The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Massachusetts fugitive in Bristol May 20 after “an intensive manhunt,” according to a press release.
Sheriff Todd Brackett, Lt. Rand Maker and other LCSO officers arrested Ruben Hernandez, 36, of Webster, Mass., at gunpoint at about 2:30 p.m. The officers made the arrest at the intersection of Rt. 130 and Lower Round Pond Road, in the heart of Bristol Mills.
According to the LCSO press release, “no shots were fired and there were no injuries during the arrest.” Although LCSO had received information to the contrary, Hernandez was unarmed at the time of his arrest, Lt. Michael Murphy said.
Massachusetts authorities issued warrants for Hernandez’ arrest after he fled the state, where he is on probation for armed robbery, assault and battery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
LCSO first became aware of Hernandez’s presence in the area after receiving information from the Massachusetts State Police, Murphy said. Maine and Massachusetts authorities followed Hernandez’ movements by monitoring his credit card purchases.
LCSO used surveillance to track Hernandez to a “friend’s home” in the Bristol area. Murphy said Hernandez did not commit any crimes in Maine “that we know of.”
The search for Hernandez led the Bristol Consolidated School to lock down for about 45 minutes. School authorities made the decision to lock down based on information received from LCSO, Murphy said.
Bristol Consolidated School (BCS) Principal Jennifer Ribeiro said the incident marks the first lockdown at the school during her tenure.
The school remained in lockdown for 30 minutes to an hour, Ribeiro said. Typically, staff and students must remain “locked in a classroom out of sight,” she said, although school officials “tailored the situation” as Hernandez never entered the school.
The lockdown went smoothly and according to procedure, Ribeiro said.
The Bristol Fire Dept. and the Maine Warden Service assisted in the search. According to the LCSO press release, “Firefighters assisted with traffic control as sections of Rt. 130 and Fir Hollow Road in Bristol were closed for a brief period.”
Hernandez “was transported to the Two Bridges Regional Jail where he will be held pending a hearing on extradition to Massachusetts,” according to the press release.
(Matthew Stilphen contributed reporting to this article.)
