Bike, socks near Orono river trigger search

ORONO – A bicycle leaning against a bridge railing and socks and sneakers on the riverbank prompted Orono public safety officials to launch a search of the Stillwater River early Friday morning, fearing someone could have jumped into the river.

After an extensive search of the river and nearby islands by many agencies, Orono Fire Department Capt. David Martin said: “We are comfortable, after the search, that there’s no one in the river.

“We were paged at 5:18 a.m. by police, after the bike was found,” Martin said.

The socks and sneakers found along the Stillwater were not believed to be connected to the bicycle because they had sand splattered on them, and were assumed to have been there since the last time it rained.

“Working on the theory that it’s better to have the agencies there and send them home than not have them and need them,” Martin said, officials decided to start a search.

Fire departments from Orono and Old Town came to the scene, as did the Orono Police Department, Down East Emergency Medicine Institute, the Warden Service, Dirigo Search and Rescue and the Penobscot County Dive Team.

The owner of the bike, a child, was found at school, and explained that he had left the bike, with a flat tire, in front of the Orono Pharmacy.

“We believe a patron leaving from a bar took the bike to the bridge and left it,” Martin said.

“While you never say 100 percent that there isn’t anybody in the river, we think we did everything reasonable to do. A good combination of resources gave us a very effective search,” Martin said.