Police from at least four towns scoured downtown South Berwick and the woods behind Powderhouse Hill Tuesday afternoon in search of a shirtless man they said fled police after a late morning traffic stop.
The Rollinsford, Berwick and Wells police departments helped out with the search, adding dogs and drones to the effort, according to an online statement from the South Berwick Police Department.
As of Thursday evening, police gave no indication the man had been found, but the South Berwick department did not return Reporter calls asking for information on the incident or why the man initially had been stopped. A department post Wednesday afternoon confirmed no one had been found by then.
Interim Town Manager Jennifer Janelle said on Thursday that Deputy Police Chief Scott Stephens told her there was no threat to the public.
“I have been told by the deputy police chief that this is an ongoing investigation and there is no danger to the public,” Janelle said in an email to the Reporter.
While drones buzzed overhead Tuesday afternoon, at least three police officers searched the woods between Wadleigh Lane and Highland Avenue, pointedly questioning at least one man who turned out to be a resident of the area who regularly walks his dog on the hill. He asked a reporter that his name not be used.
At about 2 p.m. Tuesday, South Berwick officer Johnny Sprouse, carrying what appeared to be an automatic weapon, along with two Wells officers, came across the dog walker and demanded he raise his arms, lift his shirt, explain his tattoo, and provide his date of birth.
Satisfied the man was not his suspect, Sprouse asked the man, along with this reporter, to wait by the town reservoir at the top of Powderhouse Hill while police continued to check the woods.
The two Wells officers with Sprouse – Donald Morse and Nicholas Cousins – each had police dogs with them, while two drones, one belonging to the Rollinsford Police Department, searched as well.
At 12:40 p.m. South Berwick police posted on Facebook acknowledging “an increased police presence in the Main Street, Portland Street area.”
“Officers are searching for a male who fled from a traffic stop. The male was seen wearing black pants and no shirt. If you see anyone matching this description, please call 911,” the post said.
Within an hour, the police posted, “We believe we’ve identified the driver and will be following up on this.”
At least two residents downtown reported seeing a shirtless man hobbling down Portland Street. One of them said on Facebook that the man turned onto Highland Avenue.
Another resident reported online that she was told by police downtown there was a “potential active shooter,” while another commenter, Assistant Fire Chief Patrick Gorman, responded that there was “no active shooter at this time.”
Berwick Academy and Great Works School were both put under lockdown for some period during the day, according to Town Council Vice Chair Mallory Cook.
