FARMINGTON – A State Police trooper arrested a 19-year-old Strong man Monday, reporting that drugs were found on him and in his vehicle.
Ronal Cabe has been arrested three times since Jan. 23, all on drug-related charges, by the Farmington Police Department, MDEA and now State Police. The latest incident, which occurred after a MDEA agent said he found Cabe in possession of marijuana during a search, has resulted in him being charged with unlawful furnishing of a schedule drug and violating conditions of release. Both of these charges are misdemeanors.
Maine State Police Trooper Mathew Casavant arrested Cabe after a brief search of him and his vehicle on Front Street near downtown Farmington at 8:25 a.m on Feb. 16. In his affidavit, Casavant indicated that he recognized Cabe and knew that the Strong man was out on bail.
Cabe was first arrested by the Farmington Police Department following a traffic accident on Main Street on Jan. 27. He was charged with violating the conditions of release and trafficking in a Schedule Z drug, marijuana.
According to the Farmington Police Department, the younger Cabe was in a vehicle exiting onto Main Street out of a driveway when it struck another, northbound vehicle. On arriving at the scene, officers became concerned that Cabe was driving while impaired, and searched his vehicle to discover a quarter pound of marijuana, enough to elevate the charge to trafficking.
Cabe was at that point out on bail, having recently been arrested and charged with misdemeanor cultivating marijuana and trafficking marijuana. On Jan. 23, authorities searched a farmhouse on Streeter Road in Strong where Cabe and another man were staying, finding 16 marijuana plants and “an indoor marijuana cultivation operation,” according to MDEA Special Agent Supervisor Gerry Baril.
Casavant stated in the affidavit that he noticed Cabe behind Gifford’s ice cream shop, which is currently closed. He also said he was aware that Cabe was out on bail, with conditions allowing a search for drugs. On Cabe’s person, the trooper reported finding a small baggie of marijuana, as well as another small bag in Cabe’s vehicle. Casavant also wrote in the affidavit that he found roughly an ounce of marijuana in a 2-liter Lipton Ice Tea bottle which had been “designed to conceal drugs.”
Cabe pleaded not guilty to the new charges yesterday in Franklin County Superior Court. He was released on a $1,500 cash bail bond.
