OAKFIELD, Maine — An Oakfield man was arrested and charged with aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine on Tuesday after the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency reported finding the components of a meth lab in his vehicle.
Peter Arno, division commander of the MDEA, said in a statement Wednesday that Bo Branscombe, 26, was charged with the felony crime.
According to Arno, the MDEA recently opened an investigation after obtaining information that Branscombe might be “driving around his light blue Ford Escort with an active lab or components … needed to produce methamphetamine.”
The information was also relayed to other area police agencies so that they could be on the lookout for Branscombe and the car.
At approximately 3 p.m. on Tuesday, a Maine State Police trooper located Branscombe and his vehicle traveling through Oakfield and conducted a traffic stop, Arno said.
During the stop, the trooper could see in the car a significant amount of material consistent with items needed to manufacture methamphetamine, according to Arno.
Branscombe was arrested and taken to the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton.
On Wednesday, the MDEA lab team executed a search warrant on the vehicle. Arno said that a significant amount of evidence gathered during the search supported the allegation that Branscombe intended to, or was actively involved in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Branscombe made an initial court appearance on Oct. 2. Bail was set at $5,000 cash and he remains in the Aroostook County Jail. The charge against him was elevated to a Class A felony because of a prior felony conviction on methamphetamine possession.