AUBURN – A Lewiston man pleaded innocent Monday to allegations that he was riding his bike around an Auburn schoolyard, trying to sell 21 grams of cocaine.

Luis Angel Ramirez Jr., 21, was arrested last Tuesday night after someone called police to report that a man was pedaling around Webster School on Chestnut Street, offering to sell crack cocaine to people in the area.

Instead of sending a police cruiser to the neighborhood, two officers rode to the area on patrol bikes with a description of the suspect. Shortly after the cops arrived, investigators said, a man fitting the description rode up to them before recognizing them as officers.

After asking for identification and learning that Ramirez was on probation for a previous assault conviction, the officers asked him to empty his pockets. He pulled out a baggy with 21 grams of crack, police said.

Charged with unlawful trafficking in cocaine and criminal trespass, Ramirez appeared in Androscoggin County Superior Court Monday morning and pleaded not guilty to both counts.

Justice Ellen Gorman set Ramirez’s bail at $7,500 cash or $15,000 surety. If convicted of the charge, he faces up to 10 years in prison.

Ramirez also pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of criminal threatening and assault, stemming from an earlier incident.

According to an arrest report, he is accused of assaulting a 2-year-old girl and a 21-year-old woman on Bates Street last month. Lewiston police had been searching for him since the alleged attack was first reported June 18.


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