Trescott Police Standoff Leads to Drug Charges

A police standoff in Trescott Wednesday night led to drug charges for a local man and two residents of New York.

Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland says the arrests were part of an ongoing criminal investigation into alleged smuggling of heroin and cocaine from New York into Washington County. The investigation included alleged drug purchases by undercover agents from two of the suspects at the home. Maine Drug Enforcement agents and Washington County Sheriff's deputies served a search warrant Wednesday night at the County Road home of Mark Fields. Law enforcement surrounded the house at around 9 p.m. and made contact with Fields, telling him of the warrant and directing everyone to exit the building. The occupants refused the demand and allegedly made threats of violence against the agents and deputies.

After several more attempts to get the people to comply, MDEA requested the State Police tactical team. This went on for several more hours before tactical team officers were able to get the suspects out of the house. The final of the three suspects was arrested at 5:30 Thursday morning. Taken into custody were:

• Mark Fields, 31 of Tremont, charged with trafficking in cocaine base and creating a police standoff
• Darius Hutchinson, 25 of New York, charged with trafficking in heroin and cocaine base and creating a police standoff
• Justin Melendez, 25 of New York, trafficking in heroin and cocaine base

MDEA agents then searched the house and found that the suspects had allegedly tried to dispose of the evidence. Despite that, more than half an ounce of crack cocaine was recovered by excavating the septic system. In addition, agents seized more than $10,000 in cash, believed to be proceeds from drug sales.