Hermon man arrested for obstruction in drug sale, use case

A routine traffic stop Saturday night in Orono resulted in a Hermon man being arrested, Orono police Capt. Josh Ewing said.

Police stopped William Bart, 26, around 11:30 p.m. on Kelley Road. As part of the traffic stop, a canine sniffed around the vehicle and indicated there were drugs in the car, Ewing said.

The passengers and the interior of the car were searched, but Bart didn’t want to let police search the trunk. They did anyway.

“When they opened up the trunk there was a metal lock box, but it was locked and he said he didn’t have a key for it,” Ewing said.

Bart was arrested, taken to Penobscot County Jail and charged with obstruction. The car was seized and a warrant was obtained to open the box. Inside, police found a Tupperware container with marijuana residue inside.

Police found $1,231 in Bart’s possession, which they also seized. In addition to obstruction, police intend to charge Bart with the sale and use of drug paraphernalia, and also for having false license plates on the car, Ewing said. (Aimee Dolloff, BDN)

Hermon Middle School students and staff were evacuated Monday morning for a short time, but the incident turned out to be the result of a malfunctioning smoke alarm, Hermon Fire Lt. Kelli Leighton said.

The students were taken outside when the alarm went off and were allowed to return inside once firefighters determined there was no threat.

Hermon Middle School Principal James Russell Jr. wouldn’t comment as to what caused the alarm to go off shortly after 11 a.m., but Leighton said it was a malfunction. (Aimee Dolloff, BDN)