CASTINE, Maine — The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the discovery of an unknown substance found in a coffee pot on the campus of Maine Maritime Academy last week.
The substance was discovered on Friday, but not until at least two people had taken a drink from the pot, according to Deputy Scott Kane.
The coffee was located in a classroom in Rogers Hall on the college’s waterfront area. Apparently, an MMA professor regularly makes coffee for himself and students.
“He’s been doing it for the last 15 years or so,” said Chief Deputy Richard Bishop.
When the professor went to empty the pot on Friday, he discovered the substance. He notified campus security, according to an MMA spokesperson, who, in turn, called the deputies.
Bishop said there is some suspicion that the substance may have been some type of feces, either human or animal. The substance is being analyzed now, he said.
It was not clear Tuesday what charges could be filed, if any.
“We’re not sure what we’ve got,” Kane said Tuesday. “We’ve sent it off to the crime lab to determine what it was. We’re waiting to see what it was and then go on from there. We’ll see if there’s something that can help us tie it to whoever did this.”
There are 13 students in the class, Kane said. There have been no reports of anyone becoming ill from drinking from the coffee pot, he said. They have emailed students in the class in an effort to determine whether anyone drank anything. So far, they have heard back from just one student and the professor who had.
“We’re waiting for other replies,” Kane said.
The college is cooperating with the investigation.