Rumford police are continuing to search for three armed gunmen who they say shot at officers during a pursuit through town, prompting a shelter-in-place order Friday night.
In a series of social media posts Friday and Saturday, the Rumford Police Department said officers had attempted to stop a “suspicious vehicle” on Eaton Hill Road about 10:30 p.m. Friday.
As of 2 p.m. Saturday, two suspects had been taken into custody and police were still searching for three others. Rumford police said investigators believe the suspects are likely no longer in the area.
In a statement, Chief Tony Milligan said the driver of the car, a silver and black Dodge Charger, didn’t stop for police and drove off at a high speed. The officer followed the vehicle and a second Rumford officer joined the pursuit as they headed west on Route 2, before turning onto South Rumford Road where Milligan said those inside the Charger fired at police using one or more AR-15-style rifles.
The Oxford County Sheriff’s Office arrived to help and a deputy deployed spike tips at the intersection of South Rumford Road and Route 232. The officers then discovered the suspect vehicle crashed on South Rumford Road, and the suspects ran off.
The Maine State Police Tactical Team was deployed, and aerial drones and police dogs assisted in the search.
One suspect was found uninjured after emerging from the woods and walking south along State Route 232, and another was taken into custody near on Cemetery Road, Milligan said.
The search continued for nearly seven hours while a shelter-in-place order was issued in the area of South Rumford Road and Route 302. Police lifted the order early Saturday morning, saying the public was “no longer in immediate danger.”
Police said they found several guns, suspected illegal drugs and cash in the crashed car.
The outstanding suspects are described as three Hispanic men believed to be in their 20s and 30s. They were last seen wearing black sweatshirts, sweatpants and sneakers, and may be armed with AR-15-style rifles and pistols.
Milligan said the suspects are “dangerous and pose a significant risk” to the community.
“We will utilize every resource we have — and those of our partners — to ensure safety in our community,” he wrote. “We will not rest until these criminals are behind bars where they belong.”
Milligan did not respond to messages Saturday afternoon asking for updates on the search.
