Matthew Plummer
A Wiscasset man was arrested after a nearly eight-hour standoff that forced the evacuation of a four-unit apartment building near Route 1 early Saturday, Dec. 15.
Matthew Plummer, 35, allegedly assaulted and threatened a woman at his apartment, refused to leave until the Maine State Police Tactical Team used a “chemical agent” to force him out, then resisted arrest outside, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
Plummer faces three felony charges: one each of class B aggravated assault, class B criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, and class C domestic violence terrorizing, according to court documents.
Deputies responded to the building at 3 Heritage Lane at about 12:36 a.m. Saturday for a report of an “unwanted subject,” according to a press release from the sheriff’s office. Heritage Lane is off Page Avenue, which branches off Route 1 near the Sea Basket.
At the building, deputies spoke with a woman who told them she had fled Plummer’s apartment after she had been strangled and threatened with a knife. The deputies attempted to speak with Plummer, but he would not leave his apartment.
Based on Plummer’s criminal history and past violent involvement with law enforcement, a decision was made to evacuate the building and request the assistance of the Maine State Police Crisis Negotiation Team and Tactical Team. Deputies secured the perimeter of the building until relieved by the Tactical Team.
While waiting for State Police, a Lincoln County detective applied for and eventually obtained a search warrant for Plummer’s apartment that specifically listed Plummer and the knife involved in the threat.
Once on scene, the State Police assumed control of the perimeter and the negotiations. Contact with Plummer was made by phone and loudspeaker. Negotiations continued for several hours, but proved unsuccessful.
While talking with negotiators, Plummer allegedly threatened to set his apartment on fire, according to LCSO Chief Deputy Rand Maker. The Wiscasset Fire Department was dispatched and staged nearby, but Plummer did not follow through with the threat.
Plummer left his apartment at about 8:27 a.m. after the deployment of a chemical agent inside the apartment. Once outside, he allegedly continued to resist arrest, but was taken into custody, according to the press release.
The Wiscasset Ambulance Service treated Plummer for a dog bite from a State Police K-9 and took him to LincolnHealth’s Miles Campus in Damariscotta for additional care. A sheriff’s deputy accompanied Plummer in the ambulance.
After being medically cleared, Plummer was taken to Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset. As of Tuesday, Dec. 18, he remains at the jail with bail set at $10,000 cash.
In addition to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Maine State Police, and Wiscasset Ambulance, the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office, Wiscasset Fire Department, and Wiscasset Police Department responded to the scene.
