Pubdate: Tue, 16 Jul 2002
Source: Sun Journal, The (NC)
Copyright: 2002 The New Bern Sun Journal
Contact:  http://www.newbernsunjournal.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1733
Author: Gail Geraghty

POLICE RAID FUDAFEST SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Nearly 50 law enforcement officers, led by the Maine State Police Tactical 
Team, conducted a surprise raid Saturday afternoon at Fudafest, detaining 
around 400 festival-goers for two hours while Aaron Fuda's 57 McKay Road 
property was searched for drugs, guns and evidence of illegal activity.

Fudafest organizer Aaron Fuda and several of his friends said Monday that 
the raid was an extremely frightening event for many people there, and a 
sizable number of people left the party after the police had gone.

"The impression was that you could be shot," said Eric Daicy of Gray, one 
of the vendors at the annual party, now in its 11th year. He said two 
officers stood with rifles on top of Fuda's bus. "They were sighting their 
guns over the crowd. They were aggressive, to say the least."

Seized in the raid were processed marijuana, 15 marijuana plants and 
psilocybin mushrooms, along with hand scales and around $2,000 in cash, 
according to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. Summonses were also issued 
to several people for the illegal sale of alcohol, and charges against Fuda 
are being reviewed by the state's Attorney General's Office and the Oxford 
County District Attorney for allegedly allowing the sale of drugs on his 
property.

The only person arrested Saturday was Christopher Chappell, 24, of Poland, 
who allegedly drove his van in the direction of Maine Drug Enforcement 
Special Agent Tony Milligan, refusing to stop. Chappell was charged with 
reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and obstructing government 
administration.

MDEA agent Gerry Baril said Norway police requested his agency's help 
because of complaints from parents about children coming home from the 
festival intoxicated, and drug overdose incidents. The tactical team was 
called in, he said, because of reports that a major drug dealer of Ecstasy 
and cocaine "was holed up behind the tire pile armed with a .357-caliber 
Magnum and a 9 millimeter pistol." The man was not located, he said.

"We wanted to get in and out safely, without inciting a riot," he said, 
explaining the presence of the tactical team, dressed in camouflage 
uniforms and face paint, with full tactical battle gear. The nearly 50 
officers created a perimeter around the festival and emerged all at once 
from the woods, just as a puppet show protesting unjust government 
interference was about to begin, according Fudafest participants.

Participating in the raid were MDEA agents; police from Norway, Paris, 
Livermore Falls, Jay and Bridgton; deputies from Androscoggin, Franklin and 
Oxford Counties; Maine State Police; the Bureau of Liquor Enforcement; 
Department of Probation and Parole; the Maine Warden Service; and the U.S. 
Border Patrol.

Baril said undercover agents who were at the three-day festival on Friday 
night were able to buy marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms.

"They had to stand in line to purchase the mushrooms, it was that bad," 
Baril said. "We're not trying to shut Fudafest down. We're trying to stop 
the unlawful and wholesale distribution of unlawful drugs."

Fuda said the party atmosphere was relaxed and peaceful before the raid, 
and that although most people were drinking, no one appeared to be doing 
any hard drugs such as heroin or cocaine. There was some hard drug use at 
the party last year, he said, and he let it be known that it would not be 
allowed this year.

"We were having a peaceful protest," said Faryl Orlinsky, who said police 
broke into her van to search it. "It made me feel like was I was raped."

Fuda said police had no right to seize his $2,000, which police allege is 
drug money. He said part of the money came from an insurance settlement, 
and the rest was raised from the sale of buttons at the festival.

"We've known all kinds of people here for years and years, we've never had 
any violence or hostility," Daicy said. "It all came from them."
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