OXFORD – Arrests were down at this year’s Banknorth 250, despite the sellout crowd of 14,000 race fans.

“Considering the crowd, this year’s (arrests) were exceptionally low,” said Oxford Police Lt. Jon Tibbetts, who headed the police detail at last Sunday’s race at the Oxford Plains Speedway on Route 26.

There were 12 arrests, compared to 18 last year, he said, and about a dozen summonses.

Most of the arrests during the weekend were alcohol-related, he said, involving people camping at the racetrack. Some attendees were charged with illegal possession of alcohol, and several people were charged with operating under the influence, Tibbetts said.

One exception involved Gerald Burgess, 40, of 17 Church St., Paris, who was arrested on charges of assaulting a police officer, disorderly conduct and failure to submit to arrest. Three other family members were also arrested for obstructing government administration, Tibbetts said.

The incident occurred about 3:30 a.m. Sunday, as three police officers approached Burgess, who was camping in the parking lot. When Burgess, who was having a loud argument with a family member, was asked to quiet down, he allegedly became combative and hit Norway Patrolman James Ventresca in the side of the head, Tibbetts said.

More officers were called over, he said, and Burgess was forced to the ground by Oxford police Sgt. Rickie Jack. Family members tried to pull police off Burgess, and at least one family member allegedly kicked and punched Jack as he tried to handcuff Burgess.

It wasn’t until Paris Sgt. Michael Dailey used a Tazer stunning device on Burgess that the situation was brought under control.

“The whole scrap lasted about a minute,” Tibbetts said. After being booked in the Oxford County Jail, Burgess was released on $1,000 cash bail with the condition that he not return to the speedway except to retrieve his personal property.

Burgess faces an Aug. 23 court appearance in 11th District Court in South Paris.

Tibbetts, who has headed up the police detail at the speedway for the past nine years, said police have encouraged speedway officials to provide diversions for campers, such as bonfires and music.

“We’ve been doing that since 1995, and it has worked very well,” he said.

In 1995, a near-riot occurred when the Fire Department came to put out bonfires.