Justice and Accountability Encircle Rumford Fugitive in Westbrook, Maine
For immediate release
Ryan Guay, Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal
PORTLAND, Maine - The United States Marshals Service (USMS) announces the arrest of Blake Lachance, 21, in Westbrook, Maine, on multiple felony state charges, including aggravated assault, aggravated reckless conduct, and criminal mischief. Lachance was arrested on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at a residence where investigators had located him. He is currently awaiting his initial appearance on the state charges.
On October 14, 2026, the Rumford Police Department issued a shelter-in-place advisory in the area of Maine Avenue and Waldo Street in Rumford following an alleged incident involving Lachance, who was reportedly armed. Authorities had also received several reports of shots fired earlier that day. Lachance left the area before investigators could secure the property.
The Rumford Police Department subsequently requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service-led Maine Violent Offender Task Force in locating and apprehending Lachance. Task force investigators worked collaboratively with the U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Task Force, Rumford Police Department, Lewiston Police Department, and Westbrook Police Department. Their investigation developed information indicating that Lachance had fled to a residential neighborhood in Westbrook.
Working in coordination with our law enforcement partners, USMS fugitive investigators requested assistance from the Cumberland County Emergency Services Unit, led by the Cumberland County Sherriff’s Office and the Southern Maine Regional SWAT team, led by the South Portland Police Department.
On October 20, in Westbrook, members of the emergency services units apprehended Lachance after he attempted to flee the residence on foot. A perimeter team subsequently took him into custody without further incident. Lachance was then turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and transported to a local jail, where he remains pending his initial appearance on the state charges.
“Protecting those who live, work, and visit Rumford from violent criminal activity is a responsibility we take very seriously. As a small municipal police department, our strong partnerships with the U.S. Marshals Service Maine Violent Offender Task Force and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force are invaluable in confronting violent offenders, firearms-related crime, and drug trafficking that often extend well beyond our community,” said Rumford Police Chief Tony Milligan. “We live and work among the people we are sworn to protect, and we remain unwavering in our commitment to ensuring that those who threaten the safety of our community are held accountable.”
The U.S. Marshals Service Maine Violent Offender Task Force extends its appreciation to the Cumberland County ESU (Office Emergency Services Unit) and Southern Maine Regional SWAT for their tactical assistance in bringing Lachance into custody safely and without further incident.
“This arrest demonstrates the importance of investigative collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who work seamlessly across jurisdictions to identify, locate, and apprehend violent offenders who pose a direct threat to our communities,” said David St. Pierre, U.S. Marshal for the District of Maine. “Joint fugitive investigations such as this one help ensure that individuals accused of violent crimes are brought before the courts and that potential threats to public safety are addressed.”
The U.S. Marshals Service Maine Violent Offender Task Force comprises personnel from the U.S. Marshals Service, Maine Department of Corrections, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Maine National Guard Counterdrug Task Force.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of a state or federal fugitive is encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals Service at MED.TIPLINE@usdoj.gov.
Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at https://www.usmarshals.gov.
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