Patten Man Allegedly Threatened to Shoot Cops, Firefighter

A Patten man faces charges after spending the day making phone calls, allegedly threatening to shoot a firefighter and police officers.

State Police it all started just after 10:00 Tuesday morning, when the Houlton Regional Communications Center received a call from an employee of the Patten Town Office. They told the dispatcher that Fred Whitney, 49 of Patten, had called the town office and threatened to shoot a firefighter who had allegedly cut him off. Police say Whitney continued making calls all day, including to the Aroostook County Sheriff's Office and the Maine District Court switchboard. He allegedly said he would no longer be coming to his court appearances and would shoot any law enforcement officers who showed up at his home.

An arrest warrant was issued for terrorizing and disorderly conduct, as well as a search warrant for Whitney's Patten residence. Just before 4:30 Tuesday afternoon, State Police Troopers, members of the Maine State Police Tactical Team, and the Crisis Negotiation Team arrived at Whitney's Pleasant Street home, where he was taken into custody without incident.

He was transported to the Penobscot County Jail.