BUXTON — Two Portland men are behind bars at York County Jail today after they allegedly took out a rifle and held up a homeowner over a drug debt.
The pair, Martin Bruneau, 24, and Ricky Swasey, 55, both of 1395 Congress St., were arrested Wednesday in Portland as a result of a joint investigation by Buxton Police and the York County Sheriff’s Office.
Buxton Police Chief Michael Grovo, in a prepared statement, said the arrests stem from an incident that occurred in Buxton just before 4 a.m. on June 18.
Grovo said two men drove up to a residence on the Parker Farm Road at 4:54 a.m. that day, and created a disturbance in the driveway.
“The homeowner came out to see what was taking place and encountered two people who were demanding money be given to them,” Grovo said in the statement. “While one of them continued to demand the money, the other person went to the trunk of their car, opened it and took out a rifle, displaying it to the homeowner. The homeowner gave the individuals $60, which they had demanded was owed to them for a drug debt.”
Grovo said an investigative team make up of Buxton Police and deputies from the York County Sheriff’s Office was able to determine the identities of the two people.
Police carried out the arrest in Portland Wednesday and also executed a search warrant of Bruneau and Swasey’s home, with the help of Portland Police, whom he said supplied a support team of officers to secure the residence before the search. The section of street in front of the residence was shut down momentarily while the search warrant was executed, Grovo said.
Both Bruneau and Swasey face armed robbery charges, a Class A felony that carries a maximum prison term of 30 years.
The pair remained at York County Jail this morning. Bruneau is held in lieu of $2,500 cash bail, while Swasey’s bail is $5,000. They could make a first court appearance later today. Arraignment on the charges is set for Oct. 27 at York County Superior Court in Alfred.
“The Buxton Police Department greatly appreciates the resources supplied by the York County Sheriff’s Office and the Portland Police Department in apprehending these two individuals,” Grovo said.
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].
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