RUMFORD — A local driver charged with having two concealed pistols, speeding and eluding police was arrested Thursday morning by Police Chief Tony Milligan, who suited up in his uniform to patrol for speeders on South Rumford Road on his way to work.

Joshua Kinzel Rumford Police Department photo

Milligan said Joshua Kinzel, 38, of Rumford was driving a Ford pickup at more than 30 mph over the speed limit, and when he attempted to stop him Kinzel sped off at a dangerous speed on the icy road. He turned onto Hall Hill Road and pulled into a driveway to hide.

Milligan said Kinzel was armed with two concealed semi-automatic pistols.

Kinzel was charged with criminal speeding, driving to endanger, attempting to elude police, operating after license suspension (second offense), being a person prohibited from possessing firearms, failure to inform police of being in possession of a concealed weapon, and failure to provide evidence of liability insurance.

Kinzel was taken to the Oxford County Jail in South Paris and is scheduled for an initial arraignment in the Rumford District Court on Aug. 14

“We have been getting complaints from residents on the South Rumford Road and Route 232 of speeding and distracted drivers,” Milligan said. “To help busy officers address the problem, I decided to put my uniform on and change my route on the way into the office.

“This is the second day in a row that a motorist was caught driving at dangerous speeds on the South Rumford Road and will now have their day in court to explain to the judge why they chose to endanger themselves and others,” he said.

The chief said, “Residents in the out-of-town areas can expect a continued increase of marked and unmarked police cruisers in their neighborhoods taking enforcement action against dangerous drivers.”