AUGUSTA, Maine — The search for an Augusta man considered to be armed and dangerous has ended as police confirmed Tuesday that he was found dead in the Kennebec River.
The search began Friday afternoon, when police said they responded around 1 p.m. to a report of domestic violence between and man and his parents on Riverside Drive.
The man, identified as 40-year-old Justin Larrabee, reportedly showed a firearm and made threats against his family, but he fled the home before police arrived, the Augusta Police Department said in a news release.
The city announced shortly before 8:30 p.m. Friday that Riverside Drive was closed from Route 3 to Stevens Road, and people were urged to avoid the area until further notice.
City officials also issued a concentrated shelter-in-place order Friday night for the 600 block of Riverside Drive, believing Larabee should be considered armed and dangerous, during the start of the search.
"He should be considered armed and dangerous, and the public should not approach him nor attempt to detain him," police said. "If you see him, call the police immediately."
Shortly after 11:30 a.m. Saturday, police issued an update stating the shelter-in-place had been lifted and Riverside Drive was back open.
Police said Larrabee's vehicle was found Saturday morning, but he was still at large, and the search and public safety alert carried into the beginning of the week.
Then on Tuesday, Augusta police said they received a tip shortly before noon about a body spotted in the Kennebec River near the base of the Cushnoc Crossing Bridge, which carries Route 3 over the river.
Officials said they were able to recover the body and positively identify him as Larrabee.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends," police said Tuesday in the news release update.
Larrabee previously was arrested and charged for defacing the Maine Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial last year, police confirmed.