MASARDIS – Just after 4:30 p.m. Friday, a Masardis man allegedly called the Maine State Police barracks in Houlton. His message – he had a bomb, which he said he had placed outside the Masardis Variety Store.

The report led to the evacuation of several residences and the detonation of the device by state police. No one was hurt.

Deputy Mike Montpetit of the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department said Saturday that Keith A. Kitchen, 51, who lives on Masardis Road, was charged with terrorizing as a result of the incident. He is being held at the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton and will make his initial court appearance today.

According to Montpetit, Kitchen called the state police and told them he had a bomb. He gave police a description of the device and told them that it was located near the store’s gas tanks.

Those in nearby dwellings were quickly evacuated and Route 11 was shut down for nearly four hours, according to Montpetit.

When police arrived at the store, Kitchen was there. He was taken into custody without incident, according to the deputy.

The Maine State Police bomb squad was called in to detonate the device.

Montpetit said that police are not sure at this point if the device actually was a bomb.

The investigation is continuing, and additional charges may be brought, according to Montpetit.

Several deputies from the Sheriff’s Department also assisted at the scene, as did the Masardis Fire Department and the Ashland fire and ambulance departments.

If convicted of the Class C charge, Kitchen faces a fine of up to $5,000 and up to five years behind bars.