A midday altercation between two men on Commercial Street in Boothbay Harbor last Friday ended with one man's arrest on drug possession charges.

Boothbay Harbor Police Chief Robert Hasch said the police department received several calls from witnesses about a fight between two men at about 1:30 p.m. Hasch said he and Officer Richard Mirabile arrived on scene within a minute of the first call.

According to Hasch, Greg Warlo, 29, of Boothbay Harbor, was leaving Blue Moon Cafe when he was accosted by Paul Copeland, 26, of Boothbay Harbor, on Commercial Street. The two men, who did not previously know each other, began a heated verbal argument on the street.

Warlo eventually returned to his car and retrieved a butcher knife to defend himself, police said. When Copeland retreated, Warlo, knife in hand, chased him more than 100 feet down Commercial Street. According to Hasch, witnesses told police Copeland threatened to shoot Warlo.

Police found Copeland, who had fled the scene, about three minutes after their arrival. They searched Copeland and his vehicle but did not find a gun. They did, however, allegedly find prescription narcotics, for which Copeland did not have a prescription, according to police.

Police issued summons to both men for disorderly conduct. Copeland was charged on Saturday with felony possession of scheduled drugs. Neither man was injured during the fight.

Hasch said Warlo was within his rights to defend himself with the knife when threatened by Copeland, but his actions ceased to be self-defense when he pursued Copeland.