MDEA agents make three Easton meth arrests
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By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
EASTON — Three residents were charged Feb. 1 with trafficking and possession of methamphetamine, following an investigation by agents with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
“On Wednesday afternoon, MDEA agents purchased methamphetamine from Lucy Allen, 28, of Easton. This transaction was part of an ongoing MDEA investigation,” said Darrell Crandall, MDEA division commander.
According to Crandall, over the past several weeks agents had been looking into reports that Allen and her boyfriend, Brian Holmes, 32, of Easton, were making and selling the drug. An informant arranged a meeting with Allen that subsequently led to the arrests.
“Allen met with an MDEA informant in Westfield, and after she sold methamphetamine to the informant, she was immediately taken into custody. With her was 32-year-old Curtis Barnes, also of Easton,” said Crandall.
Barnes was found to be in possession of meth and was charged.
Following the transaction in Westfield, law enforcement officers continued their investigation at the residence shared by Holmes and Allen in Easton.
“MDEA agents and state police then went to a house trailer on the Bear Trap Road in Easton that is the home of Holmes and Allen. Holmes was taken into custody on an arrest warrant charging probation revocation for a sexual abuse of a minor conviction,” said Crandall.
While at the trailer, agents observed items consistent with those used to make methamphetamine, Crandall said.
“A search warrant was obtained and members of MDEA’s lab team responded to the residence. After nearly four hours of processing and sampling evidence, agents seized pre-cursor drugs, chemicals, solvents, equipment and methamphetamine. Agents also seized materials used in several prior ‘cooking’ operations, as well as detailed logs of those operations,” said Crandall.
Holmes and Allen are both charged with Class B trafficking in methamphetamine, while Barnes is charged with Class C possession of methamphetamine. The trafficking offense carries a 10-year maximum jail sentence.
Crandall said statewide law enforcement officials have seen an increase in drug manufacturing. The most recent in Aroostook County occurred earlier this year when a meth lab was discovered at a house on Maine Street in Presque Isle, with subsequent arrests made in that case. Crandall noted he is still awaiting test results to determine exactly what type of drug was found in a motor home located in a Fort Fairfield parking lot.
“Lately, we have had a surge in drug manufacturing incidents — not just in Aroostook County but across the state,” said Crandall.
Anyone with information on drug crimes is asked to call the MDEA, toll free, at 800-452-6457, visit www.maine.gov/dps/mdea or look on Facebook at www.facebook.com/maine.drug.enforcement.agency.
