HAMPDEN, Maine — While Hampden might appear to be a sleepy little bedroom community, it is not immune from drugs and the illegal activities that come with them.
Marijuana, cocaine and the synthetic hallucinogenic drugs known as bath salts are three of the substances that Hampden public safety personnel have been dealing with in recent months and police here are taking the incidents seriously.
In a recap this week, Sgt. Christian Bailey discussed five recent investigations in Hampden that led to criminal charges ranging from possession of drugs and paraphernalia to marijuana cultivation.
Eighty-four marijuana plants were destroyed before they could be sold on the streets and a firearm was seized from a prohibited person, said Bailey, who has been a police officer in Hampden for 19 years.
Though he did not have statistics handy, Bailey said it seemed like a busier summer than usual when it comes to drug activity.
“We’re concerned about the negative effects of drug use and abuse in the community. We want to assure people that we’re actively pursuing leads and gathering information,” he said.
Following are the outcomes of recent drug investigations led by Officers Marc Egan, Benson Eyles and Joel Small:
— Hampden resident Michael Havlin, 19, was charged with marijuana cultivation and possession of drug paraphernalia as the result of a search warrant executed at his home in July. He also was charged with possession of liquor by a minor, Bailey said.
— Jay Mallory, 53, of Hampden was charged with marijuana cultivation, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a firearm by a felon, a Class C felony, after a search warrant was executed at his home in September, Bailey said.
— Also last month, Eugene Judkins, 53, of Hampden was charged with marijuana cultivation as the result of a search warrant, Bailey said.
— Jessica Bryden, 18, of Bangor was charged with multiple offenses in September after police received a call from the Best Western White House Inn asking that she be removed from a room she was occupying there, Bailey said.
When they arrived and spotted drug paraphernalia and what appeared to be cocaine in the room, Hampden Public Safety Director Joe Rogers called in Maine Drug Enforcement Agency personnel, who conducted field testing that led to charges of possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia.
Bryden also was charged with assault after attempting to kick Small, Bailey said. He said Bryden became “very upset” when officers secured her cell phone as evidence in the case. Also confiscated was what Bailey described as a “large amount of cash.” Though he did not disclose the exact amount, he did say the total was in the thousands.
— Thomas Dunroe, 45, of Hampden was charged with aggravated marijuana cultivation as well as possession of cocaine as the result of a September search warrant executed at his home, Bailey said. He said the cultivation charge was elevated to aggravated because of a prior conviction.
Another area of concern for Hampden public safety personnel is bath salts because of the extreme behavior sometime resulting from their use. The behavior can be so bizarre that it poses safety risks for the public, police and the users, he said.
In Hampden, the designer drug was confirmed in one recent incident and suspected in two others.
Two of the cases involved men, one of them 37 and the other 24, who were taken to the hospital because they believed they were being chased in unrelated incidents.
The other incident involved a 30-year-old man who turned up in a Hampden backyard staggering and clad only in his underwear, Bailey said. The man had shaved his entire body because he believed that bugs were coming out of his skin.
Though bath salts have not yet been found in Hampden schools, Bailey said, public safety and school officials alike are preparing for the likelihood they will turn up.
“School is a microcosm of the community,” he said. “What happens outside of school eventually will trickle in.
To that end, Bailey said, Sgt. Dan Stewart has conducted training at Hampden Academy and Reeds Brook Middle School so staff will known what bath salts are, how they affect the body, what to do if they suspect someone is under the influence of bath salts and what services are available for those who need help.
School officials plan to provide similar information to high school students, he said.