BRUNSWICK — Two Brunswick men were arrested and charged with robbery and kidnapping Monday night following a frantic 911 call from their alleged victims, who claimed the men were going to kill them.

Scott A. Coombs, 32, of 3 Swett St., and Manesseh C. Massaline, 39, of 3 Heath St., were arrested by Brunswick police on Cumberland Street and charged with robbery, kidnapping and terrorizing. Massaline was also charged with violation of condition of release. 

Police said the two men  were in an apartment on Cumberland Street after allegedly abducting a 23-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man from the Travelers Inn on Pleasant Street. Police said the two alleged victims, both from Florida, fled the apartment after hearing Coombs and Massaline talk about killing them and dumping their bodies. 

Police Cmdr. Marc Hagan said Tuesday that the victims ran to the Hannaford supermarket on Elm Street and used a pay phone to call police. They claimed Coombs and Massaline earlier in the evening had barged into their motel room and assaulted the man from Florida. 

They also told police the two Brunswick men robbed them of a couple hundred dollars and stole prescription drugs. Hagan said some of the pills were Oxycodone. 

Hagan said the victims were allegedly forced into Massaline’s brown Mercury Grand Marquis. After driving around for a brief period, the couple was taken to the apartment on Cumberland Street. 

“The victims heard (Massaline and Coombs) talking about killing them and dumping their bodies,” Hagan said. “There didn’t seem to be much doubt in the victims’ minds they were going to be killed.”

Hagan also said the victims knew their alleged abductors. He said Coombs and Massaline reportedly met the couple at a Florida service station about a week ago. Hagan said police were unsure why the couple decided to come to Brunswick.

After receiving the 911 call, police eventually tracked the Grand Marquis to Cumberland Street. Hagan said Coombs was arrested without incident when he came out of the apartment. 

Police said Massaline attempted to flee via the apartment’s fire escape. Police attempted to subdue him with a Taser, but only one of the device’s electric probes hit him. Hagan said Massaline then scurried up the fire escape and back into the apartment, where he was met by more police officers. 

Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department deputies and Topsham police assisted with the search and arrest. 

Both men are being held at Cumberland County Jail in Portland.

Hagan said that police had previous contact with both Coombs and Massaline. He said Coombs has previously been charged with assault, criminal trespass and refusing to submit to arrest. 

Massaline had an additional warrant from Sagadahoc County for terrorizing, assault and criminal mischief. 

“This was pretty serious,” Hagan said. “When you hear people talk about killing and dumping bodies, you know it’s pretty serious.”

 

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