Maine Revised Statutes Title 4. Judiciary § 171. Duty on receipt of complaints

When complaint is made to the proper officer of the District Court charging a person with the commission of a criminal offense, that officer shall issue a warrant for the person’s arrest or a summons in such form and under such circumstances as the Supreme Judicial Court may by rule provide.

The officer may, and on complaint shall, cause to be arrested persons found within the officer’s county or in an adjoining county under the conditions specified in the first paragraph of section 161 charged with offenses; and those having committed offenses therein or in an adjoining county who have escaped therefrom or from an adjoining county; and all persons charged with offenses and crimes, and all affrayers, rioters, breakers of the peace and violators of the law, and may require such offenders to find sureties for keeping the peace.

A district judge may try those brought before that judge for offenses within that judge’s jurisdiction, although the penalty or fine accrues wholly or partly to that judge’s town.

Warrants issued by the proper officer of the District Court in criminal cases must be signed by that officer at the time they are issued.