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U.S. NEWS Thursday 26 april 2018

Police: Man killed deputy,

stole his car and robbed store

By MARINA VILLENEUVE Law enforcement officials gotten into drugs,” he said.
Associated Press said he had arrest records Williams’ Facebook page
NORRIDGEWOCK, Maine in Maine, Tennessee and features photos of him
(AP) — A man scheduled Massachusetts. In Tennes- smiling at a graduation
to appear in court to face see, he faced drug and ceremony as well as other
gun charges Wednesday drug-related charges dat- photos of him hiking, hang-
killed a sheriff’s deputy in ing as far back as 2008 ing out with friends and
Maine, stole his cruiser and and was revived from an dressed in a suit at a wed-
robbed a convenience overdose at least once, ding party. His last post in A Maine State Police van transports the body of slain Somerset
store, officials said. according to the Shelby 2017 noted how he was Sheriff’s Deputy Eugene Cole from the scene, Wednesday, April
The fatal shooting of Som- County Sheriff’s Office. starting a new job in near- 25, 2018, who was shot to death overnight in Norridgewock,
erset County Cpl. Eugene Last month, Williams was by Anson, Maine.q Maine.
Cole around 1:45 a.m. arrested in Haverhill, Mas- Associated Press
on U.S. Route 2 in Nor- sachusetts, and charged
ridgewock triggered an with improper storage and
intensive manhunt for the carrying a firearm without
shooter in and around the a license. He was found
heavily wooded rural com- with a 9mm handgun and
munity about 60 miles (96 a 16-round magazine after
kilometers) west of Bangor. he told the police that he
Law enforcement offi- dozed off and drove into
cials vowed to maintain a a ditch. An officer wrote
heavy presence overnight in the report that Williams
and urged residents to re- appeared tired and im-
main vigilant as the search paired, but denied having
continued for 29-year-old consumed any alcohol or
John Williams, of Madison, illegal drugs.
Maine. “Many times we’re Williams posted bail on
able to say that there is March 31 and was due to
not an ongoing threat, but return to court on Wednes-
that’s not the case today,” day for a probable cause
State Police Lt. Col. John hearing.
Cote said. “There certainly That image contrasts with
is an ongoing public threat. Williams’ days at Skow-
He’s considered armed hegan High School, where
and dangerous.” a yearbook showed he
Cole’s death is believed once served as a class of-
to be the first killing of a ficer. “When in school he
law enforcement officer in was a nice, funny and an
Maine in nearly 30 years. all-around good guy,” said
The last time someone killed classmate Casey Sprout-
an officer in the line of duty Costa.
was in 1989, according to Another classmate, Alex
the Maine Department of Stetkis, said Williams was a
Public Safety. popular honor student who
Helicopters, armored ve- was class president in his
hicles and numerous po- junior year. But things went
lice cruisers were spotted downhill when he started
around Norridgewock, and picking fights with other
schools were locked down classmates and getting
as federal, state and local into drugs.
law enforcement poured “Most could not believe it,”
into the region to look for Stetkis said of the news that
Williams. Williams was suspected in
Police said Williams is the killing.
5-foot-6, 120 pounds with “He was always kind and
blue eyes and brown hair could have gone any-
in a ponytail. where in life if he hadn’t