Maine Police Officer Charged with Falsification in Missing-Person Case
WASHBURN, Maine – In a shocking turn of events, a former Washburn police sergeant, Chandler Cole, has been charged with multiple crimes, including falsifying a report and tampering with public records, following his alleged involvement in a missing-person case. Cole, who resigned after the charges were filed, now faces legal consequences for his actions, the court records reveal.
Reported Lied and Falsified Evidence
The charges against Cole, including aggravated forgery, tampering with public records or information, falsifying physical evidence, and unsworn falsification, were brought to light by the local news outlet, WAGM-TV. These charges stem from the peculiar circumstances surrounding the case of a missing person noticed in distress walking along a road on March 30.
Initially, Cole reported that he had picked up the missing person, Erik Foote, and dropped him off at a nearby convenience store. However, contradictory to this statement, Cole had previously informed Foote’s parents that he had taken him to the hospital. An investigation revealed that Cole had tampered with his report, falsely reflecting a hospital drop-off that lacked any evidence or hospital record to substantiate the claim.
Community in Distress
The missing person, Erik Foote, remains unaccounted for, with the community of Washburn, a close-knit population of 1,500, anxiously awaiting any updates on his whereabouts. Despite the ongoing investigation and efforts from law enforcement, Foote’s disappearance has captivated the community’s attention, leading them to organize yet another search party scheduled for the upcoming weekend.
As the search for answers continues, the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office has taken over the investigation into the case. Adjoining the search for Foote, the town of Washburn faces the pressing decision of whether to maintain its own police department as the former police chief recently retired on January 31, followed by Cole’s resignation in February. Presently, a newly hired officer has chosen alternate employment, leaving Washburn temporarily without police coverage. The vacuum is being filled by the Sheriff’s Office pending a resolution.
In a brief response, Cole refused to comment on the charges when approached by The Associated Press, leaving the community and legal proceedings eagerly anticipating further developments in this distressing missing-person case.
