OXFORD — A total of 17 people were arrested or issued summonses during the TD Banknorth 250, including a man accused of assaulting a police officer.

Chief Jon Tibbetts, of the Oxford Police Department, said officers from Norway, Paris and Oxford worked the event in 12-hour shifts. He said the Oxford Plains Speedway did not have private security this year.

Police arrested 28-year-old Ryan M. Crump of Raymond early Sunday on charges of disorderly conduct and assault on an officer. Tibbetts said Crump struck Sgt. James Ventresca, of the Norway Police Department, three or four times in the head as Ventresca and other officers broke up a fight.

Lt. Michael Dailey, of the Paris Police Department, said Ventresca was taken to Stephens Memorial Hospital for evaluation, but returned to work the same day. Crump remained at the Oxford County Jail on Monday.

Police also charged 23-year-old Anthony Joseph Redfield of Norway as a fugitive from justice out of New Hampshire. Tibbetts said Redfield was arrested on a charge of operating under the influence when officers discovered that he had a warrant out for his arrest. According to an employee at the Rockingham County Superior Court (N.H.), Redfield had been charged in New Hampshire with possession of heroin and cocaine.

The Oxford County Jail recorded 14 arrests at the Speedway between Friday and Sunday. Charges included disorderly conduct, warrants for operating after suspension and failure to appear in court, criminal threatening and violations of bail conditions.

Last year, police arrested 12 people at the event and issued 16 summonses. In 2007, police made 17 arrests and issued 16 summonses.

Tibbetts said the number of incidents at the event were low, considering 12,000 to 14,000 people came to see the weekend’s races.
“It went very well,” he said. “I’m very pleased with how it came out.”

mlangeveld@sunjournal.com

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