A man who allegedly threatened to retrieve an AR-15 and shoot patrons at the South Portland Buffalo Wild Wings on Halloween has been released on bail, according to the South Portland Police Department.
[RELATED: Cases Less Severe Than Robert Card Triggered Maine’s Yellow Flag Law Firearm Restrictions…]
Just before 11 a.m. on Oct. 31, South Portland police officers responded to the restaurant over the reported threats.
The officers determined that the individual had left the scene after they cleared all vehicles in the parking lot.
During their search, restaurant patrons remained inside for their safety.
After speaking with restaurant staff and reviewing security footage, the individual was identified as Johann Schwiesow, who allegedly “singled out a group of patrons by their race when making these threats.”
Police say Schwiesow is not a resident of South Portland.
On Nov. 1, Schwiesow was arrested in a neighboring county on the charge of Terrorizing and taken to Cumberland County Jail, according to police.
He has since been on $5,000 bail.
While out on bail, Schwiesow is not permitted to possess weapons or return to Buffalo Wild Wings, police said in a press release Sunday.
This comes just less than two-weeks after a mass shooting at a bowling alley and restaurant in Lewiston claimed the lives of 18 people and wounded 13.
The Lewiston shooter, Robert R. Card, Jr., had previously threatened to shoot up an Army drill center in Saco — threats which were made known to Maine law enforcement months before the Oct. 25 shooting.
Card’s possession of firearms after these threats and a two-week stay in a psychiatric hospital over the summer has caused increased scrutiny to be placed on the effectiveness of Maine’s “yellow flag” law, which is meant to prohibit individuals deemed to be a threat to themselves or others from possessing firearms.
Last week, 36-year-old Adam Green of Fort Fairfield was arrested for allegedly threatening to show up at a MSAD 75 elementary school with an AR-15.
Green’s alleged threats resulted in an hours-long shelter in place across all MSAD 75 schools on Thursday, Nov. 2.
Over the weekend, Portland police officers had an over two-hour standoff with a 63-year-old man who allegedly came outside an apartment and pointed a gun at someone.
Keith Fitzell, 63, of Portland — who had a warrant out for his arrest for failure to appear — was arrested and charged Saturday with Criminal Threatening with a Dangerous Weapon and Creating A Police Standoff.
A search of Fitzell’s home uncovered numerous weapons, according to Portland Police.
According to the Cumberland County jail’s inmate list, Fitzell will be released in six days.
Last week, an 18-year-old from northern Maine posted a picture of a rifle to Snapchat with the message “Lewiston Part 2”.
Michael Bowden, of Etna, was arrested for terrorizing and police seized two firearms from him.
He has also been released on bail.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="23122 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=23122">2 Comments
Story never mentioned if police went to his house/apartment and searched and removed any weapons. If they didn’t, they certainly should have. Definitely fits a Yellow Flag designation.
Mental health runs amok in Maine.
Yeah, this guy is mentally competent. No need for a Yellow Flag here. Every one goes around threatening people like this. NOT!