PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – A 20-year-old Presque Isle man has been charged with terrorizing the Presque Isle Wal-Mart.
“Acting on technical surveillance depictions, and with the assistance of Wal-Mart management and security, enough evidence was obtained to charge Gabriel Lilly, who was an employee working at the time,” said Det. Sgt. Wayne J. Selfridge of the Presque Isle Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division.
Police continued to investigate the scene until after the specified time of the threat had passed. Wal-Mart staff was allowed back in the building at approximately 12:30 a.m., at which time the employees walked throughout the store looking for any apparent sign of an explosive device. They found nothing.
However, after reviewing surveillance tapes and working with Wal-Mart management and security, police were able to charge Lilly with terrorizing, a Class C felony, which is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and jail time not to exceed five years.
He will be arraigned at the Caribou Superior Court Feb. 23.
Anyone with information in any of these cases is asked to contact the PIPD at 764-4476 or contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-638-8477.
“Lilly was also the cashier who reported finding the intimidating note Dec. 16 scrawled on the bathroom wall that was threatening to a degree that required the evacuation of the store for several hours,” he said, “while public safety officials and Wal-Mart management searched the store and protected the public by cordoning the building until after the promised detonation time had expired.”
The Presque Isle Police Department received a call from store management at approximately 9:12 p.m. advising a handwritten message had been found on a bathroom stall wall stating a bomb was set to go off around midnight. Police advised management to evacuate the store immediately of all staff and customers. Staff was also advised of other precautionary measures while they waited for the police to arrive.
Sgt. Mark Barnes and Selfridge were notified. The Presque Isle Fire Department was advised and put on standby. The Maine State Police were called and a bomb dog was requested. Wal-Mart Security Officer Ryan Doughty, who was on duty with the Sheriff’s Office that evening, advised the PIPD that he would respond to the scene to assist in the investigation, as well.
In addition, Tim Lowell, an investigator with the Fire Marshal’s Office, was contacted and responded to assist.
Upon arrival, police began to search the facility. Lowell checked propane and kerosene sources both inside and outside the store but found nothing.
