A man accused of assaulting two University of Maine students, Noah Lachapelle-Quinn, was taken into custody following a police search that prompted some concern among students on campus. A system-wide alert sent on Oct. 25 advised students to be on the lookout for Lachapelle-Quinn, who was apprehended the next day. The aggravated assault took place during an off–campus party in Orono, prompting a swift response from local law enforcement.
Oftentimes the University-wide alerts students receive through the UMaine text alert system are informative but of no immediate concern. Two prior notifications regarded a UMaine emergency communications test and a heads-up about a Blackhawk helicopter landing on campus for a Maine Army National Guard recruitment event.
However, the system wide alert on Oct. 25 regarding the search for Lachapelle-Quinn piqued many students’ interest and concern after reports that an aggravated assault occurred between the suspect and two UMaine students. The first system–wide alert issued to students read as follows.
“UMaine Alert: Orono Police searching for aggravated assault suspect Noah Lachapelle-Quinn, white male 5 ‘8 [and] 225 lbs. Brown hair, blue eyes. If you have tips or leads on location please contact Orono PD,” read the Police alert. Police did not share his specific age or relationship to the assault victims in the alert or subsequent press releases.
Then, roughly 17 hours later, students received a second system wide alert concerning the situation.
“UMaine Alert canceled: Aggravated assault suspect Noah Lachapelle-Quinn has been taken into custody,” read the follow-up alert on Oct. 26.
On Oct. 25, the University of Maine Police Department (UMPD) released a press release about the incident which shared that Lachapelle-Quinn is not a resident of Orono or a UMaine student, but “he is known to frequent student gatherings in Orono” and “has a history of assaulting others.”
The release concluded with information that an official warrant for aggravated assault was issued.
Local media outlets began reporting on the incident, with at least six Maine news organizations covering the search for and eventual capture of Lachapelle-Quinn.
The Maine Campus spoke with Lieutenant Noel Santiago of the UMPD on Oct. 30 for the latest information regarding Lachappelle-Quinn’s arrest.
“[The incident] was during a party that they call the ‘hockey house.’ … That altercation took place, and those two students got hurt and got medical attention. And Orono PD put out a temporary warrant, and then applied for a permanent warrant,” said Lt. Santiago.
Santiago was asked why the alert was canceled.
“Once the permanent warrant came out, he came in and he gave himself up. We didn’t have to look for him after that,” said Santiago.
Although the incident took place off-campus, UMPD was able to make contact with the two affected UMaine students and ensure their safety.
“Everything happened off campus, so it takes this out of our jurisdiction… We spoke with our students to make sure they were back on campus and okay,” said Lt. Santiago.
When asked whether Lachapelle-Quinn was still in custody and what disciplinary measures within the UMPD’s power that could be taken, Lt. Santiago indicated that he believes Lachapelle-Quinn had been released after several days in confinement, and will be banned from campus and contact with affected students.
“I don’t think he’s confined anymore. I mean they offered him bail. He was in custody for a couple days. He’s going to have all the provisions — he can’t be on campus, he’s been trespassed, no contact with the students. All of those kinds of conditions,” said Lt. Santiago.
At this point, the two UMaine students who were assaulted can file a protection from abuse (PFA) restraining order, but as Santiago notes, “that’s going to be totally up to them.” A PFA would ensure the two UMaine students have legal protection against further communications from Lachapelle-Quinn.
UMaine students with concerns or further information regarding this case can contact the Orono Police Department at (207) 866-4000. Students can also report information directly to the UMPD or through Campus Eyes.
UMPD correction, submitted on Nov. 14 by Chief of Police William J. Flagg:
“The University of Maine Police Department would like to correct an earlier story published last week in the Maine Campus. An article indicating that Noah Lachapelle-Quinn, arrested on October 25, 2024, for assaulting two UMaine students in Orono, may have been released on bail. Upon further research, Lachapelle-Quinn remains in custody without bail and has been transferred to another correctional facility. The University of Maine Police Department apologizes for this oversight.”
