Handwritten License Plate Leads to Drug Arrest for Maine Man

A Maine man who crashed a vehicle that had handwritten license plates and drugs inside of it was arrested by Rochester police on Wednesday night.

Benjamin Ball, 25, of Shapleigh, Maine, and his female passanger, Brandi Richmond, 28, of Sanford, Maine, fled from the vehicle before being taken into custody.

According to police officials, at about 8:30 p.m., an officer was patroling the area of Knight Street when he saw a person driving a vehicle with no headlights on. He pulled behind it and noticed a handwritten plate.

The officer turned on their emergency lights, but Ball allegedly did not pull over. He passed another vehicle, crossing the double yellow line, according to police officials.

Ball allegedly continued to drive erratically. He failed to make a turn on North Main Street and crashed.

Police allegedly located a handgun, fentanyl and methamphetamine in the vehicle.

Ball, who is a convicted felon and wanted in Oxford, Maine, was charged with three counts of reckless conduct, conduct after an accident, disobeying an officer, felon in possession of a deadly weapon, three counts of possession of controlled drugs, transporting drugs, criminal mischief, resisting arrest and being a fugitive from justice.

Richmond was charged with resisting arrest, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. She was released on bail and will be arraigned on July 8.

Ball is being held at Strafford County House of Corrections on no bail, according to a booking officer.

Contact Managing News Editor Kimberley Haas at Kimberley.Haas@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @KimberleyHaas.