A Friendship man headbutted a Knox County sheriff’s lieutenant in the face and brandished a knife during a drug arrest Wednesday, according to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
A search of a nearby residence turned up large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and ecstasy.
The arrest followed a months-long investigation by the MDEA Mid-Coast District Task Force and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and included undercover purchases of cocaine from Wesley Winchenbach, 48, of Friendship, according to a statement from the MDEA.
On Wednesday, agents were conducting surveillance on Winchenbach’s home when they saw Winchenbach and Scott Nason, 48, leave the residence in Winchenbach’s vehicle. They discovered that Nason had four active arrest warrants and an officer stopped the vehicle.
Nason fled on foot and struggled with Lt. Reginald Walker after he was apprehended, headbutting Walker and holding a knife during the struggle. Walker was treated at the scene by EMS and taken to Pen Bay Hospital, where he was later released with facial injuries.
Winchenbach fled in his vehicle but was followed by MDEA agents back to his residence at 346 Waldoboro Road, where he was detained. A search revealed 510 grams of cocaine, 11.3 grams of crack cocaine, 27 grams of methamphetamine, 40 grams of fentanyl and 81 ecstasy pills.
Winchenbach was transported to Miles Hospital for medical issues related to drug use and will be charged upon release, police said.
Nason was charged with assault on an officer, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and refusing to submit to arrest, along with the four outstanding warrants. He was held without bail at Knox County Correctional Facility. Additional arrests are expected.