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Shelter-in-place lifted at MSAD 75 schools after threat; suspect in custody

Interim Superintendent Heidi O'Leary said a man allegedly threatened to find where a student lives and bring a weapon to an elementary school in the district.

TOPSHAM, Maine — All MSAD 75 schools sheltered-in-place Thursday as police responded to a possible threat that was made on social media shortly after 8:30 a.m.

"I am writing to inform you that we were notified by the police department a short time ago of a possible threat made against one of our former students and the person also referenced a threat to a not named elementary school," Interim Superintendent Heidi O'Leary said Thursday in a letter to families. "Law enforcement is actively investigating and responding to this threat."

O'Leary said initial information received by the school district indicated the threat was made by a man from Caribou who had a conflict with a former student. The man threatened to find where the student lives and bring a weapon to an elementary school, according to O'Leary.

"The suspect in this incident had allegedly been making jokes about the recent shooting incident in Lewiston and a Topsham resident reportedly questioned him as to the reason he would do so," the Topsham Police Department said in a news release. "The suspect then allegedly began to message the victim requesting his address and making threats to show up at the local elementary school with his AR-15. The suspect also made threats toward the Topsham resident that placed them in fear for their own personal safety."

"No schools or students were identified by name," O'Leary said.

MSAD 75 is comprised of Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Harpswell, and Topsham. 

"I was informed by the Topsham Police Chief that the police in that town are working to arrest this man," O'Leary explained. "I want to stress that there is no indication of any immediate danger to students and staff, but we are taking precautionary safety measures."

Shortly before 1 p.m., O'Leary issued an update stating that "the man in question is now in custody," the shelter-in-place has been lifted, and all activities can continue as scheduled.

Topsham police said they contacted the Sagadahoc District Attorney's Office and a temporary arrest warrant was granted for 36-year-old Adam Green, of Fort Fairfield, originally believed to reside in Caribou.

The arrest warrant charged Green with two counts of terrorizing and one count of harassment by telephone or another electronic device, according to police. He was taken into custody and school officials were notified that the threat had been addressed.

Thursday's threat comes as the community is already rattled. The man who shot and killed 18 people at a bowling alley and bar in Lewiston last week lived in Bowdoin and was a former student in the district.

Eighteen people total were killed in shootings at two different Lewiston locations about 4 miles apart from each other last Wednesday evening. Seven people were killed at the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley, formerly Sparetime Recreation, eight were killed at Schemengees Bar and Grille Restaurant, and three died at a nearby hospital.

The investigation into this incident remains ongoing. No court date or bail amount for Green has been set yet.

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