Man held in threat to blow up market

ELLSWORTH – A local man was arrested Monday night after he threatened to blow up a local supermarket, according to police.

Joseph Lagasse, 35, asked a Shaw’s employee for a cigarette as the employee was headed into the store late Monday night, Ellsworth Police Chief John DeLeo said Tuesday.

When the employee said he did not have one, Lagasse told him he had enough plastic explosive to blow the store up, DeLeo said.

Store employees called police, who soon found Lagasse behind the wheel of a car parked at a nearby fast-food restaurant, according to the chief. Lagasse was arrested on charges of terrorizing and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants, he said.

On the way to the jail, Lagasse threatened to blow up the arresting officer and the Ellsworth Police Department, DeLeo said. He said he did not believe Lagasse had any plastic explosives or would try to make good on his alleged threats.