HOULTON, Maine — Folks traveling on U.S. Route 1 this morning noticed a significant law enforcement response to the area and their questions have evoked a response from the Aroostook County Sheriff.
According to Sheriff Darrell O. Crandall of Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office Van Buren Police requested assistance from area law enforcement agencies in locating an individual who was reported to be in mental health crisis on Thursday morning, April 20. A description of the man and his vehicle were provided.
Sheriff’s deputies located the man traveling south on U.S. 1 in Bridgewater and began to follow at a distance as a Sheriff’s public safety dispatcher communicated directly with the man by phone.
As the dispatcher worked diligently to de-escalate the man, Deputy sheriffs called in assistance from State and Houlton police to stop northbound traffic at two locations on U.S. 1, fearing the man might attempt to crash into oncoming traffic.
It was also not known whether the man had any weapons, according to police.
Once northbound traffic was safely delayed, Sheriff’s deputies stopped the man’s vehicle on U.S. 1 in Littleton. Once stopped, he attempted to drive off again, but his path was blocked by a Deputy sheriff. “The man actively resisted being taken into protective custody, but was removed from the vehicle after he was cut free from his seatbelt,” Sheriff Crandall said in a press release.
Sheriff’s deputies subsequently transported the man to Houlton Regional Hospital for medical evaluation.
“Because of cool heads, communication and teamwork, no one was injured during this potentially dangerous incident,” Crandall said.
The sheriff said the man will not be identified, and no further information will be forthcoming on this incident.
