Officers arrested a Norridgewock man Thursday evening in an incident that led to a deputy and woman getting bit by a dog.
The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at 508 Martin Stream Road, the home of Richard and Barbara Austin, at approximately 5:30 p.m. Dec. 20, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.
After deputies forced their way into the house, they encountered three dogs. One dog bit a deputy as well as Barbara Austin, who suffered a puncture wound on her hand. She was treated on the scene and refused to be taken to the hospital. The deputy did not require medical attention, according to the release.
While searching the home and surrounding property, deputies allegedly found and seized “a small amount of Fentanyl powder, a large amount of drug packaging material, drug cutting agents, digital scales, drug related documentation, $1,476 in cash, and drug related paraphernalia,” according to the release.
They arrested 33-year-old Richard Austin and charged him with aggravated trafficking and possession of fentanyl, a schedule W drug, which are Class A and Class C offenses respectively. He was also charged with violation of conditions of release, a Class E offense.
“The drug trafficking charge is aggravated due to a prior felony drug trafficking conviction stemming from a Somerset County Sheriff’s Office investigation and search warrant execution in 2008,” according to the release. “In 2008 Austin was involved in the sale/possession on Vicodin pills.”
John D. Williams visited Richard Austin’s property the night he allegedly shot Cpl. Eugene Cole of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, the Morning Sentinel reported Friday.
After allegedly killing Cole, police say Williams stole Cole’s cruiser, robbed a convenience store and called a friend. The friend met Williams near Richard Austin’s home on Martin Stream Road where Williams and his friend smoked out of a crack pipe, the Morning Sentinel reports.
Police also found Cole’s cruiser outside Richard Austin’s home after Williams left it behind and fled into the woods. A four-day manhunt ensued to find Williams. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.
Lancaster did not tell the Morning Sentinel if there was any relationship between Austin and Williams.
Detective Lt. Carl E. Gottardi II led the search and subsequent arrest of Richard Austin along with eight sheriff’s office detectives, patrol deputies and a Maine Drug Enforcement Agency agent. The arrest was the culmination of an investigation that took several months, according to the release.
Richard Austin is being held without bail and was expected to be arraigned Friday.
As the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office reviews the case, it might file additional charges against Richard Austin and others, according to the release.