DIXFIELD — A young bull moose kept dozens of residents transfixed, and law enforcement officials frustrated last week when it strolled into town and wouldn’t leave for nearly three hours.

Sgt. Jeff Howe said the saga began around 5 p.m. on Sept. 24 on the fields near Naples Packing where the moose was first spotted. He eventually strolled into the Main Street and Weld Street area, bringing with him a large group of moose watchers, Howe said.

“We had a hard time keeping people back. Traffic was snarled up. Every time we got him turned around (to go into the woods) he’d come back onto the street,” Howe said.

The moose, estimated to weigh about 700 pounds, settled down behind Wiles Funeral Home on Weld Street, walked down Weld Street, as well as along Main Street.

“He had to rest and cool off. We had to keep people back,” Howe said.

Warden Josh Smith was called in to help. Howe said discussions included shooting the animal because people wouldn’t stay back.

“It became a big issue. People and dogs would come out of their houses, the moose got blocked,” Howe said.

Eventually the moose walked into the woods, and the dozens of people dispersed.

Howe said moose should be given space to find their way back into woods.

In other police matters, Howe said 16 marijuana plants in various stages of maturity were seized from a woody area off the Averill Hill Road and turned over to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency on Sept. 18.

Howe said police received an anonymous tip about the plants. He said the land owner was unaware that his land had been used to grow the marijuana. Police have leads on who may have grown the plants, but no charges have yet been filed, he said.

During last Saturday’s National Prescription Take-Back program, Howe said the Dixfield Police Department received about 15 pounds of expired, or unused prescription drugs.

“That was a lot more than we expected,” he said.

He said items were a mix of “everything” with the majority turned in by older residents.

Other police incidents:

* Brandon LeBlanc, 21, of Chesterville, struck a deer at 8:48 a.m. Sept. 18 as he was driving west along Main Street. His four-door Volkswagen sustained $1,500 damage. The deer was injured and had to be killed.

* Gary Holman, 22, of Carthage, lost control of his vehicle at 6:56 a.m. Sept. 23 as he was driving east along Route 2 near Morrison Hill. Holman apparently fell asleep. The car hit a ditch, rolled over, hit a utility pole and caught fire. He declined to be transported by Med-Care Ambulance Service. Howe said he sustained bumps and bruises. The vehicle was destroyed, as was the utility pole, which was replaced by Central Maine Power Co.

* Timothy Chamberlain, 42, Benton, was arrested on a charge of violating conditions of parole, 1 a.m. Sept. 25. He was taken to the Oxford County Jail.

* Mitchell Lemay, 18, Peru, was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct, at 9 p.m. Sept. 25 at Dirigo High School. He was released from the Dixfield Police Department on $300 unsecured bail. He is scheduled to appear in Rumford District Court on Dec. 7.

* A Highland Avenue resident reported at 1:42 p.m. Sept. 18 that someone had entered his garage and taken an all-terrain vehicle helmet valued at $60.