August 7, 2012

Psych exam ordered for Biddeford man with guns, drugs

By Ann S. Kim akim@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

ALFRED — A Biddeford man who was stopped by police with an assault rifle, a shotgun, several semi-automatic handguns and newspaper clippings about last month's theater shootings in Colorado will get a psychiatric examination.

click image to enlarge

Timothy Courtois, as he appeared in 2011, left, and as he appeared last month after his arrest by the Maine State Police.

Courtesy photos

click image to enlarge

Maine State Police Trooper Philip Alexander seized several guns from Timothy Courtois of Biddeford following his arrest on a criminal speeding charge Sunday on the Maine Turnpike. A search of Courtois’ home turned up additional weapons including a machine gun and boxes of ammunition.

John Ewing / Staff Photographer

Timothy Courtois, 49, was arrested July 22 on the Maine Turnpike. State police said he was driving 112 mph, claimed he was on his way to New Hampshire to kill a former employer and said he had taken a loaded gun to a showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" at Cinemagic in Saco.

Trooper Philip Alexander seized several guns from Courtois. A search of Courtois' home turned up additional weapons including a machine gun and boxes of ammunition, police say.

Courtois has been charged in state court with the misdemeanors of criminal speeding and carrying a concealed weapon.

On Tuesday, Superior Court Justice John O'Neil ordered that Courtois have an evaluation at the state's Riverview Psychiatric Center in Augusta, as requested by Clifford Strike, Courtois' appointed attorney.

Strike had asked that Courtois' current bail of $50,000 cash be lowered to $1,000, and that his client not be released until after the psychiatric exam.

Strike disputes the concealed-weapon charge, noting that the guns were in bags in the back of the car -- not concealed under clothes or on his client.

Courtois also faces federal charges of making a false statement in connection with a firearm, and two counts of possession of firearms by an unlawful user of controlled substances. Police said Courtois had a pipe and synthetic marijuana when he was stopped.

A federal court date has not yet been set.

Family members have said that Courtois suffers from mental illness and had recently stopped taking his medications.

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