OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Four months of investigation into illegal drug trafficking in Old Orchard Beach has led to 44 people being charged with various crimes including 36 felonies, 50 misdemeanors and 15 civil violations.
Police Chief Dana Kelley announced the charges Monday and said 20 more active investigations are ongoing.
The charges are the result of a new, more aggressive and proactive approach to the problem, said Kelley, that arose after Old Orchard Beach Town Manager Mark Pearson received a phone call earlier this year from someone concerned about drugs in Old Orchard Beach. Pearson, who before becoming town manager served 26 years in law enforcement and has significant experience in drug investigations, got together with Kelley to discuss what could be done.
In a press conference Tuesday at the police department, Kelley said the drug charges include, but are not limited to, possession of illegal drugs and drug trafficking. Seized narcotics include: Crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine and assorted prescription drugs.
“It is estimated,” said Kelley, “that if sold, these narcotics would have a street value of over $155,000.”
Through the investigations, people were charged with additional crimes. Some were charged with theft, assault, violating conditions of release and outstanding warrants. The full list of charges is published today, in the arrest log at left.
One individual with whom police came into contact through their investigation, said Kelley, was Michael Amico, 41, of Old Orchard Beach. Amico is a “violent sexual predator who was arrested this weekend,” said the chief. Amico is charged with failing to comply with the sex offender registration act and prohibited contact with a minor.
The drug problem “isn’t anything new,” said Kelly. Old Orchard Beach, like many other communities around the state and across the country, has had drug problems for many years.
“What’s new,” he said, “is we’ve approached it from a different angle.”
Having the support of the town manager has been critical, said Kelley. Pearson “gave me the authority to go ahead and do what I needed to.”
Together, the men came up with a plan to reallocate some resources and devote more manpower to investigating drug cases. Through the current budget and using the same number of personnel, two officers became investigators.
Previously, patrol officers investigated drug complaints. Now undercover and plain-clothes officers conduct the investigations, and they are much more effective, said Kelley.
In addition, he said, 12 state and federal agencies have lent their support, including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, in both Maine and Washington state; U.S. postal inspectors in both Maine and California; the High Impact Drug Trafficking Areas Portland Office; the Southern Maine Violent Crimes Task Force; the Saco and Scarborough police departments; the Maine State Police; the Sagadahoc and Washington counties sheriff’s departments; and the Lincoln, Calif. Police Department.
“Our objective is to pursue every complaint that we get,” said Kelley. “I think there’s a lot more” drug activity, he said, but added, “I’m pleasantly surprised by the success that we’ve had.”
“We feel through this effort,” he said, “we’ll see a reduction in other crimes.”
“This goes to quality of life,” said Pearson.
Those involved in drugs are often involved in other crimes, he said, which have a high cost and destructive effect throughout society. Drug-related crimes can include anything such as shoplifting, assault, carjacking and home invasions.
Being more aggressive in dealing with drugs should also be good for tourism, said Pearson, upon which the town’s economy is dependent.
The town manager said he hopes people in the community will now realize if they call in a drug complaint “it will be looked into.”
He said the department needs the public’s help.
Anyone with information regarding illegal drug activity is asked to call the Old Orchard Beach Police Department at 937-5837. They should leave a message and someone will return the call. It is not necessary to leave a name, said Kelley, but it would be helpful to investigators.
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less