About 200 officers from various federal, state and local departments, working 12-hour shifts, spent the third day of the intensive manhunt for John Williams, going door-to-door around Norridgwock, searching from the air and focusing on some woods near the Martin Stream Road.
Lt. Col. John Cote, Deputy Chief of the State Police told reporters at a briefing Friday afternoon that tips from the public have helped focus the search effort.
“Right now, simultaneously, we have three separate operations that are working involving officers from Maine, New Hampshire and federal assets as well,” Cote said.
Law enforcement plan to continue the manhunt through the weekend and hope they get a break in the weather so they can use helicopters, aircraft and drones to bolster their efforts.
Williams – of Madison – is accused of shooting Cpl. Eugene Cole to death early Wednesday morning, then stealing Cole’s police cruiser and robbing a local convenience store. That cruiser was later found abandoned, several hours later, on Martin Stream Road in Norridgewock, where police discovered it around 5 a.m.
Kimberley Sirois found Cole’s body on her lawn at 16 Mercer Road in Norridgewock around 7:15 a.m.
Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster says community support has been overwhelming and he asks those planning to contribute food to call the Norridgewock Fire Station first, because they have run out of room to store food.
“Our investigative efforts this afternoon have been greatly assisted by information we’ve received from calls and people coming forward with information about this case.”
Funeral services for Cole will be held next week, with visiting hours from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. May 6.
