A 34-year-old man is under mental health evaluation after police say he emerged from woods at a jobsite in Sweden naked with a rifle Monday afternoon.
The Oxford County Sheriff’s Office says the man was covered in mud and debris about 2:45 p.m. when he emerged from the woods at a jobsite off Knights Hill Road.
Deputies say the man, who has not been identified, told contractors at the site that his friend was shot and needed help before disappearing back into the woods.
Deputies say several agencies spent almost five hours searching for the man while Knights Hill Road was closed down and neighbors in the area were asked to shelter in place.
They say they finally found the man at around 7:30 p.m. in a nearby home and took him into protective custody. Deputies say he was treated at the scene for minor injuries to his feet and taken to Bridgton Hospital for a mental health evaluation.
Deputies say they did not find any credible information that anyone else was involved or injured in the woods.
Officers say they seized a high-powered pellet rifle at the home.
They say an investigation is ongoing, but no criminal charges are pending at this time.
