BIDDEFORD — Police and state drug agents have caught up with a Massachusetts man they say has been selling fentanyl and cocaine in a zone around a local parochial school.
As well, police say Frank Barrett has been selling drugs in other locations in Biddeford and across the river in Saco.
Barrett, 44, has an address in Hyde Park, Massachusetts, although local police say they they believe he has been living in Biddeford for a while.
He is charged with Class A felony aggravated trafficking in crack cocaine — allegedly selling the drug in the school zone that is in proximity to St. James School, said Biddeford Deputy Police Chief JoAnne Fisk. A trafficking charge is elevated to aggravated trafficking if the alleged activity takes place within 1,000 feet of a private or public school, according to Maine statutes.
Barrett was also charged with Class A felony aggravated trafficking in fentanyl. Maine Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland said the aggravating factor in that charge is due to a 2012 felony drug conviction in Massachusetts.
He is held at York County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail and is scheduled to appear at Biddeford District Court by video from the jail on Friday.
Drug Enforcement investigators and Biddeford Police arrested Barrett without incident in the Hannaford parking lot on Elm Street on Wednesday, said McCausland. He said agents seized about 10 grams of fentanyl from the suspect during the arrest.
“MDEA agents from the York District Task Force have been investigating Barrett for the past three months,” said McCausland.
The public safety spokesman said that during the investigation, agents made several undercover purchases of crack cocaine from Barrett.
The maximum prison term for a Class A crime is 30 years, upon conviction.
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@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