Peter Watts, author of Blindsight and Starfish, told readers of his blog that he was struck, pepper-sprayed and arrested by U.S. border guards while stopped at the Port Huron, Michigan international border crossing. Although full details of the altercation have yet to be reported, Watts’ friend David Nickle says it happened when Watts “got out of the car and questioned the nature of the search.”

Watts was charged with assaulting a federal officer, a felony. He was allowed to post bond December 9 and return to Canada. According to Locus Online he must return to Michigan to face the assault charge, which could mean two years in prison and a ban on travel to the US.

At Whatever, John Scalzi has posted some information for people who are interested in helping Watts with his legal costs.

[Thanks to John King Tarpinian for the story.]