Police surround an area in Portage Lake

1 week ago

This story will be updated. 

Many law enforcement officials gathered at a motel and restaurant in Portage Lake early Monday afternoon as they responded to an incident nearby. 

Police were staging operations at Dean’s Motor Lodge, which is at 2075 Portage Road, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss said.

No official information was immediately available about the nature of the incident. About a dozen law enforcement vehicles, including from Maine State Police, local police and Border Patrol, were at the scene. Some of the officers at the scene were carrying long rifles and wearing tactical gear and backpacks.

Police asked passersby to keep their distance. In a press release, Maine State Police asked members of the public to avoid the area.

According to state police spokesperson Shannon Moss, the agency was “assisting the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office with an ongoing incident on Ranger Street in Portage Lake.” 

Law enforcement vehicles and personnel from the Maine State Police, Border Patrol and Ashland Police surround the area around Dean’s Motor Lodge in Portage Monday. Maine State Police asked people to avoid the site. (Paula Brewer, The County)

A Portage Lake Fire Department truck and  a police car blocked off the entrance to West Cottage Road near Main Street. Two Ashland Ambulances waited nearby. 

Law enforcement and emergency personnel at the scene said they could not comment on the ongoing situation. 

The situation has been unfolding all day, according to Tracy Wadsworth, an employee at Coffin’s General Store across the street.

At one point, she saw first responders, accompanied by police officers, carry an unidentified man to the main road and load him into a waiting ambulance, she said.

Correction: An earlier version of this story said police surrounded the motor lodge. In fact, they staged operations there.