School In Alton, Maine Placed On Precautionary Lockdown After Reports Of Armed Man In Roadway

A school in Penobscot County was put on lockdown for some time Thursday morning, after the Penobscot Regional Dispatch fielded a call stating there was a man with a rifle in the roadway in Alton.

According to the Penobscot County Sheriff's Office, the incident began just after 8 AM, as the school day started..

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Deputies from the Sheriff's Office and members of the Old Town Police Department responded to Bennoch Road in Alton after someone called in claiming they had witnessed a man, near the crossroads by the old Alton Tannery Road, who was holding a large gun.

"The caller reported believing the individual may have pointed the rifle at passing vehicles...Through a thorough investigation, it was determined that the individual received a ride from the area, possibly to Bangor. Multiple witnesses were interviewed, but none reported that a rifle was observed."

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Authorities immediately placed the nearby Alton Elementary School on lockdown because of how close it was to the area where people reported seeing this individual. They lifted the lockdown at the end of the day, after determining that the public was not in danger.

Meanwhile, later in the morning, sheriff deputies also responded to two other domestic violence calls in both Orrington and Corinth.

Read More: Penobscot County, Maine Domestic Violence-Related Arrests

If you want to report suspicious or criminal activity to the Penobscot County Sheriff's Department, you can submit a tip through their official website, reach out via their app, or call them directly at (207) 947-4585.