MECHANIC FALLS — A Lewiston man was charged with a slew of crimes Thursday night after police said the 37-year-old fired shots and ran amok with a gun on Elm Street near a mobile home park on Callahan Circle.
Sean Hutchins Androscoggin County Jail
Sean Hutchins of Lewiston was arrested at 31 True St. by Mechanic Falls police at 8:39 p.m. Charges include reckless conduct, criminal attempted murder, refusing to submit to arrest and two counts of criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon. Additionally, Hutchins was wanted on a warrant out of Auburn charging failure to appear in court and violating conditions of release.
He was being held Friday night at the Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn where bail had been set at $20,000.
Police from Mechanic Falls, Norway and the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office were called out to the Elm Street area at about 6 p.m. Thursday after it was reported that a man had fired a gun in a heavily populated area. Early reports were that Hutchins had intentionally fired at least one round at someone.
Hutchins was last seen running into the woods with a machete in hand, according to witnesses.
Police scoured the area, ultimately finding Hutchins and taking him into custody. Investigators did not find the gun Hutchins was accused of shooting so a Norway police officer went out on Friday with his K-9, Bolo.
The dog first found a machete Hutchins had been carrying, police said. Early Friday evening, Bolo also sniffed out the firearm, which was secured and taken as evidence as Mechanic Falls police continued to investigate.
The brief manhunt and following activity rattled the Elm Street neighborhood.
“It was a hell of a scene around here,” said Clifford Roy, who lives in the area. “There were quite a lot of police officers out there, close to a dozen of them. I made sure my door was locked and that I had something to protect myself with in case someone broke the door down.”
Another woman said she saw several police officers run by her home with pistols and long guns drawn. She, too, locked her door while waiting for word on what was happening.
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