Police respond to reports of gunfire in Waterville, block multiple streets - Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel

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WATERVILLE — Police from several departments responded Tuesday afternoon to reports of gunfire in an area along College Avenue, between Hazelwood Avenue and Highwood Street, in Waterville.

As part of their response, officers cordoned off a large area near a vacant house on College Avenue, where gunshots had reportedly been heard. Officers also warned people to avoid the area.

At about 9 p.m., police began using a loudspeaker to communicate with a person who was barricaded inside the vacant house near 150 College Ave.

Negotiators from the Maine State Police encouraged the person to come out of the house, saying they wanted to make sure no one had been injured by any gunfire earlier in the day.

Many officers responded to 911 calls at about 4:15 p.m. that reported a shooter at 50 College Ave., according to Chief Joseph Massey of the Waterville Police Department. When police arrived, they found no one.

Police extended their search to near 150 College Ave., where gunshots were heard coming from the vacant house.

Police said they did not know why shots might have been fired. They also knew of no injuries that resulted from any gunfire, according to Massey.

The large police presence Tuesday afternoon included officers from Waterville, Winslow, Fairfield, Clinton, Oakland and the State Police. An agent with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, who happened to be in the area, also stopped to offer assistance.

Clinton officers were directing traffic away from Hazelwood Avenue and onto Greenwood Avenue.

Three ambulances were seen on College Avenue, between the Hazelwood Avenue intersection and Dairy Queen.

Just before 6 p.m., a van carrying State Police negotiators was seen heading toward officers who had gathered on Hazelwood Avenue. The van parked in front of American Glass Co. at 153 College Ave.

Officials at Mount Saint Joseph Residence & Rehabilitation at 7 Highwood St. reported the facility had been placed on lockdown.

And at about 6:15 p.m., residents from the Home Place Inn at 150 College Ave. were being removed from the facility.

Police remained at the scene late Tuesday.

This story will be updated.

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