2 Men Arrested In Connection To Alleged Hostage Situation This Weekend In Dover-Foxcroft, Maine

The dust has finally settled in Dover-Foxcroft after a tense weekend in town, and two men have been arrested on multiple charges, with more expected to come, authorities say.

The Dover-Foxcroft Police Department offered a clearer look at the timeline and details of what went down this weekend that led to a shelter-in-place order in effect from Friday to Saturday while a manhunt took place in the area.

According to their statement, authorities say the incident began bright and early on the morning of Friday, July 18th. The Dover-Foxcroft Police were called to respond to a domestic disturbance at 23 Country Meadow Lane at 6:30 AM. It was determined that two of the people who were at that address were convicted felons, at least one of them had been involved in an incident in the Bangor area earlier that morning, and that there were guns on the premises, in their possession. So the police got a search warrant for the home.

Because both 36-year-old Ryan Mooreside of Shapleigh and 32-year-old Dilan McDougal of Orrington, whom the police were then concerned about, had extensive criminal histories, authorities decided to bring in the State Police Tactical Team to execute the search warrant. But the two men and a female had left the residence before the search started, so the authorities did what they needed to at the address and left.

Just before 5:30 PM, later that same day, authorities were called again, but this time a potential hostage situation was reported at the Irving on West Main Street. They believed it involved the same individuals from before. They cautiously responded to the scene and were able to apprehend McDougal without a problem, but they learned Moorseside was armed and had taken off with the female.

That's when law enforcement officials put a shelter-in-place order into effect for all residents of the Piscataquis County Town, and told everyone to stay vigilant and take care.

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After a long night, things took a turn for the better by Saturday afternoon, police say.

"On July 19th, 2025, Dover-Foxcroft officers coordinated with county, state, and federal law enforcement partners. At approximately 2:30 PM, a tip led authorities to a wooded area between W. Main Street and the Piscataquis River, where Mooreside and the female were found. Mooreside was taken into custody without incident."

Police say that McDougal was charged with drug-related offenses and is being held for violating his probation, for now. And Mooreside is also being held for a probation violation and charged with Criminal Threatening with a Dangerous Weapon, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.

Law enforcement officials suspect that the list of charges may grow, as the investigation is still ongoing.

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They also wanted to thank not only all of the local, state, county, and federal law enforcement partners involved in the search and apprehension of Moorhead, but also the support services of the fire departments and EMT, and the residents for their cooperation, vigilance, and information.