HARPSWELL — The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office placed a nearby school on lockdown June 4 after receiving a report of an unknown man with a rifle behind a residence on Harpswell Island Road.
Deputies responded at 10:07 a.m. to an initial report of a man walking behind a house at 292 Harpswell Island Road with what appeared to be a rifle.
The caller believed the person was a known individual from the area who was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Given the early information, the subject’s history of contacts with law enforcement and the proximity of Harpswell Island school at 308 Harpswell Island Road, deputies requested a lockdown at the school as a precaution.
The investigation revealed the initial location provided by the caller was incorrect and the incident actually occurred at 692 Harpswell Island Road.
Deputies located and spoke with a resident at that address who confirmed he had exited his house with a .22-caliber rifle to defend his chickens from an attack.
The resident committed no crimes and was not prohibited from possessing firearms.
The caller’s identification of the known subject was mistaken, and that individual has been confirmed to be in a secure location elsewhere.
