have lost any credibility in my eyes!
“This was the 3rd case in less than 2 weeks of a liberal Massachusetts judge letting go of a perpetrator by leniency or greatly”………
A PERPETRATOR OF WHAT, that he told the criminal, corrupt, murderous state to stick it?
You wouldn’t be on the lam, no, you’d acquiesce by saying your one of those law abiding citizens who has the constitutional right according to the second amendment.