RUMFORD – Police were kept busy over the Fourth of July weekend, responding to 45 incidents, ranging from illegal fireworks to criminal mischief complaints and wrecks.

No injuries were reported Monday in a 1:55 p.m. crash on Bridge Street that resulted in $1,700 total damage to two vehicles.

In that incident, investigating officer Peter Casey said George W. Grant Jr., 54, of Newport was driving a 2001 Ford Focus west on Bridge Street by the Food Trend fuel and convenience store when he attempted to turn left into the Information Booth parking lot.

He was struck from behind by another westbound vehicle, a 1993 Ford Taurus, driven by Ashley Towle, 17, of Rumford, who reportedly failed to see that Grant had stopped to turn, said acting desk Sgt. David Bean. Damage to the Taurus was estimated at $1,500 and $200 to Grant’s Ford Focus. Both vehicles were driven from the scene.

At 12:35 p.m. Monday, police received a report from Randy Welch of Rumford that someone had stolen 50 gallons of gasoline, worth $70, from his U-Haul trucks parked opposite his repair service at 213 Route 108, Bean said.

“According to a neighbor, over the past two weeks a suspicious vehicle has been seen around the trucks between 1 and 2 a.m. and he requested extra patrols,” Bean said. “We have no suspects yet.”

At 11:01 a.m., a Waldo Street resident reported that someone struck his 1972 antique Oldsmobile Cutlass between 2 p.m. Sunday an 1 a.m. Monday, doing $800 damage to the right rear quarter panel, Bean said.

On Saturday, a York Street resident reported at 9 a.m. that someone had spray painted letters on the back of his 1986 Lincoln Town Car sometime after Friday’s arrest of his ex-girlfriend, Mary Taylor, 46, of Rumford, on a charge of domestic assault, Bean said. Taylor was released on $200 unsecured bail.

Shortly before 11 p.m., two residents from Swain Road and Spruce Street reported that during the night, someone had broken a side mirror each off their vehicles. There were no damage estimates.

Police arrested a 17-year-old Rumford youth early Saturday morning following a fireworks-related incident at the Mexico-Rumford bridge over the Swift River.

While patrolling the bridge area at 2:35 a.m., officers Eric DeWitt and Michael Halacy “observed a large amount of fireworks going off on the bridge,” Bean said.

Upon investigation, a group of people ran off into Mexico. Shortly afterward, though, on the Rumford side of the bridge, DeWitt spotted a suspect hiding in the bushes who reportedly set off some more fireworks, before being approached by Halacy, Bean said.

“As Halacy arrived, the juvenile threw a beer at him and ran,” before being nabbed, Bean added.

The youth was charged with possession of prohibited fireworks and illegal possession of liquor by a juvenile before being released to his parents at 4:37 a.m.

In other police business, the following people have been summoned:

• Ryan Plourde, 20, of Beverly, Mass., for drinking in public, on July 8 by officer Michael Halacy.

• Kerrie Newton, 24, of Mexico, for criminal trespass, on July 6 by officer Douglas Maifeld.

• Kerrie Newton, 24, of Mexico, for simple assault, on July 5 by officer Paul Casey.

• George W. Merrill, 31, of Rumford, for simple assault, on July 5 by officer Paul Casey.

• Jason MacPherson, 18, of Rumford, for simple assault, on July 4 by officer James Bernard.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com