WATERVILLE — A man is facing an aggravated trafficking charge after he reportedly stashed about 3 pounds of marijuana, cash, scales and a ledger in a safe inside a vehicle.

Some of the marijuana was in the form of cookie sheet-sized slabs, which is unusual, according to police Chief Joseph Massey.

Adam Bajpai, 20, was charged Sunday with aggravated trafficking in marijuana, a class B felony, after police responded to what was reported as a fight at 82 North St., Massey said Tuesday.

Sgt. Lincoln Ryder and officers Dennis Picard and Galen Estes arrived at 1:45 p.m., found several people outside the single-family home and spoke with a woman tenant to ask what was going on, Massey said.

She told police she had let Bajpai stay in the cellar but when she told him she wanted him to leave, an argument ensued and several people went outside and started arguing, Massey said.

“The reason she wanted him (Bajpai) out, she told officer Estes, was that he was selling drugs,” he said.

She told police that Bajpai had bought about a pound of marijuana a couple of days earlier and it was in a safe in a nearby vehicle, Massey said.

Bajpai admitted to police that there was marijuana in the safe and he opened it for them, Massey said.

“In the safe was marijuana, a ledger, some small scales and what appeared to be sheets of marijuana — two sheets — and loose, leafy marijuana,” Massey said. “In all, there were two pounds and 9 ounces of marijuana and $1,386 in cash.”

Because Bajpai cooperated with police and they knew him, he was summoned rather than arrested, Massey said.

The charge of aggravated trafficking was elevated to a class B felony because the incident took place near a prohibited area — the Alfond Youth Center, he said.

Bajpai is scheduled to appear at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 30 in Kennebec County Superior Court in Augusta.

“It was good work by the officers, and we now have about 3 pounds of marijuana that’s not on the streets,” Massey said.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com