Two people were arrested on drug and robbery related charges after a four-hour standoff with police in east-central Maine on Monday.
The Penobscot County Sheriff's Office said that around 2:50 p.m. Monday they responded to the scene of a barricaded person at 92 Bradley Road in Milford, a town of about 3,000 residents located about 5 miles north of Orono. The road was shut down and motorists were asked to avoid the area. Nearby residents were asked to shelter in place during the standoff.
About four hours later, the sheriff's office said the situation had been resolved.
They said the incident began when the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the sheriff's office were conducting an investigation on Bradley Road when "a situation involving weapons occurred," leading to additional law enforcement resources being called in.
The DEA said they became aware that a person who was believed to be at the residence to buy drugs was held at gunpoint and robbed by two people in the house.
The residence was eventually secured by law enforcement, and two people leaving the home were taken into custody. A third person who was experiencing medical issues was taken to the hospital.
"The Sheriff’s Office, Special Response Team responded to the scene," the sheriff's office said. "During a potential barricaded person situation, SRT members were able to negotiate a fourth individual to out of the home."
The DEA said two men were arrested and charged with robbery and drug trafficking offenses. They said the arrests stemmed from a "failed drug transaction involving firearms" inside the residence.
Ernest Newson, 45, of Utica, New York, was charged with robbery with a firearm, aggravated trafficking of crack cocaine and for violating his bail conditions on an earlier domestic violence assault, the DEA said. Brian Corvino, 35, of Milford, was charged with robbery with a firearm. They were taken to Penobscot County Jail, where they are being held without bail pending their initial court appearances.
The arrests were the result of an investigation that spanned several months, focusing on suspected drug trafficking activities by people living at 92 Bradley Road, the DEA said.
A search warrant was executed after the arrests were made, and agents located and seized a 9mm handgun and a BB gun pistol that looked like a semi-automatic handgun.
