WATERVILLE — A taxi driver faces up to five years in prison after police say he pulled a handgun on a Waterville Public Works employee who had told him twice not to remove barricades from the road during Saturday’s blizzard.

Alfred Gervais, 63, of Waterville was driving a cab on Water Street in the city’s South End at about 10 p.m. during the nor’easter when he encountered barricades across the road that public works employees had placed to help clear up an automobile accident, according to Deputy Chief Bill Bonney of the Waterville Police Department.

Bonney said Monday that public works employees had blocked Water Street, in the area of King Street, to help protect workers who were cleaning up after the crash, and Gervais moved the barricades twice.

Waterville Public Works crews close Water Street to clear an auto accident during Saturday’s snowstorm. A cab driver was charged after police say he pulled a handgun during a dispute that night with a Public Works employee who had confronted the taxi driver about moving barricades set up along the street. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel

“The second time he did it, he was confronted by public works not to do it,” Bonney said. “They had a confrontation and the cabdriver pulled a handgun from his holster and indicated a willingness to use that weapon.”

Bonney said the altercation was oral. A public works employee called police, who later found Gervais on upper Main Street.

“We located Mr. Gervais and he was arrested and charged with reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, Class C,” Bonney said. “He was taken into custody without incident. He bailed right from the police station.”

Gervais is scheduled to appear in court April 25 at the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta, according to Bonney.

A Class C crime is punishable by up to five years in prison, according to Maine statute.

Bonney said Gervais did not need a permit for the weapon.

Bonney declined to name the worker who had confronted Gervais when the gun was allegedly displayed.

“We wouldn’t identify victims in cases like that,” Bonney said.