75 Year Old Charged with Sunday Standoff in Mapleton

MAPLETON, Maine (WAGM) - A peaceful ending to a standoff in Mapleton. According to the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, who responded Sunday, no one was hurt in the incident.

According the Sheriff’s Office, they received a 911 call from a woman in Mapleton who stated that 75-year-old Richard Laplante of Mapleton had entered her residence while armed, would not let her leave, and threatened to shoot law enforcement if they approached the residence. The sheriff’s office says Laplante was prohibited from entering her residence due to active bail conditions, and he allegedly had other conditions that prevented him from being in contact with the woman.

Deputies were able to establish a perimeter and spoke to Laplante on the phone - they were able to convince him to release the woman, and after hours of negations with assistance from the Maine State Police, the sheriff’s office says Laplante cooperated and exited the residence as well.

Laplante is being held in the Aroostook County Jail pending his arraignment on Tuesday, April 16th.

He is being charged with violation of conditions of release, domestic violence criminal threatening, reckless conduct with a firearm and creating a police standoff.

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