Manhunt under way for armed man wanted on theft, criminal threatening charges

Christopher L. Thomas

ROCHESTER - Rochester Police are currently on a manhunt to find a wanted man alleged to have been carrying a rifle in the rear parking lot of Walmart before disappearing into the woods.

Rochester Police Chief Paul Toussaint is urging residents to avoid that area of Route 11, where two SWAT teams have been deployed to help in the search.

Christopher L. Thomas, 27, a transient, has seven arrest warrants out against him, including three warrants for criminal threatening and four for theft, police said.

Thomas is still likely in the area behind Walmart and Market Basket somewhere in the woods along The Ridge development, police said.

Walmart, Market Basket and surrounding businesses were evacuated.

Police confirmed that no shots had been fired and no injuries had been reported.

Just before 5 p.m., the Seacoast CERT SWAT team, along with the Stafford County SWAT team, responded to the scene to assist Rochester Police.

Thomas is described as a white male in his 20s with a beard, about 5-feet-8 inches tall, and 160 pounds.

The exact time the incident unfolded was not immediately available. This story will be updated as we learn new information.