BIDDEFORD — A 65-year old Biddeford man has been arrested and charged with selling crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of Thornton Academy in Saco.

Maine Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland said the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency took Reginald Gilbert into custody in Biddeford on Wednesday. He is charged with aggravated trafficking in crack cocaine, a Class A felony.

McCausland said drug agents plan to seek additional charges after allegedly turning up 21 grams of cocaine concealed in a hidden compartment in Gilbert’s vehicle.

“For the past 2 months, agents from the York County Maine Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force have been investigating Gilbert for drug sales and agents made several undercover purchases of crack from him — all in a designated safe zone,” McCausland said in a news release.

Gilbert’s car was first spotted parked on Scammon Street Extension in Saco, within 1,000 feet of Thornton Academy, on Wednesday, and was then driven to Biddeford where it was stopped by authorities, McCausland said.

Police searched Gilbert’s apartment and his car, where the drugs were allegedly found.

He was taken to York County Jail and held in lieu of $10,000 cash bail. Gilbert was expected to make a first court appearance on Friday by video from the Alfred jail to Biddeford District Court.

Gilbert had been convicted of cocaine trafficking in 2014.

Biddeford Police and a Maine State Police dog assisted in this week’s arrest.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.