RANGELEY – While carrying out a search warrant on Friday night for a Bangor man wanted for failure to pay fines, police busted a Rangeley party and discovered more than 20 underage drinkers.

Police charged Nicholas Rand Hanson, 19, a former Rangeley resident living in Bangor, with failure to pay $1,190 in fines stemming from multiple operating after suspension charges.

Cpl. Stephen Charles of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department made the arrest of Hanson, who is being held at the Franklin County Detention Center on $1,190 cash bail.

While picking up Hanson at a residence in Rangeley, authorities found what they said was a crowd of about 25 underage drinkers, said Aaron Turcotte of the Rangeley Police Department.

Parents of those busted were contacted and at least four people were summonsed in relation to the incident, which is still under investigation. “Further charges are likely this week,” said Turcotte, adding that it would take several days to filter through all the interviews conducted.

With prom and graduation upcoming, Turcotte said it’s important for those under the age of 21 to remember that drinking alcohol is illegal. “We are trying to send a message,” he said in relation to the Friday night break-up of the high school party, “that the police department will not tolerate any underage drinking.”

Assisting in the bust was officer Steve Townsend of the Rangeley Police Department and detective Tom White, Sgt. Steven Lowell, Cpl. Nathan Bean and deputy Heidi Gould, all of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department.

sdepoy@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link