A Connecticut man allegedly assaulted a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer in Lubec last month.
The U.S. attorney’s office on Friday identified the suspect as 29-year-old Devin Austin Bishop of Manchester, Connecticut.
Bishop was driving a blue Honda Civic across the bridge connecting Campobello Island in Canada to Lubec about 6:40 p.m. Feb. 22 when he allegedly veered into the outbound lane and sped across the border crossing without stopping, according to an FBI affidavit dated Feb. 25.
A border officer then pursued Bishop.
Bishop eventually came to a stop near Pump Station Road in Lubec, where he allegedly refused the officer’s commands while muttering to himself, according to the affidavit.
When the officer attempted to handcuff him, Bishop allegedly began resisting and “yelling incoherently.” The officer warned that he would use pepper-spray if Bishop didn’t comply.
The officer used pepper-spray on Bishop and attempted to place him under arrest. A scuffle broke out and the pair began struggling against each other in the middle of the road. At one point Bishop grabbed the officer’s gun, which went off during the struggle, but no one was hit, according to the affidavit.
A passing driver helped the officer subdue Bishop, and a third passer-by, believed to be a jail officer, also stopped to help.
Bishop was taken to a Machias medical facility for evaluation.
Bishop has been charged with assaulting a federal officer and failing to report his arrival and present for inspection at the border crossing.
If convicted, Bishop faces up to eight years in prison on the assault charge and one year in prison on the failure to report charge.