TOPSHAM

Police have arrested a man who had been held at gunpoint by a resident and charged him with theft.

Early Saturday morning at 3:35 a.m., police received a call from a Cathance Road resident saying he was holding a suspect at gunpoint. Lt. Fred Dunn said the man told police he awoke to a noise in the backyard, went outside to investigate and had taken a firearm with him for the safety of himself and his family.

The man had noticed two of his medical marijuana plants were missing from the backyard and followed a trail of dirt approximately 60 yards “and found a guy sitting on his marijuana plants,” Dunn said.

The suspect began to get aggressive toward the homeowner, who held him there until police arrived to find the homeowner holding a handgun. Officers had him lower the gun and unloaded it.

The suspect, Dunn said, told police he was snooping on his girlfriend and couldn’t explain why he was sitting on marijuana plants.

Police arrested Robert Henson, 33, of Brunswick and charged him with felony theft.

The resident told police the plants were valued at $1,000 each. A third plant was damaged. There were allegedly two other suspects involved who were not found.

The homeowner called back Sunday morning and reported that someone returned overnight, used a ladder to get over a fence and took another four marijuana plants. Police still have no suspects in this incident.

It was a busy weekend for Topsham police, who also responded to assaults, thefts and a domestic assault that turned into an operating under the influence charge.

Friday at around 8 p.m., police were called to a report of arguing and a fight between a man and his ex-girlfriend at Whispering Pines at 53 Winter St.

Lt. Dunn said 26-year-old Joshua Alves of Topsham allegedly assaulted his ex-girlfriend — a 32-year-old woman — and punched another woman in the face trying to intervene on her behalf.

Alves was arrested, charged with domestic assault and also simple assault for punching the second woman. He was taken to the police station, posted bail and was told not to return to the Whispering Pines address.

However, Dunn said when Sgt. Mark Gilliam went back to get statements from the victim, Alves allegedly pulled in with his car and was visibly intoxicated. At around 11 p.m., he was arrested, charged with operating under the influence and violation of conditions of release. He was taken to Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.

Topsham police were called to Barrows Drive at around 9 p.m. Friday for an assault. Sgt. Robert Ramsay said the victim, 44, knew the two young men involved and was arguing with the 18- and 20-year old in the kitchen about giving the underage men alcohol.

Ramsay said the victim refused to give the younger men alcohol so one of them, Tyler Ciciotte, 18, allegedly grabbed him by the head, struck his head on the kitchen counter, got into the refrigerator and took a 12-pack of Natural Light beer and some Palm Mall cigarettes.

Police put out an advisory based on information that Ciciotte and the other male, 20-year-old Michael Warden of Brunswick, may be headed to Freeport. Freeport police found the two in a parking lot in Freeport.

Ciciotte was issued a summons and charged with theft, assault and possession of alcohol by a minor. Warden was summonsed for theft and violation of conditions of release. Ramsay said pending review by the county’s district attorney, the charges could be upgraded to robbery.

Police responded to a reported fight near the Swinging Bridge at around 4 p.m. Friday. Ramsay said Chad Breton-Dwyer, 22, of Lisbon was fighting with a 16-yearold male of Topsham.

Two men were passing by and witnessed the fight. One tried to break it up at which point Ramsay said Breton- Dwyer pulled out what turned out to be a box cutter, brandishing it in threatening manner. The good Samaritan in a defensive maneuver, punched Breton- Dwyer causing him to drop the box cutter.

Breton-Dwyer was charged with criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct and violation of conditions of release. He was taken to Two Bridges Regional Jail.

The 16-year-old male was charged with disorderly conduct and possession of alcohol by a minor by consumption, and was released to a parent.

After receiving reports of two individuals laying on the bike path in the Maple and Bridge street area at 11:19 p.m. Saturday, police located two men laying on the path allegedly smoking marijuana, Ramsay said. Both had warrants for their arrest and were taken to Two Bridges Regional Jail.

Michael Porter, 19, of Bowdoinham was arrested on a “no bail” warrant, and summonsed for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Codi Parker, 20, a transient, was arrested on a probation revocation warrant and violation of conditions of release, and issued summonses for giving a false name and date of birth to a police officer, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

dmoore@timesrecord.com