Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
BOMB THREAT — A Houlton police officer redirects traffic on North Street Wednesday evening after police received a bomb threat from a passenger on a Cyr Bus (far right) parked at the Irving Big Stop.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — A bomb threat situation at the Houlton Irving Big Stop on U.S. Route 1 ended peacefully in the early morning hours Thursday.
Daniel Thomas Maccabee, 50, of Madison, Wisc. was taken into custody without incident around 4:30 a.m. after a nearly nine-hour standoff with state and local police at the truck stop. No injuries were reported.
Maccabee appeared in a Caribou courtroom Friday via a video conference from the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton. He faces four counts of terrorizing and three misdeameanor assault charges stemming from the incident.
Maccabee was a passenger on a Cyr Bus that was traveling from Bangor and carrying seven passengers, according to Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin. Maccabee allegedly told the driver he wanted to go to the Canadian border and to not stop in Houlton because he had a bomb.
Warrants for Maccabee’s arrest on charges of assault, aggravated reckless conduct and terrorizing were drawn. As the state police tactical team was preparing to extricate Maccabee from the bus with gas, he gave himself up.
“The arrest at that point was made without incident,” Asselin said.
Maccabee was transported to the Houlton Police Department. Members of the bomb squad searched the bus for explosive devices but found none. The device which Maccabee was holding that resembled a detonator turned out to be a Nintendo Wii controller, intercom wire, duct tape and a spiral bound notebook.
“Maccabee displayed no drug or alcohol use,” Asselin said. “He stated that he was detained by three FBI agents as he stepped off a bus in Washington D.C. and detained in a hotel room. Maccabee wanted asylum in Canada. Maccabee also stated that he had some bomb-building experience and was previously employed by the Israeli secret police.”
Daniel Thomas Maccabee The driver of the bus, Archie Rivers of Old Town, ignored Maccabee’s request and proceeded to the truck stop as scheduled. Police were called to the scene at about 8:46 p.m. after receiving a call from the U.S. Border Patrol. Border Patrol agents routinely inspect all travel buses stopping in Houlton as part of their customs duties. The agents reported there was an individual on the bus making a bomb threat.
The truck stop was evacuated and Houlton police set up a road block to divert north-bound traffic to the Ludlow Road, on to the McSheffrey Road, on to the B Road and back onto U.S. Route 1.
News of the situation spread quickly through the Shiretown, due mostly to reports on the social networking Internet site, Facebook.
Houlton police, along with the Maine State Police, including tactical units from Waterville; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Border Patrol; the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department arrived on scene to secure a perimeter or assist with traffic control.
Members of the Houlton Fire and Ambulance Department were also on the scene in the event that their services were needed.
Sgt. Frederick Parker was the first supervisor to arrive on scene. Sgt. Parker met with a U.S. Border Patrol agent who informed him that a male subject on the bus had what appeared to be a detonator that had three wires connected to it. The wire went from the detonator to a bulge under his jacket and shirt.
The suspect first identified himself as Ruben Cullins, age 31, of Bronx N.Y. It was later learned that Cullins actual name was Daniel Thomas Maccabee, who was born in Quebec Canada and a Canadian citizen. His last known address was in Wisconsin.
Three female passengers were assaulted on the bus by Maccabee at the truck stop prior to them exiting, the chief said.
“Maccabee informed one woman to get to the middle of the bus,” Asselin said. “When she didn’t, he punched her in the arm and asked her if she wanted to die.”
Maccabee kicked another female in the leg, displayed the detonator and informed her he wanted her seat. Maccabee grabbed the third female by the hair and pushed her off the bus. He positioned himself in the second seat from the front end of the bus on the passenger side. The bus was parked between the Irving gas sign and the fuel pumps.
Asselin said Sgt. Parker attempted to establish a rapport with Maccabee, who displayed the detonator to him. Maccabee stated the detonator was what is known as a “deadman’s (pressure) switch.”
Sgt. Parker spoke with Maccabee from the door of the bus and an attempt was made to provide Maccabee with a cellular phone for communication, but he refused it indicating that he didn’t trust the device, police said.
The primary entrance of the Irving Truck Stop was secured and the individuals inside were instructed to go to the rear of the store. A Border Patrol agent provided Sgt. Parker with a list of Maccabee’s five demands.
• Clear everybody out of the place [Big Stop].
• Lock all exterior doors except for the front door.
• Unlock all interior doors and leave them open.
• Do not shut off utilities, including phone, fax and Internet.
• Maccabee indicated that he wanted to go to Murray’s Truckstop at 198 Beardsley Road, in Woodstock, N.B. until he could make arrangements to get to the Israeli consulate.
He never exited the bus during the standoff until giving himself up.
Asselin said law enforcement present had weapons drawn and were prepared to use deadly force had Maccabee not obeyed Sgt. Parker’s initial commands to remain seated in the bus and not attempt to leave. Upon Chief Asselin’s arrival, a request was made for the State Police Tactical Team. Control of the scene was transferred to the tactical team at approximately 10:30 p.m.
The chief said Maccabee’s original plan was to force the bus to the Houlton Port of Entry, show the bomb to Canadian immigration authorities and demand asylum at the Israeli consulate in Ottawa. Once he arrived there, Maccabee indicated that he would give himself up.
State police negotiators and bomb squad arrived on scene at approximately 11:15 p.m. A remote controlled robot was used to communicate with Maccabee and provide live footage of the scene. Maccabee was provided a phone, which he later accepted and used to negotiate his demands with the state police.
Chief Asselin stated he was pleased with the outcome. He stated all law enforcement displayed professionalism, patience and vigilance.
“Once again, it was great to witness the level of cooperation each agency displayed,” he said. “Whenever you have a situation like this and no one gets hurt, it’s a good day.”
