HOULTON, Maine — All lanes at the border crossing between Houlton, Maine and Woodstock, New Brunswick have reopened to traffic after what Canadian border officials called an "active law enforcement operation."
Shortly after 10:30 a.m. Monday, a Maine state trooper tried to stop a vehicle on I-95 in Houlton driving northbound, a release from the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit said.
The vehicle reportedly failed to stop and continued driving northbound, according to Maine troopers. The trooper "observed a sign indicating that the operator had an explosive device onboard," the release said.
According to Maine State Police, the vehicle continued driving and then stopped between the U.S. and Canadian port of entry in Houlton when troopers commanded the driver to exit the vehicle. Failing to do so, the driver maneuvered the truck toward the Canadian port of entry and a trooper shot at him.
The driver, identified as 42-year-old Tony Holford, of Providence, Rhode Island, did not sustain injuries and surrendered to troopers, troopers said.
After Holford was medically cleared, he was taken to Aroostook County Jail and charged with aggravated reckless conduct (Class B), terrorizing (Class D), and failure to stop (Class E).
On Wednesday, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss said in a release that investigators were able to confirm Holford did not have explosives in his vehicle.
Maine state troopers contained the scene and there was no ongoing danger to the public.
The Bloomfield, New Brunswick port of entry was also temporarily closed to traffic so that officers could assist with the Woodstock operation, the Canada Border Services Agency said in a release.
"The Office of the Maine Attorney General and the Maine State Police are collaborating with Canadian authorities to investigate the incident," Maine state troopers said. "Crime scene technicians and the Maine State Police Bomb Squad continue to process the scene and are expected to be at the scene through the night. Motorists should avoid the area and look to use an alternate port of entry if necessary."
Holford is set to make an initial court appearance at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Moss said.
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