Police raid festival after complaint Drug agents seize marijuana, mushrooms and cash at Fudafest in Norway

NORWAY – More than 40 law enforcement officers raided a home in this western Maine town last weekend during the annual gathering known as Fudafest, where police said marijuana and alcohol were sold.

Aaron Fuda, who admitted to police that he had lost control of his festival, will not be charged until evidence has been reviewed by state and local prosecutors, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency said.

Fuda, 34, denied any involvement in illegal drug sales and characterized the festival as a pro-marijuana rally.

“We’ve had some fighting and we’ve had some people here with harder drugs, and we’ve told them to leave,” he said.

Responding to citizen complaints to Norway police, agents obtained a search warrant and served it on Saturday night while the single-family home on 21/2 acres on McKay Road was crowded with mostly intoxicated festival participants, authorities said.

Processed marijuana, 15 marijuana plants, psilocybin mushrooms, hand scales and about $2,000 in cash were seized, according to the MDEA.

A Poland Spring man was arrested when he allegedly drove his van in the direction of an agent and refused to stop, endangering the officer.

Christopher Chappell, 24, was charged with reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and obstructing government administration.

Local police issued summonses to others at the festival for various alleged violations.

Authorities said Fudafest was originally intended to protest restrictions on marijuana and was generally informational and musical in nature.

The festival has since evolved into an event used for illegal sales of liquor and drugs, according to the MDEA. The agency said it recently received information that Ecstasy, cocaine and psilocybin, along with marijuana, were being distributed.

Agents attending Fudafest Friday night made undercover purchases of marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms, the MDEA said.

Fuda said the show of force by police was unnecessary.

“They storm-troopered in here with assault rifles, started searching children and other people, and then they gave me a warning,” he said.

He said that after police left, the party grew and became bigger than ever.

Fuda said the festival draws about 1,000 people, many of them from throughout New England and from as far away as Florida.