LIMINGTON, Maine — Police in York County are seeking out a 17-year-old boy they say ran from sheriff’s deputies and jumped into the Little Ossipee River.
York County Sheriff Maurice Ouellette said in a news release that deputies were dispatched to a call of a suspicious vehicle parked alongside Sand Pond Road in Limington. Ouellette said the area has had break-ins, and when officers investigated they discovered a group of young people gathered in the woods consuming alcohol.
When deputies tried to identify the individuals, a juvenile who appeared intoxicated took off and failed to stop when ordered to.
A foot chase ensued, and the boy jumped into the river near the Edgecombe’s Bridge. The pursuing officer observed the suspect go underwater and did not observe him surface. Fearing the boy may have been swept downstream, state police, additional sheriff’s deputies and fire and rescue personnel from Limerick, Limington and Standish, along with the Maine Warden’s Service, were called to the scene.
After searching for the suspect for over an hour, a woman told deputies she had observed a young man in her driveway, soaking wet, and that he had told her about falling into the river and requested a ride to Standish, Ouellette said.
Unaware of the investigation going on, the woman complied and when she returned home around 8 p.m., she noticed emergency responders on Hardscrabble Road and inquired what had happened. Upon realizing she may have aided in the man’s escape, she notified authorities.
Authorities subsequently conducted an investigation and determined the boy sought shelter at a family member’s home in Standish. He was later picked up by another family member and driven home, Ouellette said.
Authorities are still seeking the boy, and an arrest is anticipated, Ouellette said.
