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 by veering into the outbound lane and did not stop for inspection at the Lubec Port of Entry.
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer pursued Bishop in an agency vehicle. When Bishop exited his car in Lubec, he reportedly resisted arrest and forcibly assaulted the officer. During the struggle, Bishop 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. Authorities emphasized that a criminal complaint is only an allegation and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
