“Everyone Went Home Safe” - Mapleton Standoff Ends Peacefully Over Weekend
MAPLETON, Maine (WAGM) - More on that tense situation in Mapleton that ended peacefully over the weekend, thanks to the strategic efforts of the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office and assisting agencies.
Last Sunday, the Sheriff’s Office received a call from a woman in Mapleton reporting that 75-year-old Richard Laplante had forcibly entered her residence while armed, barred her from leaving, and issued threats against law enforcement intervention. Sheriff’s deputies quickly established a perimeter around the home, engaging in a critical negotiation process that lasted hours. Sheriff Peter Johnson commended the cooperation and communication between the participating agencies.
Sheriff Peter Johnson – Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office
“We were assisted by Mapleton Fire, Maine State Police Tactical Team, and the Maine Warden Service. Everyone kind of came together really, really well. Everyone was on the same frequency so communication was done really well and thankfully everything worked out well and everyone went home safe”
The sheriff also addressed the decision not to alert the public during the standoff, noting the tactical considerations involved. Laplante eventually released the woman, and surrendered peacefully following hours of negotiations.
Sheriff Peter Johnson – Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office
“If there was any danger to the community, at that point in time, we would have been out notifying people or reaching out to social media and the local news outlets to inform the public of any needed safety concerns. Sometimes it just boils down to the plain and simple fact that we’re busy dealing with the situation that we have going on. Other times it’s that we don’t want that information to go out just incase the individual that we are dealing with is paying attention to social media, facebook, listening to the radios, things of that nature.”
Johnson says keeping the balance between operational security and public awareness can be difficult, especially when the suspect might be monitoring social or traditional media reports.
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