PALMYRA, Maine — Three people were arrested Friday on felony drug trafficking charges after the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a home on Ell Hill Road, according to the county’s top law enforcement official.
In a statement released Friday, Sheriff Dale Lancaster indicated that police seized 288 grams of heroin with a street value of approximately $84,000. The amount of the drug is estimated to constitute approximately 2,800 bags, or individual doses, each of which could have been sold for between $25 and $40, he said.
“This is one of the largest heroin seizures that has taken place in Somerset County within recent years,” Lancaster said in the news release.
Police also found and seized $1,090 in cash, a “small amount” of marijuana, hashish, assorted prescription pills and drug-related paraphernalia and documents, the sheriff added.
Arrested in the incident on aggravating drug trafficking charges were Melissa Collamore, 49, and Eric Hamilton, 45, who live at 81 Ell Hill Road, where the search warrant was executed. Kevin Cookson, 56, of Newport also was arrested and charged.
In a separate statement about the drug bust posted on the sheriff’s department Facebook page, department staff indicated that each individual dose is about one-tenth of a gram, which means dealers can earn between $250 and $400 for each gram they sell.
“With that in mind, there are areas in New York and Connecticut, where a gram of heroin can be bought for as little as $60-$100 per gram, so running those numbers, it’s easy to see why heroin is so prevalent in [this] area, and how the prospect of ‘easy money’ is so appealing to some people,” the Facebook post indicated. “To anyone who is not able to obtain their heroin this weekend, due to this seizure, we would be happy to address your complaints, or concerns.”
In addition to a Class Class A aggravated trafficking charge, each of the arrestees also has been charged with Class B trafficking in heroin, and Class D possession of heroin. The Class A and B charges are both felonies and the Class D charge is a misdemeanor.
Convictions on Class A crimes are punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. Class B crimes carry a maximum possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $20,000. Class D crimes are punishable by a maximum possible penalty of 364 days in jail and a fine of $2,000.
Collamore also was arrested on a warrant out of Waldo County on a Class C charge of negotiating a worthless instrument, according to Lancaster. Convictions on Class C crimes, which also are felonies, are punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Police obtained a search warrant after receiving information alleging Collamore and Hamilton were selling heroin from their home, Lancaster indicated. In addition to Somerset County Sheriff’s Department deputies, led by Detective Lt. Carl E. Gottardi II, Maine State Police and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency have been involved in the investigation.
The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests and charges are expected, police indicated in the release. Once all of the seized evidence is processed and identified, additional charges may be lodged against the three arrestees.
