Incident in Ashburnham 10-14-26 – FULL REPORT
The Ashburnham Police Department issued 2 Press Releases, one from the Department, CLICK HERE, and a thank you from Chief Conrad, CLICK HERE.
Ashburnham Police Operation and Suspect Apprehension: On the morning of October 14, 2026, the Ashburnham Police Department, in coordination with multiple regional and state public safety partners, responded to a disturbance at the All Town Convenience Store in South Ashburnham. Upon police arrival, the suspect fled into a nearby wooded area, initiating an extensive multi-agency search operation utilizing advanced tracking assets, aerial drones, and state police aircraft.
The operation resulted in the successful apprehension of the suspect, identified as Jacob Comeau-Karlon, age 35, of Ashburnham. Criminal charges are being filed through the Gardner District Court. As a precautionary measure during search and extraction operations, three local schools briefly kept students and staff indoors. The Ashburnham Police Department confirmed that at no time was there a direct threat to any school campus.
Incident Overview and Timeline
- Date: October 14, 2026
- Initial Incident: Reported disturbance at the All Town Convenience Store in South Ashburnham.
- Initial Action: Upon the arrival of law enforcement, an individual fled the scene into a contiguous wooded area.
- Operation: A multi-agency search and tracking operation was immediately deployed to locate and extract the individual safely.
- Resolution: The individual was successfully apprehended in the woods, with extraction operations centered near the rear parking lot of Oakmont Regional High School.
Law Enforcement Response and Resource Deployment: The operation required rapid coordination among local municipal departments and state law enforcement agencies. Participating Agencies and Partners included Ashburnham Police Department (Lead agency), Westminster Police Department, Winchendon Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, Cushing Academy (Acknowledged public safety partner), and the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District
Deployed Specialized Assets included: K-9 Tracking Teams: Local Ashburnham and regional K-9 units.Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS): Drones deployed for aerial search coverage. Massachusetts State Police Air Wing: Helicopters providing high-altitude tracking and search support.
School Campus Safety and Operational Impact: Out of an abundance of caution, specific public safety measures were implemented for nearby educational facilities while search operations were conducted in adjacent wooded areas: Safety Measures implemented included those at John R. Briggs Elementary School directed to remain inside building for a brief period, those at Oakmont Regional High School directed to remain inside building while the rear parking lot was use temporarily for staging and extraction, and those at Overlook Middle School were directed to remain inside building for a brief period. There was no direct threat to those inside the schools.
Official Statements and Contact Information: Police Chief Chris W. Conrad stated: “Their communication, coordination, and professionalism were critical to achieving a safe and successful resolution.” “This incident highlights the strength of regional partnerships and the rapid coordinated response capabilities of our local and state public safety agencies. We appreciate the cooperation and patience of the school district, students, staff, parents, and community members during today’s operation.”
Department Contact Information
- Department Address: Ashburnham Police Department, 99 Central Street, Ashburnham, MA 01430
- Main Telephone: (978) 827-4110
- Fax: (978) 827-5703
- Website: www.ashburnhampd.org
- Media Line: (978) 827-4413
- Designated Media Contacts: Chief Chris W. Conrad, Lt. John Boucher
