A man accused of sexual assault was found dead in a residence in Peru, Maine, on Thursday after he allegedly refused to submit to arrest and threatened suicide during an hours-long standoff.
[RELATED: Auburn Man Arrested for Sexually Assaulting a Child…]
Oxford County Sheriff’s Deputies obtained an arrest warrant for an unnamed 46-year-old man from Peru and a search warrant for his residence on Auburn Road following an investigation into sexual assault.
The arrest warrant charged the suspect with gross sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact.
At around 3:30 p.m., the Maine State Police Tactical Team assisted deputies in executing a high-risk search warrant at the suspect’s residence.
The suspect allegedly refused to surrender, sparking hours of failed negotiation attempts. During the standoff, Route 108 was closed for several hours.
Throughout the incident, the suspect was alone in the residence. At one point, he reportedly doused the building with gasoline, threatened to burn down the house, and threatened suicide.
Following hours of negotiation attempts, law enforcement moved in, entering the residence.
They discovered the suspect dead inside the residence.
The Oxford Sheriff’s Department did not name the suspect, though it notified the Attorney General’s office and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
The Department said that they may release the suspect’s name at a later date.
