Governor Suspends Hunting In Manhunt Area

Governor Paul LePage has suspended hunting in some parts of Somerset County, while the manhunt for a shooting suspect continues.

As we head into the weekend, the Governor is helping with the search efforts by making the woods safer for law enforcement and for potential hunters. Wild turkey hunting season is due to start tomorrow, but portions of Norridgewock, Skowhegan, and Fairfield will be closed to hunting for the duration of the manhunt.

"We are heartbroken yet determined to find the fugitive and bring him to justice as swiftly as possible," LePage said in a media release. "I thank our law enforcement officers and those from the federal government and surrounding states for their hard work in difficult conditions over the past few days."

He goes on to encourage residents of Somerset County to call 911 if they see anything that could help locate John Williams, who is suspected of killing Somerset County Sheriff's Deputy Corporal Eugene Cole on Wednesday morning. The Governor asks residents to continue to be on high alert for any activity that seems out of the ordinary.

The hunting suspension proclamation suspends, until further notice, all hunting, to include youth wild-turkey hunting day on Saturday and regular wild-turkey season, which begins on Monday. A heavy police presence remains in that area and will continue until the suspect is in custody. Activities connected with hunting could cause residents to report what they perceive as suspicious activity but is actually just legal hunters in the woods.