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Police open fire on driver at US-Canada border; truck had 'sign' indicating 'explosive device on- board'
Image source: Maine State Police

Police open fire on driver at US-Canada border; truck had 'sign' indicating 'explosive device on- board'

Police opened fire on a truck driver on Memorial Day as the driver aproached the U.S.-Canadian border with a sign indicating he had an explosive device on board.

The motorist, 42-year-old Tony Holford of Providence, Rhode Island, faces charges of aggravated reckless conduct, a class B crime; terrorizing, a Class D crime, and failure to stop, a class E crime, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit said in a press release.

At 10:39 a.m. Monday, Maine State Police Trooper Denver Roy attempted to stop a vehicle heading north on Interstate 95 in Houlton, Maine. The driver did not stop, instead continuing north.

Trooper Roy "observed a sign indicating that the operator had an explosive device on-board," the MSP wrote. It is not clear what sort of sign was displayed.

When the vehicle eventually stopped between the U.S. and Canadian ports of entry, troopers commanded him to get out of the vehicle.

When the vehicle's operator reportedly maneuvered the truck toward the Canadian port of entry, Corporal Eric Paquette shot at him.

Holford, who was uninjured, surrendered to Main State Police troopers and was taken to the Aroostook County Jail after being medically cleared.

MSP say the scene is contained and there is no ongoing danger to the public.

Authorities in Canada and the United States are collaborating on an investigation into the incident.

The Maine State Police Bomb Squad and crime scene technicians advised motorists to use alternative points of entry as they processed the scene. The Woodstock, New Brunswick, border crossing was reopened Monday night, according to a tweet posted by the Canada Border Services Agency's Atlantic Region.

The Office of the Maine Attorney General and the Maine State Police will work together "in the coming days to continue the investigation and the events that led up to the officer-involved shooting."

Maine State Police Trooper Eric Paquette, a 23-year MSP veteran, was promoted to corporal of the Firearms Training Unit in March. Tr. Paquette "has been working with the State Police Firearms Unit for well into his second decade where he has attended dozens of firearms trainings, armorer school and has a mastery of multiple weapons platforms," according to a Facebook post from the Maine State Police.

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