By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Sometimes the search for one wanted person results in police finding additional criminal activity. Such was the case
Aug. 18 when Houlton Police officers were searching for 25-year-old Justin Lincoln, for a charge of probation violation.
Houlton Police officers went to a Foxcroft Road residence to search for Lincoln on the probation violation charge.
“Upon their arrival, Officers Stephen Nason and Gary McGuire received consent from the property owner to search the residence and the surrounding out buildings for Lincoln,” according to Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin. “During their search, officers discovered what they believed to be a methamphetamine lab, commonly referred to as a ‘one pot,’ in an unattached outbuilding. Additionally, officers located a number of precursor items used in connection with the manufacturing of this drug. 
Contributed Photo/Houlton Police Department
METH BUST — Officials from the Houlton Police Department, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Houlton Fire Department were at the scene of a meth bust on the Foxcroft Road Aug. 18. Two individuals were charged with trafficking in Schedule W drugs (methamphetamine)
The department notified the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and requested that their lab team respond to the scene, the chief added.
Agents assigned to MDEA’s lab team prepared a search warrant which was executed on the residence at approximately 8 p.m. Assisting at the scene were members of the Houlton Fire Department, the Maine State Police and an employee from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
During the search, a “significant amount of evidence” was gathered, Asselin said, which indicated that methamphetamine had been actively manufactured at this location.
“Hazardous materials, beyond what was needed for testing, were turned over to the Maine DEP for disposal,” he said.
Based on the evidence gathered during the investigation, police deduced that Lincoln was the individual responsible for producing the drug.
Because Lincoln was not found at this residence, the Houlton Police Department continued its investigation into his whereabouts.
On Friday, Aug. 23, the department received information that Lincoln was at the residence of Jennifer Clark, 45 of Linneus. Assisted by the Maine Warden Service and agents from the U.S. Border Patrol, Sgt. Eric Crouse and Officer Benjamin Drew proceeded to Clark’s residence where he was located and apprehended.
Based on other information gathered at the Linneus location, Lincoln was charged with two counts of unlawful trafficking in Schedule W drugs (methamphetamine) and was being held at the Aroostook County Jail.
A second individual at the Clark residence, Jennifer Cote, 37, was charged with Class B trafficking in schedule W drugs (methamphetamine).
Chief Butch Asselin praised the efforts of the Houlton Police Department’s officers involved in this case in locating the lab and their diligence in apprehending Lincoln. This case is a great example of teamwork and interagency cooperation.
