The US-Canada border in Maine has been closed after the driver claimed he had a bomb in his truck
The US-Canada border in Maine has been closed after a crazed driver failed to stop for police, claiming he had a BOMB before being shot at by officers
- Maine State Police troopers spotted a truck driving on I-95 in Houlton with a sign indicating an explosive device was on board
- The driver, Tony Holford, 42, of Providence, Rhode Island, refused to stop and continued toward the Canadian port of entry
- He was shot at by Maine State trooper Cpl. Eric Paquette, however, was unharmed and surrendered to authorities
The United States-Canada border in Maine has been closed after a driver who claimed to have a bomb in his truck refused to stop for officers and was shot at.
Maine state police said troopers first noticed that a truck traveling on I-95 in Houlton had a sign indicating an explosive device was on board around 10:40 a.m. Monday.
Authorities tried to get the driver, Tony Holford, 42, of Providence, Rhode Island, to stop and get out, but he continued to drive toward the Canadian port of entry.
That’s true, say officials, Cpl. Eric Paquette fired at Holford, who was uninjured and surrendered to state police.
He has been transferred to the Aroostook County Jail and charged with aggravated reckless endangerment, terrorizing and failure to stop. It is unclear if he has a lawyer to speak on his behalf.
Traffic was halted for hours on I-95 at the border crossing into Canada after a man drove a truck claiming he was carrying an explosive device heading to the border
Authorities say Cpl. Eric Paquette fired at the driver, who was not injured and surrendered to authorities. The shooting involving an officer is now under investigation
The Maine Attorney General’s Office and the Maine State Police are now working with Canadian authorities to investigate the officer shooting.
In the meantime, crime scene technicians and Maine State Police Bomb Squad crews continue processing the crime scene.
Officials say the border crossing will remain closed tonight.
Anyone wanting to cross between Maine and Canada should take an alternate route, as photos posted to social media show traffic snarling for hours. Trucks were parked along I-95 as they waited for the intersection to reopen.
The border crossing from Houlton to Woodstock, New Brunswick, is one of the busiest in the country.
State police have said there is no danger to the public, but have not released any information about explosives.