A Manchester, Connecticut man was arrested and charged on March 13 with assaulting a federal officer and failing to report his arrival for inspection at the U.S. border.
The charges stem from an incident on February 22, when Devin Austin Bishop, 29, allegedly drove at high speed from Campobello Island, Canada into the United States. According to the criminal complaint, Bishop crossed into Lubec, Maine without stopping for inspection and was pursued by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer.
Authorities say that after stopping his vehicle in Lubec, Bishop forcibly assaulted and resisted the officer who attempted to arrest him. During the struggle, Bishop reportedly grabbed for the officer’s firearm, which discharged but did not injure anyone. The officer was able to take Bishop into custody with help from a passing motorist.
If convicted of assaulting a federal officer, Bishop faces up to eight years in prison. The charge of failing to report his arrival carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Officials remind the public that a criminal complaint is only an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
