The search for a New Hampshire man sought by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in connection with a threat reported on social media that forced the University of Maine to cancel a baseball doubleheader continued into the evening hours on Sunday.
A communitywide message issued Sunday night by the UMaine Police Department, in conjunction with the university, said the effort to locate 20-year-old Afshin Zarechian would continue, but “there is no indication that he is in the local area.”
“The University of Maine campus is not in lockdown. Out of an absolute abundance of caution, there are extra police patrols in the area, and community members are reminded to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings. If you see something, please say something,” University of Maine police said in the message posted on the department’s Facebook page, adding that classes will be held on Monday.
Zarechian, who lives in Manchester, New Hampshire, was last seen driving an older model green BMW with New Hampshire license plate number RICCH. Zarechian is described as being 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 150 pounds, with dark hair, dark eyes and a dark complexion. He is not a University of Maine student.
The university and police have declined to describe what the message on social media said and how Zarechian is connected to the threat that led to the cancellation of Sunday’s baseball games between the University of Maine and the University of Hartford. But Margaret Nagle, senior director of public relations for the university, offered a clarification Sunday night.
“The messaging was about him, not (made) by him,” Nagle said in an email responding to a request for more information. Nagle further explained that Zarechian did not post the message on social media, but someone else mentioned him in a social media post as being a threat.
“This is a multiple agency investigation and all the information available has been posted. We’ll provide updates when we can,” Nagle said earlier in the day.
The University of Maine and the University of Hartford baseball teams first delayed and then agreed to cancel their Sunday doubleheader “out of an abundance of caution,” the Black Bears said. The university first notified the public about the threat Saturday night.
Zarechian is acquainted with students at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, but the university’s police chief, Paul Dean, told Seacoastonline there is no threat to the UNH community. According to Zarechian’s Facebook page, he has taken courses at UNH, but there is nothing on his account to indicate he is a full-time student there.
At UNH, “we’ve increased our patrols but there is no threat to the campus or any individual on campus,” Dean said. He told the newspaper that Zarechian appears to know members of the UNH community “and I think that’s got people concerned.”
Anyone with information about Zarechian’s whereabouts is being asked to contact UMaine police at 207-581-4040.
Local, state, federal law enforcement attempting to locate Afshin Zarechian, 20, related to social media threat. No indication he is in area. UMaine not in lockdown. Out of abundance of caution, extra police patrols in the area. As always, be mindful of surroundings. 207-581-4040
— University of Maine (@UMaine) April 18, 2021
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
