A plain-clothes Rumford Police Detective, April 16, observed a known fugitive entering a vehicle on Andover Road in Rumford Center.
41-year-old Jesse Robert Farrington, of Rumford, had been actively evading law enforcement since the summer of 2024.
From the Rumford Police Department:
Farrington had previously fled from a Maine State Police Trooper during an attempted arrest at the Community Quik Stop on Route 2 in Rumford. That incident stemmed from a traffic stop where Farrington was found to be violating the terms of his probation. During that encounter, Farrington reportedly assaulted the Trooper before fleeing the scene and ultimately eluding the police. Knowing Farrington’s extensive multi-state history of violence, status as a convicted felon and resistance toward law enforcement, the Detective requested assistance from uniformed Rumford Police patrol officers. Two patrol units responded and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle Farrington was traveling in near McDonald’s on U.S. Route 2.
As officers attempted to take Farrington into custody, he immediately resisted arrest, using physical force and refusing to comply with commands. After multiple verbal warnings and continued resistance, officers deployed a Taser, which successfully subdued Farrington. He was taken into custody without further incident.
Also on April 16, in an unrelated matter, Rumford Police arrested 35-year-old Matthew J. Meade, of Farmington, following a 30-minute standoff at 877 Whittier Road in Farmington.
Rumford Police had obtained an arrest warrant for Meade on a charge of domestic violence terrorizing, elevated due to a prior domestic violence conviction, stemming from a recent incident that occurred in Rumford.
From the Rumford Police Department:
In addition, Rumford Police secured a search warrant to seize a cell phone from Meade’s residence believed to contain critical evidence related to the case. When officers from Rumford and Farmington Police Departments arrived to serve the warrants, Meade barricaded himself inside the home and refused to come out. Additional resources were called in to assist, including deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and multiple K9 teams— including Rumford Police K9, who was in Farmington for monthly training. Police established a perimeter while Rumford Police engaged Meade in phone negotiations. After nearly 30 minutes of dialogue, Meade agreed to surrender peacefully. He was taken into custody without injury or further incident and was transported to the Oxford County Jail in South Paris, where he is being held on $25,000 cash bail.
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