AUBURN — A 20-year-old Lewiston man was arrested late Tuesday and charged with falsely reporting a suicidal man had jumped off the Lown Peace Bridge into the Androscoggin River.
Gage A. Nolin of 5 Sheldon Place was charged with reckless conduct and making a false public report.
Police and fire crews were sent to the bridge at about 11 p.m. after receiving the report. They found Nolin’s black Mini Cooper with what appeared to be a suicide note on the front seat. Police said they also found a pair of sneakers near the railing. Police blocked off both sides of the bridge to traffic as they prepared to search the river.
A rescue boat was launched along Lincoln Street in Lewiston shortly after the call came. Searchers scanned both sides of the river into the early hours Wednesday.
Police ultimately were able to determine that the call was a hoax and the search was ended.
According to a police report, investigators found Nolin after a relative called police to report that he was inside a store on Hampshire Street in Auburn, near the home of a woman with whom he is said to be infatuated.
Police took Nolin to St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston for evaluation and then to the county jail in Auburn.
“Nolin placed the Auburn fire personnel on the rescue boat in grave danger,” according to a police affidavit by Officer James P. Phillips. “He was charged accordingly with reckless conduct. Due to Nolin staging a suicide and causing the abuse of the large number of emergency resources in both Lewiston and Auburn, he was charged with false public alarm.”
Police said the rescue teams faced perilous conditions, including low light and strong currents.
“The Androscoggin River at this time is swift-moving and water levels are high due to rain and spring runoff,” Phillips wrote. “The river is very dangerous to navigate during the daylight hours, let alone the night hours with low light conditions putting the crew in grave danger.”
Nolin remained at the Androscoggin County Jail on Wednesday night.
Gage Nolin (Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department)
A Lewiston police cruiser is seen blocking the Bernard Lown Peace Bridge on Cedar St. in Lewiston on Tuesday night. (Sun Journal)
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