The Portland Police Department assisted with an FBI operation in Portland on Tuesday morning that appeared to involve numerous armed officers on Park Avenue and a possible escape attempt, though law enforcement are providing scant details.
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A Portland resident shared video with Maine’s Total Coverage showing a heavy police presence with multiple vehicles and officers with rifles drawn on Park Avenue in front of the Portland Expo Building and Troubh Ice Arena around 7:00 a.m.
Multiple witnesses told the outlet that they heard what sounded like gunshots.
By 7:30 a.m., local law enforcement, along with the FBI, were parked outside an apartment building at 819 Congress Street while law enforcement entered one side of the building, apparently executing a search warrant.
The Portland police confirmed to the outlet that they were assisting the FBI with an operation.
Maine’s Total Coverage obtained an email communication between Portland Police Chief Mark Dubois and Councilor Wesley Pelletier reportedly claiming that the operation involved the FBI Safe Streets team and the Portland Police SWAT, and that officers attempted to arrest a suspect who fled in a vehicle.
Video provided to the outlet showed a silver sedan appearing to be driving away from police, though it is unclear if it was the suspect.
CBS13, reporting on the same email, added that the FBI was executing a search warrant related to drug and firearm crimes, but the Maine Wire could not independently verify that information.
A reporter from that outlet, Aysia Reed, claimed that she saw smoke nearby where the police action took place.
The Maine Wire reached out to the Portland Police Department requesting more information, but they said that it was an FBI operation, and that we would need to contact the federal agency for any details.
The Maine Wire spoke with the FBI over the phone, who confirmed that they were executing a lawfully procured warrant as part of an ongoing federal investigation, but that they could not provide any additional details.
The Maine Wire asked if more information on the incident would be forthcoming.
“”No, I don’t anticipate any updates today,” they said.
Neither the FBI nor the Portland Police Department confirmed reports of shots fired.
