The Oxford Sheriff’s Department arrested a 16-year-old in Canton on Saturday after he allegedly verbally threatened someone with a firearm and caused a nursing home to lockdown after brandishing a convincing fake firearm.
[RELATED: Lewiston Police Arrest Armed Teen After Residents Report Gun Incident Near Horton Street…]
At approximately 9:10 a.m., deputies responded to a report of a male suspect allegedly loading a handgun outside the Pinnacle Health and Rehab facility on Pleasant Street in Canton.
In response to the suspect, the facility went into lockdown and operated with heightened security.
The caller reported that the young male suspect placed the handgun into his pants and walked in the direction of the Canton Variety convenience store.
Three deputies arrived with assistance from a Rumford Police Department officer.
The first deputy to arrive encountered the suspect and confronted him on Pleasant Street.
He arrested the suspect, and the nursing home returned to normal operations after maintaining the lockdown for a short time following the arrest.
The suspect was identified as a 16-year-old from Canton, and he was allegedly found with a replica handgun. Initially, it appeared to be a real firearm before deputies determined it to be fake.
During the investigation, law enforcement allegedly learned of an earlier confrontation between the suspect and the nursing home residents the previous night.
He allegedly verbally threatened a resident with a firearm.
At the time of the arrest, the juvenile was already on state probation, and his detention was authorized by his probation officer.
The juvenile suspect was transported to the Long Creek Detention Facility in South Portland and was charged with terrorizing and criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon.
I retired as a law enfrocement officer, and one of my partners killed a teenager who pulled a “repligun” on him. It was fully justified.