Staff Writer
An Eagle Lake man is facing a number of charges, following his arrest August 3 in Bangor, stemming from a 2006 case involving a charge of trafficking in cocaine.
“On Oct. 14, 2006, agents of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) arrested Brad Plourde for trafficking in cocaine after his vehicle was stopped on I-95 in Sherman. Agents had followed Plourde and Donald Thibeault out of state and back to Aroostook County before they were stopped,” said MDEA Division Commander Darrell Crandall.
According to Crandall, agents seized cocaine valued at more thank $35,000 during the stop.
“Plourde, who was 22 years old and living in Eagle Lake at the time, was charged with aggravated trafficking in cocaine and he posted bail,” said Crandall.
Crandall said prior to Plourde’s initial court appearance, agents arrested him for violation of bail after he failed a urine test.
Again Plourde was granted bail and scheduled to appear in court Dec. 6, 2006. However, Plourde failed to appear in court and has subsequently been on the run ever since, Crandall said.
Since then, MDEA agents have actively sought Plourde, chasing down leads in Kennebec, Androscoggin and Penobscot counties.
“Agents have spent the ensuing two years searching for Plourde but were unable to catch up with him. Plourde is required by law to register as a sex offender but did not register with the state during this time period,” said Crandall.
Plourde was reportedly required to register as a sex offender following a conviction in Fort Kent District Court of criminal restraint involving a victim under the age of 14.
Plourde’s whereabouts came to the attention of law enforcement officials, when officials received information Plourde might be in the Bangor area.
“Recently, MDEA received a tip that Plourde was working in the Bangor are under an assumed name. the fugitive investigation accelerated again. On Monday (Aug. 3) afternoon, agents pieced together that Plourde had been arrested by the Bangor Police Department for a traffic offense on July 26, 2009, and that he provided identification in the name of Francis Leidy at that time,” said Crandall. “Agents tracked him under that name to a residence on Willow St. in Bangor and surrounded the house with Bangor police officers.”
When officers went to the residence, they were told by Plourde’s girlfriend that he was not present.
“Plourde’s girlfriend, 30-year-old Sarah Parlin, told agents that Plourde was not at the residence. Agents and officers searched the home, finding Plourde hiding behind a sofa in the basement. He was taken into custody without incident,” said Crandall.
In addition to using a false name, Crandall said Plourde had changed his appearance.
Parlin’s girlfriend has also been charged.
“Parlin, who misled police, was charged with hindering apprehension. Given the fact that there was a 3-month-old child in the home, DHHS was notified,” said Crandall.
Bangor police have also charged Plourde with aggravated forgery for his execution of a bail bond using a false name.
Crandall said a recent update to MDEA Web sites featuring fugitives may have factored into Plourde’s capture.
“When MDEA updated their Web site and created a Facebook page earlier this year, Plourde was one of the ‘fugitives’ added to those sites,” said Crandall, although he said it’s “not clear if any of the subsequent tips came from either of those.”
Crandall said Plourde would be transported back to Aroostook County to face the cocaine trafficking charges from 2006.
Anyone with information on drug trafficking in their community may call MDEA, toll free, at 800-452-6457 or leave tips anonymously at www.maine.gov/dps/mdeda.
Plourde – 2006
Plourde – 2009
