RUMFORD — River Valley police are seeking help in finding a Rumford man suspected of slashing a kidnapped victim’s face with a knife during a robbery Monday night, Rumford police Chief Stacy Carter said Tuesday.

Carter urged people to contact police at 364-4551 if they spot Randall Chapman, 37, who was identified as the assailant.

“Mr. Chapman should not be approached and is considered to be armed and dangerous,” Carter said.

At 10:01 p.m. Monday, Rumford officers were asked to help Mexico police in pursuit of a man fleeing toward the Androscoggin River near the Veterans Memorial Bridge on Route 2, Carter said.

Sgt. James Bernard responded and learned that a 44-year-old man had been assaulted and held against his will at knife point, he said.

Officers from Rumford, Mexico and Dixfield police departments, along with Oxford County deputies and a Maine State Police trooper, converged on the area.

Bernard said the victim had come to Rumford to meet a friend and while in town had been assaulted, robbed of his cash and forced by the assailant to go to an ATM and withdraw money.

While en route to an ATM, the victim saw two police cruisers parked near the Labonville store in Mexico, Carter said.

“The victim pulled into the lot beeping his horn and yelling for help,” he said. “At this time, the assailant slashed the victim’s face and fled toward the river.”

Police conducted an extensive search of the riverbank but did not find the suspect.

Bernard said Tuesday evening that police have yet to locate Chapman, but are continuing their search throughout the River Valley area.

Bernard said police aren’t sure if Chapman entered the Androscoggin River when he fled. He said police didn’t have any search dogs with them at the time, but did use thermal imaging cameras to no avail.

If Chapman did enter the river, Bernard said, “He may have gotten into trouble.” The river has been running higher since Friday night because of heavy rains and upriver dam releases, so the current is very strong, he said.

Bernard said Chapman used to live in South Paris and Lewiston. Bernard and Rumford Cpl. Donald Miller are the primary investigators on the case.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com