Law enforcement officials in Maine are actively searching for one or more potentially armed suspects who remain at large following a violent incident involving a Sanford police officer. The incident occurred early Tuesday morning, August 25, 2026, near the intersection of Shaw and Lebanon streets in Sanford. During the attempted traffic stop for a basic traffic light violation, an individual inside a suspect vehicle fired a gun at the officer and the police cruiser while the vehicle was in motion. The officer was not injured, but the cruiser sustained damage. A pursuit ensued, extending into the town of Lebanon, but was eventually called off due to road conditions and the pursuing officer's unfamiliarity with the area. The suspect vehicle was later discovered abandoned on Blanchard Road in the village of Springvale by a York County Sheriff's deputy. Sanford Police Major Mark Dyer confirmed that the vehicle has been secured and investigators are seeking a warrant to examine it for evidence and identification information. Throughout the day, a multi-agency search operation was conducted, involving the Southern Maine Special Response Team, York County Sheriff's Office, and police departments from Berwick, Kennebunk, and Old Orchard Beach. The Maine Forest Service provided air support via helicopter, and K-9 units were deployed to track the suspects through the area's extensive trail network, though no definitive leads have been established. Residents in the surrounding areas, including Blanchard Road, Hanson Ridge, Oak Street, Lebanon Street, Sunset Road, and Smith Road, are urged to remain alert and aware of their surroundings. Police emphasize that the suspects may still be armed and advise residents not to approach or make contact with suspicious individuals but to call 911 immediately. The Sanford Police Department has condemned the act of violence directed at an officer performing their duty and continues to pursue all available leads to identify and apprehend those responsible.