BIDDEFORD — A Biddeford man pulled over by Maine State Police Sunday for speeding on the Maine Turnpike allegedly told the trooper he was on his way to kill a former employer, and said he had taken a loaded gun in a backpack to the latest Batman movie in Saco over the weekend.

Timothy Courtois, 49, had several guns in his possession when he was stopped at about 10 a.m. by Trooper Phillip Alexander on the turnpike in York. His arrest occured just days after a mass shooting in Colorado during a premiere of the Batman movie “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Courtois pleaded not guilty to a gun-related charge in Springvale District Court Monday.

Found inside his car was an AK-47 assault weapon, four handguns and several boxes of ammunition,     police said.

Troopers also found clippings of the Aurora, Colo. movie theater incident where James Eagons Holmes is accused of shooting into a crowded theater, killing 12 and wounding 58 last Friday.

State Police Lt. Kevin Donovan said Courtois told police he was on his way to kill a former employer in Derry, N.H., when he was apprehended. Donovan did not  identify the former employer.

During a search of Courtois’ home at 344 Elm St., police found a machine gun, several additional guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

Donovan said his department has never before found an arsenal this large in one person’s possession.

During his interrogation, Courtois was very “matter of fact,” said Donovan. He did not say why he wanted to kill the former employer, according to the lieutenant.

Courtois’ Facebook page shows that he worked at Rousseau Insurance Agency in Biddeford from 2002 to July 18, 2012. Before that, from 1995-2000, he worked at Appletree Insurance in Hudson, N.H., according to the Facebook page.

Courtois’ former boss in New Hampshire told the Associated Press he heard from the FBI on Sunday night and was told that Courtois had named him as his intended target. The man, who asked not to be identified because of the ongoing investigation, confirmed that Courtois worked as an insurance agent in his firm from 1995 to 2000.

“I hadn’t heard from him in 10 years, so I was rather surprised. Only after the fact did I realize that if it were not for police stopping him, I could’ve wound up a dead person,” he said.

The man said Courtois was a good employee who left his job voluntarily. He was offered a share of the business but didn’t like the payment amount offered to him when he left, the man said.

In Biddeford, Marc Rousseau, owner of Rousseau Insurance Agency, confirmed this morning that Courtois worked for his business until earlier this month. He called Courtois a “gentle giant” who was a “great asset to the company,” where he worked as support personnel and was respected by the staff.

Due to privacy rules, Rousseau declined to go into the circumstances of why Courtois left the company, but said many have tried to help him and he believes the circumstances that led to his arrest were likely a cry for help.

State Police stopped Courtois after receiving reports from other motorists about a speeding Ford Mustang with its flashers on, said Maine Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland. Courtois was allegedly clocked driving at 112 miles per hour.

Courtois is charged with possessing a concealed weapon without a permit, a Class D misdemeanor; and criminal speeding, a Class E misdemeanor.

At Courtois’ arraignment at Springvale District Court Monday, where he appeared from York County Jail in Alfred via video conferencing, court staff said bail was set at $50,000 cash or a bond of $150,000 in real estate, with conditions of release including prohibition of the possession of alcohol, illegal drugs, firearms and other dangerous weapons. Courtois remained at York County Jail this morning, a jail booking officer said.

In arresting Courtois, said Donovan, police “possibly prevented a tragedy.”

The Department of Public Safety is reviewing what, if any, steps should be taken to prevent the possibility of shootings in movie theaters, said Donovan.

Information on the incident was released, he said, because “I think the public needs to know.”

“We felt not saying something was a greater disservice to the public than knowing,” said Donovan.

Agents with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting with the investigation, said McCausland. Both the York County District Attorney’s office and U.S. Attorney’s office in Portland are reviewing the case and may make additional charges against Courtois.

Biddeford Police Dep. Chief JoAnne Fisk said since July 7, Biddeford Police have had contact with Courtois on six separate occasions but no charges were filed against him.

Courtois’ next court appearance is Aug. 23.

— The Associated Press contributed to this story. Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.