RUMFORD – A 24-year-old Rumford man was arrested early Sunday morning following a standoff involving Rumford police and the Maine State Tactical Team.

Michael S. Rowe was charged with criminal use of explosives and reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, both felonies, at his apartment on Cumberland Street.

Rowe was also charged with furnishing a place for minors to consume liquor.

Rumford police Sgt. James Bernard said the incident began shortly after 1 a.m. when officers were called to the Cumberland Street apartment, where underage drinking was suspected.

As officers Paul Casey and Jennifer Kramer climbed the stairs to the third-floor apartment, they thought they heard a gunshot coming from the apartment. They then called for backup.

In the meantime, officer Eric Lippincott arrived in his cruiser to the front of the apartment building, where he saw snow fly up in front of his cruiser, making him believe he was being shot at.

Bernard said the noise Casey and Kramer heard was that of an acid bomb exploding. Five people later emerged from the apartment.

Rowe was arrested by Casey at 4 a.m. and taken to the Oxford County Jail where he was held on $50,000 cash bail. He is scheduled to appear in Oxford County Superior Court on March 20.

No charges have been lodged against the four juveniles, and no one was hurt during the incident. The scene was cleared at 5:30 a.m.

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