FARMINGTON — Two Farmington police officers were honored last week for their assistance in finding a missing New Hampshire boy in July after recognizing that his father was the subject of an Amber Alert issued in New Hampshire.
Officers Darin Gilbert and Michael Lyman received the Meritorious Service Award last week at the 17th annual Maine Association of Police Awards Banquet in Portland for their part in returning 18-month-old Malachi Grant to his mother in Somersworth, New Hampshire, after he allegedly was abducted by his father.
On July 17 at 1:25 a.m., Gilbert and Lyman stopped Grant, of Berwick, on Fairbanks Road in Farmington after Gilbert recognized Jeremiah Grant as the person who was wanted in connection with the Amber Alert out of New Hampshire.
Grant fled the stop and headed north on Route 4 toward Strong. After Grant fled, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and Maine State Police joined the chase.
Grant was stopped after spike strips were deployed on Route 27 in New Vineyard. The baby wasn’t harmed.
“The officers are credited with stopping the suspect after a chase and successfully deploying spikes to stop the fleeing offender,” Farmington police Chief Jack Peck said in a news release Monday. “Due to the officers decisive actions the young child in question was reunited with his mother.”
Grant was taken to Franklin County Jail after his arrest, where he was held until pleading guilty to the Maine charges of eluding police and endangering the welfare of a child, and was sentenced to 120 days time served. New Hampshire child abduction charges still are pending.
Lauren Abbate — 861-9252
Twitter: @Lauren_M_Abbate
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