SEARSPORT – An alleged threatening remark to a sheriff’s deputy led to the arrest of a local man on drug charges Friday.

Elwyn A. “Red” Higgins, 63, of Searsport was arrested after a search of his North Searsport Road residence.

Higgins was charged with marijuana cultivation, possession of fireworks, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of conditions of release. He also was charged with terrorizing as a result of the alleged threat.

Confiscated in the search were 18 marijuana plants, a large quantity of fireworks and five firearms, some of which were loaded.

Waldo County Deputy Sheriff Merl Reed said the incident began April 18 when he stopped and arrested Higgins for criminal speeding on Route 131 in Waldo. Reed said he clocked Higgins at 76 mph in a 45 mph zone. Higgins was riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Reed said it was during the traffic stop that Higgins allegedly threatened him. Reed decided to charge Higgins with terrorizing as a result of the comment, and he drove to his home on April 22 to serve the warrant.

“He was outside and told me he wanted to get some medication from inside the house and I followed him in,” Reed said Sunday. “That is when I noticed a marijuana plant in the kitchen window.”

Reed said he notified Lt. Gary Boynton of his discovery and requested that he secure the residence while he prepared a search warrant. Boynton, Detective Greg Stearns and deputies Reed and Jason Bosco conducted the search. Higgins was booked at the Waldo County Jail and released on $300 bail.