Bangor, Maine News Update: April 26, 2018
The manhunt continues today for a Madison man suspected of killing Somerset County Sheriff’s Corporal Eugene Cole. Police say John Williams allegedly stole Cole’s fully marked cruiser, robbed a Cumberland Farms store in Norridgewock, and then abandoned the cruiser and fled. Williams is considered armed and extremely dangerous and residents are advised not to approach him, but call police immediately if he’s spotted.
Schools across Somerset County will be under ‘lock in’ conditions today, as the manhunt continues. What that means is that students will be in class but will not be allowed any outside programming, like physical education or recess. Parents can also opt to keep their children at home today and the absence will be marked as excused.
Governor Paul Lepage has ordered all flags in Maine to be flown at half-staff in honor of Corporal Eugene Cole, who was killed in the line of duty on Wednesday. The Governor says the flags will remain in the position for three days and offered his condolences to the Cole family and members of Maine law enforcement. The flags will be lowered once again on the day of Cole’s funeral.
Police thought they were taking heroin from a driver under the influence of heroin earlier this week, but the powdery substance turned out to be human remains. The driver, who lost his license for being a habitual offender, had borrowed the car from a friend who told police the plastic bags they seized contained his father’s ashes, which he was storing until he got an urn to place them in. The remains have been returned and the driver charged with operating after license revocation.
Mainers will see a very different ballot when they go to the polls in June, with the institution of ranked choice voting. The Secretary of State has built an online guide to help residents prepare for the new process that allows voters to rank their top candidates. Find the sample ballots at the Maine Secretary of State's website.