WARREN, Maine — A 26-year-old Warren man was arrested early Friday morning and charged with breaking into a store to steal a variety of herbal mixes.
Travis W. Carter was arrested at 1 a.m. Friday after the Knox County Sheriff’s Office executed a search a warrant. He was charged with burglary, theft, and criminal mischief at Townline Video Plus on Route 1 in Warren near the Waldoboro line.
The break-in that Carter is charged with occurred Sunday evening. A door was forced open at the store and a large amount of herbal incense known as Rip It, Mad Monkey, and Crazy Monkey were reported stolen. Packages of cigarettes were on the floor, according to the police report filed by the sheriff’s office in Rockland District Court.
A surveillance camera showed a male, about 6 feet tall with a hooded sweatshirt breaking into the store. The owner Betsy Piper told police she believed the person on the video was Carter, according to the police report.
Deputies Paul Spear and Michael Sprague went to Carter’s residence the night of the break-in and he denied involvement in the crime. He acknowledged he was addicted to the substance known as Rip It.
Officers spotted some herbal mixes and a sweatshirt matching the video in his home.
Officers returned Thursday night with a search warrant and recovered mixes believed to be tied to the burglary and arrested Carter.
Townline Video Plus owner Betsy Piper said the products she sells mimic marijuana but are legal to sell in Maine. Piper only sells the synthetic herbs to people 18 and older. The store is located near Medomak Valley High School in neighboring Waldoboro but she said those students are not Crazy Monkey customers.
“You’ve to got to take advantage of every niche in the market you can to survive in this crappy economy,” she said.
Though the faux weed, which gives users a brief high, is legit, Knox County Sheriff Donna Dennison wishes the state Legislature would outlaw them.
Carter made his initial court appearance Friday afternoon in Rockland District Court. Judge Patricia Worth set bail at $250 cash. He was still being held Friday evening.