CORINTH, Maine — A search for a man involved in an alleged domestic disturbance prompted area schools to take caution on Wednesday, according to the Penobscot County sheriff’s office.
The series of events started shortly before 11 a.m. when sheriff’s deputies received a call from a person on White Schoolhouse Road, according to Sgt. William Birch.
Birch said the call came in as a family fight, and as Deputy Ryan Fitch arrived, the male suspect, who had tried to break a door down at the residence, took off on foot.
The sergeant said the man is not from the area but police were aware he had a warrant for his arrest.
A foot pursuit ensued, but police were unable to track the man down, according to Birch. Sheriff’s deputies, with assistance from a Bangor police canine unit, state police and the Maine Forest Service, searched for most of Wednesday afternoon but could not find the man.
“We believe now he was able to get ahold of somebody and get a ride out of the area,” Birch said.
Because police were searching in close proximity to Central High School, Central Middle School and Morison Memorial Elementary School, the schools went into a “soft lockdown,” at the request of the sheriff’s department, Superintendent Rhonda Sperrey said.
“It’s a little extra precaution,” the RSU 64 superintendent said of the measure, which locks all of the exterior doors and puts staff on alert. “It’s typical of how we operate anyway.”
Birch said the man was not armed and there is no indication he is a danger to the public. He said the man has a small build and was wearing a dark-colored type of sweatshirt.
Anybody who sees the suspect or has information should call the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office at 947-4585.
