PITTSFIELD – Two men were arrested Tuesday afternoon – one at gunpoint after a foot chase – after Pittsfield officers went to a Libby Street home to investigate complaints of underage drinking.

John Hopkins, 28, was charged with eluding a police officer after he allegedly fled the home through a window and ran down a nearby abandoned railroad bed.

Officer Jeff Vanadestine said he had gone to the home because neighbors and others had reported that students from Maine Central Institute were swarming the house at lunchtime. The school is two blocks south of Libby Street.

“We were told they were drinking and smoking at lunchtime,” Vanadestine said. “We’ve been watching the house for some time.”

Hopkins was wanted on a warrant out of Somerset County for failure to pay an $800 fine for furnishing a place for minors to consume alcohol. “We knew he was at that house. We had been looking for him for a while, and when we knocked on the door, he jumped out a window,” Vanadestine said.

A foot chase ensued and the officer said several residents and a town employee were invaluable in pointing out Hopkins’ location. After chasing the man down the railroad bed, up Central Street and back onto the railroad bed, Vanadestine caught up with Hopkins on a lawn on Somerset Avenue and arrested him at gunpoint.

Those assisting Vanadestine were Chief Steve Emery, Officer Jason Emery and Somerset County Deputy Tim Williams.

After the arrest, Vanadestine returned to the Libby Street home and arrested Ricky Gray, 56, on a warrant for failure to pay a fine for providing alcohol to minors.

Both men were taken to Somerset County Jail, where they are being held pending bail arrangements.

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