LEWISTON – A man believed to be armed and holed up in a Pond Road house Wednesday afternoon instead showed up at the scene in a taxi cab.

The surprise turn of events ended an intense hour during which police closed off roads and surrounded the two-story home at 85 Pond Road.

The 47-year-old man pulled up to a police barricade in a cab and was taken to St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center for psychiatric evaluation.

Officers had been told by the man’s family that he was inside his home and possibly armed with a gun after making threats, police said.

“The family had called us saying he had made some frightening comments. We were there to check on his well-being,” said Lewiston police Sgt. Michael Whalen.

The man’s sister and mother told police they believed the man was inside the house when cops first arrived. A Chevrolet Camaro was parked in front of the house when police arrived, further evidence that someone may be inside.

Officers who tried calling the residence said someone picked up the telephone only to hang up moments later.

Fearing an armed standoff was unfolding, officers surrounded the house at about 4 p.m. with guns drawn. They took cover behind trees in the backyard and called for assistance from the Lewiston-based Central Maine Violent Crime Task Force.

A family who lives next door to the Pond Road home cleared out of their house, rushing at least three small children away from the scene.

Police blocked off a long section of Pond Road from Webster Street and from Randall Road on the other end. Rescue paramedics were asked to wait in the area in case anyone was injured while the matter was being resolved. Police used a bullhorn in an attempt to establish contact with the man believed to be inside the house.

Neighbors who live nearby crowded into an area a safe distance away, wondering what had caused the commotion in their neighborhood.

Mike Asselin was driving to his house on Randall Road when a police officer quickly told him to stay away from the area. Asselin stopped his car on nearby Sheffield Avenue to wait out the situation.

“They told me I should stay clear because shots could be fired,” Asselin said. “I’ve lived her for seven years. Except for five o’clock traffic, it’s usually really quiet.”

When the 47-year-old arrived on Pond Road, it caused moments of confusion for police. The man’s family was taken to the scene to identify him as the person police had been looking for.

The man was checked for weapons, handcuffed and placed in the back of a police cruiser. He spoke with Laurie Martel Cyr, the police department’s crisis worker, and denied making threats. He told police he was returning from his lawyer’s office when he arrived on Pond Road to find police swarming.

Officers took the man to St. Mary’s while the matter was still being investigated.

Members of the Maine State Police Tactical Team en route to the scene were told they were no longer needed. Lewiston police entered the home at 85 Pond Road and found nobody inside.

Police said the responding officers followed procedure when they first arrived at the home.

“Based on the information we had, we had to be prepared. We had to take precautions to protect the neighbors as well as the officers at the scene,” said police Lt. Tom Avery. “Obviously, we’re happy it ended this way.”

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