WASHBURN, Maine — A former Washburn police sergeant accused of falsifying records in the case of a missing man has waived his right to an arraignment and instead entered a written plea of not guilty.
Chandler Cole was arrested in March for allegedly falsifying records in the case of Erik Foote, who was missing for three months until his body was found near the Aroostook River in Caribou on April 23. In August, the state medical examiner’s office declared Foote’s cause of death “undetermined,” prompting his parents, Allan and Brenda Foote, to request that the new state medical examiner review the autopsy.
Cole was allegedly the last person to see Foote, 39, on Jan. 30, according to court records. After Foote’s parents questioned the officer’s conduct, the case galvanized the small town of 1,500 people, many of whom joined searches for Foote.
Sheriff deputies arrested Cole on March 29 and charged him with aggravated forgery, tampering with public records or information, falsifying physical evidence and unsworn falsification, according to court records.
Cole allegedly first reported that he took Foote to a Presque Isle convenience store on Jan. 30 but later changed the police records to say that he took Foote to a hospital. He also told Allan Foote that he had taken Erik Foote to the hospital, according to court documents.
Cole was originally scheduled to appear at Presque Isle District Court for arraignment in May, but his attorney, Alan Harding, filed a waiver of initial appearance. A new arraignment was scheduled for Wednesday, but Harding filed a new waiver and a plea of not guilty on Cole’s behalf.
A paragraph signed by Cole indicated that his attorney informed him of the charges and his rights, and that he was knowingly entering a not guilty plea and waiving his right to appear in court.
Cole also agreed to continue on bail and abide by all associated conditions, which includes a 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew and not having any contact with the Foote family.
Cole is next scheduled to appear for a private conference with Harding and a representative of the Aroostook County district attorney’s office on Oct. 18, according to court records.
