PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A Presque Isle man has been arrested in connection with a bomb threat that led to the evacuation of the Walmart on Main Street on Sunday afternoon.
Presque Isle police and Aroostook County sheriff’s deputies cleared the area and searched the Walmart. After an extensive search that included the State Police bomb squad, no explosive device was found, police said.
The investigation led Presque Isle police to the residence of Gregory Upshaw, 30. Upshaw was taken into custody and taken to the Presque Isle Police Department.
He has been charged with aggravated reckless conduct, aggravated false public alarm, terrorizing and creating a police standoff.
Upshaw’s bail was set at $5,000 cash. He was unable to post bail and was transported to the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton.
Police initiated a weapons restriction process on Upshaw.
Walmart resumed business as usual on Monday morning.
The threat was made in a 911 call around 4 p.m., Sunday, according to the Presque Isle Police Department. Deputy Chief Chris Hayes said the threat was “credible.”
By 5:30 p.m., there was no known threat to the public as the store and its parking lot had been evacuated, police said.
The Maine State Police are assisting with the investigation and sent a member of the agency’s bomb team, according to spokesperson Shannon Moss. Members of the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office were also at the scene early Sunday evening.
Inside the store, an alarm began sounding around 4 p.m. as staff told confused shoppers to leave the store.
Police said that other nearby businesses were also evacuated and that people should stay away from the store while the threat is investigated. By 6 p.m., police cars were blocking the doors to the store and the entrances to its parking lot.
