STARKS -- Lots of drugs, cash, and assorted illegal pharmaceuticals were seized in cars coming and going to Harvest Fest in Starks over the weekend, a three-day music festival sponsored by the Maine Vocals, whose mission is to legalize marijuana.

It is estimated at least 150 cars were stopped and more than 100 pounds of marijuana were seized along with Ecstasy, speed, mescaline, illegal prescription medications and cocaine, according to police.

"We are seeing a lot of drugs. That is the purpose for the festival, after all," said Maine State Police Sgt. Vicki Gardner.

This will be the last concert the Maine Vocals will hold in Starks at Harry Brown's farm. Their next festival will be held in Harmony on Carson Hill Road later this month. As is usual for these events, participants can come for the day or camp out to hear bands that play from morning until after midnight.

Starting on Friday, special police details were patrolling along U.S. Route 2 and Route 134 in New Sharon, with officers stopping cars for traffic violations or faulty equipment, they said.

On hand was Jack, a drug-detection police dog, and his handler, Franklin County Sheriff's Officer Chris Chase. The K-9 is trained to indicate if drugs are in a car or on a person.

A sampling of the more dramatic cases over the weekend: More than $4,500 was seized Saturday in Wilton along with evidence of drug trafficking, and $1,300 in cash and marijuana were seized from an alleged vendor who had set up shop along the access road to the festival, according to police.

Police said one incident started at about 10 a.m. Sunday when a driver who was allegedly speeding refused to pull over for State Police Trooper Aaron Turcotte on U.S. Route 2 near Route 134.

The driver, Russell E. Davidson, 24, of Northwood, N.H., allegedly led State Police on a chase that went nearly 10 miles to downtown Farmington. Turcotte said Davidson swung past McDonald's on Main Street, turned on to Prescott Street and circled back to U.S. Route 2 with police in pursuit.

He then pulled into the parking lot of the Farmington Municipal Building at 153 Farmington Falls Road -- which also houses the Farmington Police Department -- and met up with Farmington Officers Darrin Gilbert and Matt Brann. They unsuccessfully tried to block Davidson in but he got away and headed back toward New Sharon, where his car was stopped by road spikes.

Davidson and his passenger, Tyrus James, 22, also of New Hampshire, had in the car an estimated two pounds of marijuana they had allegedly purchased at Harvest Fest and were taking home to sell, Turcotte said.

Davidson was arrested and charged with felony trafficking in marijuana, driving to endanger, eluding police, and passing a police roadblock. James was charged with felony drug trafficking. Bail for both men was set at $5,000 cash and as of Sunday night, they remained at the Franklin County Detention Center.

In Wilton on Saturday, police stopped a car operated by Kenneth Frost, 26, of Fryeburg, who had been at Harvest Fest and was heading home. According to Officers Rick Billian and Ted Neil, a search turned up $4,057 in cash, packaged marijuana and other evidence. Frost was summonsed for felony drug trafficking.

On Sunday, troopers arrested Gary Porter, 52, of Jackson, who was allegedly openly selling pot along the access road to the festival. They seized a pound and a half of pot, $1,300 in cash and charged him with trafficking in marijuana, a felony.

Betty Jespersen -- 778-6991

bjespersen@centralmaine.com