Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
NORRIDGEWOCK, Maine (AP) — The Latest on the fatal shooting of a Maine sheriff's deputy (all times local):
6 p.m.
Law enforcement officials are vowing to maintain a heavy police presence overnight as the search continues for a man accused of killing a deputy in Maine.
Police are searching for 29-year-old John Williams, of Madison, after they say he killed Somerset County Cpl. Eugene Cole early Wednesday, stole his cruiser and robbed a convenience store. The cruiser was later abandoned.
State Police Lt. Col. John Cote said late Wednesday afternoon that dozens of agencies have been in the Norridgewock area. He says residents can rest assured that police will maintain a strong presence overnight as the search continues.
Cote says police have received a lot of leads but they're still seeking information from the public. He says anyone who's had contact with Williams within the last 24 hours should contact police.
___
2:55 p.m.
Maine Gov. Paul LePage is ordering flags lowered in honor of a deputy killed in the line of duty.
The governor ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff for at least three days in honor of Cpl. Eugene Cole of the Somerset County Sheriff's Department.
Police say Cole was killed early Wednesday by a man who then stole his cruiser and robbed a convenience store.
LePage offered his condolences to Cole's family and the law enforcement community on Wednesday. He said the corporal "served his community with honor" and that "his sacrifice will not be forgotten."
Local, state and federal law enforcement officials are searching for a suspect who remained on the lam Wednesday afternoon.
___
2 p.m.
Police are escorting the body of a slain Maine sheriff's deputy to the state medical examiner's office.
State police on Wednesday were also staking out a house in Madison, Maine believed to be the home where the alleged killer lived with his girlfriend.
Residents huddled in the rain, as state police cruisers and federal agents investigated a blue-grey home.
Police are searching for John Williams after they say he killed Somerset County Cpl. Eugene Cole early Wednesday, stole his cruiser and robbed a convenience store.
Cole was described by a relative as a lover of music who was well-known throughout the community for his generous, peaceful and caring personality. His son is also a Somerset County deputy,
Police lined intersections along the route as Cole's body was transported to Augusta.
___
12:50 p.m.
A man who authorities believe fatally shot a Maine sheriff's deputy was due in court in Massachusetts following an arrest last month for several firearm charges.
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.
Williams posted $5,000 bail and was supposed to return to court Wednesday for a hearing, she said.
Police are searching for Williams for allegedly killing Somerset County Cpl. Eugene Cole early Wednesday. It's believed to be the first killing of a law enforcement officer in Maine in nearly 30 years.
___
10:15 a.m.
Maine authorities are searching for a man they say fatally shot a sheriff's deputy, stole his cruiser and robbed a convenience store.
State police said that Somerset County Cpl. Eugene Cole was killed at about 1:45 a.m. Wednesday on U.S. Route 2 in Norridgewock. The cruiser was driven to a Cumberland Farms store, which was robbed.
Police say they are searching for a suspect identified as 29-year-old John Williams, of Madison, Maine. They say he is 5-foot-6, 120 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair worn in a ponytail.
Police said Cole had been a deputy for 13 years and has a son.
___
10:10 a.m.
A sheriff in Maine says a deputy investigating a report of a robbery at a convenience store has been fatally shot.
Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster tells the Morning Sentinel the deputy was killed Wednesday morning on U.S. Route 2 in Norridgewock.
Dispatch reports from the sheriff's office said a robbery was reported at a Cumberland Farms store at about 1:40 a.m.
Officers from multiple agencies responded to the scene within minutes.
A message seeking comment was left with the sheriff's office. Further information about the shooting was not immediately available.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
