RUMFORD – A marijuana plant lying on Falmouth Street early Wednesday morning led to the arrest of a young Rumford man.

Scott Pike, 20, was charged with operating under the influence, second offense, disorderly conduct, operating without a license, reckless conduct, and criminal mischief by officer James Bernard.

After failing to post $725 cash bail, Pike was transported to Oxford County Jail in South Paris. He was arraigned and is slated to appear for trial at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, in Rumford District Court.

Sgt. Stacy Carter said the incident began when a caller reported seeing a lot of smoke on Falmouth Street late Tuesday night.

Police and Rumford firefighters responded only to learn that the excess smoke resulted from a driver spinning a car’s wheels on pavement. The car was gone when police arrived.

At 12:20 a.m. Wednesday, police were summoned back to 13 Falmouth St. after a caller spotted a marijuana plant lying in the road.

Carter said when Bernard and another officer went to retrieve the plant, they “observed Pike spinning his tires and smoking up the area with a car.”

Upon spotting the officers, Pike got out of his friend’s car and ran but was chased down by Bernard.

In other police news:

• Bernard summoned Martin Holmquist, 25, of Peru, on a charge of criminal mischief at 1 a.m. Friday after spotting Holmquist holding a large tree branch that had just been broken off a tree at Rite Aid on Portland Street.

• Between 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Thursday on Route 5, someone cut four tires on one parked car and three on another car. Damage was estimated at $475. Officer David Bean is investigating.

• Prescription drugs were taken from a Hancock Street residence during a burglary between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday. There were no signs of forced entry, Carter said. Halacy is investigating.

• A 1998 Chevrolet Blazer and a 1995 Chevrolet Lumina parked on Byron Street overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday sustained $1,000 damage each. The Blazer’s hood and right front fender were dented while the Lumina’s driver’s side door was scraped with a keyed. Officers Paul Casey and Michael Halacy are investigating.

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