BIDE officers arrest Sidney man

SIDNEY — Mark O. Luce, 40, also known as Rocky Luce, of Sidney, was arrested by BIDE, Bureau of Intergovernmental Drug Enforcement, officers Wednesday and charged with aggravated trafficking in marijuana, a Class B offense.

According to Kenneth MacMaster, BIDE supervisor, a search warrant executed at 7 a.m. at Luce’s home just off the Interstate 95 exit in Sidney revealed “an elaborate indoor growing system” of 266 marijuana plants. The presence of firearms in the home elevated the charge to aggravated trafficking. Luce was taken into custody without incident, MacMaster said, and released from BIDE custody on personal recognizance bond. MacMaster said Luce had been under investigation for several months.

The search warrant was executed with the assistance of the Maine State Police and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department.