BREWER, Maine — Brewer police and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency officials are investigating a suspected methamphetamine lab at an apartment at 35 Maple St.
Brewer police obtained a search warrant for the residence as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged drug activity that began Tuesday, according to Deputy Chief Jason Moffitt and Lt. Chris Martin of the Brewer Police Department.
As of Wednesday afternoon, five people had been charged in connection with the investigation.
Jorge Irizarry, 32, of Bangor was charged with trafficking in heroin, falsifying physical evidence, refusal to submit to arrest and failure to provide correct name, date of birth and address.
Thomas White, 56, of Dedham was charged with a bail violation because he was in possession of alcohol, while Kevin Frost, 54, of Bangor had two active warrants. Robert Davis, 36, of Bangor had one active warrant for probation revocation and Melissa Morse, 46, of Brewer was charged with unlawful possession of oxycodone.
The series of incidents that led to the arrests began about 6 p.m. Tuesday, while Brewer police Detective Kristie Bouchard was watching a Maple Street residence that reportedly was the site of drug activity, the Brewer police officers said.
Bouchard saw people leaving the residence, one of whom she recognized as Irizarry, who had an active warrant for his arrest for a probation revocation related to a prior drug charge.
Bouchard attempted to stop Irizarry and arrest him near the entrance of the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge, but he resisted, and after a brief struggle fled from Bouchard on foot in the roadway portion of the bridge. Bouchard gave chase and used a Taser to subdue him.
With the help of two passersby, whose names were not released, Bouchard took Irizarry into custody. During the arrest, several packages of heroin that Irizarry allegedly tried to discard during the scuffle were found in his possession, as was paraphernalia commonly associated with drug trafficking.
Meanwhile, Moffitt saw a vehicle leaving the same Maple Street residence and pulled it over. White, who was the driver and owner of the vehicle, had bail conditions that made him subject to searches. A search of White and his vehicle turned up drug paraphernalia and alcohol, which he was not allowed to possess as a condition of his release.
Brewer police officers then secured the apartment and began the process of obtaining a search warrant for the apartment, Moffitt and Martin said. There were four people inside at the time and three of them were arrested.
Frost and Davis had active warrants, and Morse was arrested for oxycodone possession.
Once the search warrant was granted, Brewer police found evidence of drug activity and weapons possession. They also discovered what they believe to be the remnants of a clandestine lab for the manufacture of illicit drugs.
At that point, the search was stopped, the residence was secured and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency was notified.
The alleged drug operation remains under investigation by the MDEA and the Brewer Police Department.