Houlton Man’s Drug Hallucinations Shuts Down Local Gas Station

Police were called to a gas station in central Aroostook County Wednesday evening after employees said a despondent man was telling people they were all going to blow up.

State Troopers, Sheriff’s Deputies and US Border Patrol agents responded to the Bridgewater Gulf Station around 6 p.m, according the Sgt. Josh Haines of the Maine State Police.

Employees said the man had been wandering frantically around inside the store for nearly an hour, claiming that he was covered in gasoline and people were chasing him. He apparently kept asking people not to use the gas pumps for fear that everything would explode.

Sgt. Haines said officers were able to subdue the 30-year-old Houlton man and he admitted that he was under the influence of Bath Salts. The man was transported to the Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle for an evaluation.

A Maine State Police bomb technician and his K-9 made a thorough search to ensure it was safe and that no explosives were in the store or in the man’s vehicle. The Gulf Station was closed for about two hours Wednesday evening.

The case remains under investigation and will be reviewed by the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office for potential charges.

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