Brandon Pelletier, 25, was sought by the Biddeford Police Street Crimes Unit in connection with their investigation into recent overdoses of fentanyl-laced heroin, said Police Chief Roger Beaupre. Officers obtained an arrest warrant, charging trafficking in scheduled drugs, with a $50,000 bail attached.
On Friday, Biddeford officers put out the word that they’d learned Pelletier, who was also wanted on a probation violation connected to a felony robbery charge, might be traveling in Massachusetts.
They were right. According to Beaupre, Massachusetts State Police from the Sturbridge Barracks arrested Pelletier as a fugitive from justice, and after a search, charged him and a Waterboro man for possession of heroin.
According to a news release from Massachusetts State Police, Trooper Scott Shea overheard a “Be on the Lookout” broadcast for a red Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with a Maine registration.
“It was reported that a passenger in the vehicle had an active warrant for robbery and trafficking narcotics in Maine,” according to Massachusetts State Police.
Trooper Mathew Moran spotted the truck merging from Route 290 onto Route 90 prior to the tolls to the Massachusetts Turnpike in Auburn. Troopers stopped the vehicle and arrested the pair around 2:30 p.m.
Pelletier is expected to be extradited to Maine. He is being held in Massachusetts without bail on the fugitive from justice charge, and was issued a summons for heroin possession.
The driver, Michael Tingley, 33, of Waterboro, faces charges in Massachusetts of heroin possession and driving without a license. Bail for Tingley was set at $100.
This is the second reported arrest in connection with the fentanyl-laced heroin in the past week. On March 30, police arrested Edward Estes, 24, of Biddeford, who is suspected of selling heroin laced with the drug.
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 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