BREWER, Maine — Police officials Friday identified the 30-year-old woman accused of producing methamphetamine inside a Brewer motel room.
Erica Hodgdon of Brewer faces a charge of unlawful trafficking in methamphetamine, a Class B crime, according to Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland.
Brewer police arrested Hodgdon Wednesday night at Vacationland Inn on an outstanding warrant for unpaid fines. They were investigating reports that she had been selling methamphetamine.
“Officers were unable to substantiate any drug dealing at that time,” McCausland said in a news release.
The next day, cleaning staff working inside Hodgdon’s room found items used in the “one pot” method of methamphetamine production. That method uses ingredients that are less restricted and easier to obtain, but also is significantly more dangerous for both the producer and police who break up labs, according to the Department of Environmental Protection.
The hotel reported the finding to Brewer police, who contacted the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and evacuated about 40 guests who were staying at the inn. The MDEA arrived around 2 p.m. and seized the items in the motel room. Guests were allowed back inside around 8 p.m.
“The Maine Department of Environmental Protection assisted in taking custody of the hazardous materials generated by the laboratory for destruction,” McCausland said.
This is the 38th time this year that the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency has been called to deal with a meth-related incident.
Hodgdon is scheduled to make her first court appearance Friday afternoon before a judge at Penobscot Judicial Center.
Follow Nick McCrea on Twitter at @nmccrea213.