Man charged with sale of drugs near school

SWANVILLE – An Oak Hill Road man faces a felony drug charge for allegedly selling marijuana from his residence across the road from the Toddy Pond School.

Robert Walsh, 61, of Swanville was arrested by officers from the Waldo County Sheriff’s Department after a search of his mobile home last week.

Walsh was charged with aggravated trafficking in marijuana because the alleged trafficking took place within 500 feet of a school. Toddy Pond School is a private educational facility located on the Oak Hill Road.

Detective Greg Stearns said authorities were alerted to Walsh’s activities in the course of an investigation. Based on that information, a search warrant was issued and authorities executed the warrant about 3 p.m. Dec. 7. Stearns, Detective Jason Trundy, Lt. Gary Boynton and Deputy Steve Hegstrom took part in the search.

Stearns said the search yielded a “substantial” quantity of packaged and loose marijuana as well as drug trafficking paraphernalia. Walsh was booked at the Waldo County Jail and released on personal recognizance bail with certain conditions.