PARSONSFIELD – A series of threatening text messages escalated into a potentially violent confrontation Wednesday afternoon in a remote section of Parsonsfield, according to police.

Deputies from the York County Sheriff’s Department broke up the confrontation, arresting William Foster Jr., 48, of Parsonsfield, who was charged with terrorizing with a firearm, a Class C crime.

Major William L. King Jr. said the incident began earlier in the day with Foster and Paul Warner, 32, of Parsonsfield exchanging “threatening” text messages over what King described as a personal dispute.

Police were tipped off by Warner’s girlfriend, Audrey Walsh, 32, of Parsonsfield, that the men had decided to settle their differences in an area off Long Pond Road in Parsonsfield.

When deputies arrived, they found Warner and Walsh engaged in a heated shouting match with Foster, Chad Anthony, 20, of Parsonsfield, and a juvenile. The juvenile was seen threatening Warner with a stick.

Deputies, with assistance from the Maine Warden’s Service, broke up the fight and arrested Foster, who police allege brought a Marlin 336 rifle — a .32-caliber rifle with an attached scope — to the confrontation.

King said investigators determined that Foster brought the weapon to the scene in anticipation of a fight. Foster is being held at York County Jail on $5,000 cash bail.

The juvenile was issued a summons for criminal threatening.

Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:

dhoey@mainetoday.com