WATERVILLE $ A South End resident remained in jail Thursday after police Wednesday night searched his Halde Street house, seizing cocaine, hashish, marijuana, cash and weapons.

This is the second time in about a week that Harry Reed, 25, has been nabbed by police; on Dec. 9, he was summonsed for keeping dangerous and unlicensed dogs after his two pit bull terriers allegedly ripped and tore the ears of a neighbor's dog.

"Mr. Reed is someone who is known to the police," police Chief Joseph Massey said Thursday. "He was arrested in 2006 for possession of cocaine and we have had information over the years that he was certainly involved in illegal drug activity."

"So I'm very pleased that it worked out for us last night when we were able to get him and get some drugs before they were sold and went out on the street."

At about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Kennebec County Drug Task Force and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency officials searched Reed's single-family house at 8 Halde St., Massey said. The Task Force is made up of Waterville, Winslow, Oakland and Fairfield police officers, as well as deputies from the Kennebec County Sheriff's Office.

"When the officers made entry into the house, Mr. Reed was present along with a friend," Massey said. "Once the officers determined the friend had not committed any violations, he was released and left the residence, and a search of Mr. Reed produced 12 ounces of cocaine that was on his person, along with $1,400 in cash."

Officers also found one gram of hashish in the house and a usable amount of marijuana, Massey said. Hashish is concentrated resin from the flowering tops of a female hemp plant.

The street value of the cocaine is about $1,200 and the hashish, between $60 and $80, he said.

Also in the house was a locked safe and Reed told police it was not his and he did not have the combination to unlock it, according to Massey.

"The officers had to break into the safe and inside was a rifle, a loaded 12-gauge shotgun, a handgun and a knife," he said. "The guns were confiscated along with the knife. We're holding that for evidence."

Reed was charged with aggravated furnishing of scheduled drugs $ aggravated because there were firearms present $ unlawful possession of a scheduled drug and possession of marijuana, he said.

The charges were elevated because Reed had the drugs within 1,000 feet of a playground, according to Massey.

About 12 officers took part in the search of the house, he said.

"The officers had to deal with two pit bulls that were very ugly," Massey said.

"One of the officers Maced one of the pit bulls to get it under control."

The dogs were given to a member of Reed's family when he was taken to Kennebec County Jail in Augusta, Massey said.

Reed is scheduled to answer to the charges March 10 in Kennebec County Superior Court, Massey said.

"I'm very pleased they got Mr. Reed, that they got his guns and his weapons and that he currently sits in the county jail where at least for the short term he won't be dealing drugs," he said. "It was a good effort by the Kennebec County Drug Task Force. It shows our effectiveness when the agencies work together."

Amy Calder $ 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com