HOULTON, Maine — A routine patrol by a Houlton Police officer resulted in a Houlton man being arrested Nov. 21 for unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs.
Robert A. Hansen, 53, of Houlton was arrested shortly after 7:46 p.m. when Officer Travis Smith was stopped in the Circle K store located at 3 Military St., according to Houlton Police Chief Tim DeLuca.
Officer Smith recognized an individual inside the store who was wanted on multiple warrants — including trafficking in drugs — and had been eluding police for some time, the chief said. The name of that individual was not released.
Robert A. Hansen, 53, of Houlton was arrested Nov. 21 and charged with unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs, which is a Class B felony. (Photo courtesy of the Aroostook County Jail)
Further investigation led Smith to a second man in a parked vehicle, who turned out to be Hansen. Suspecting drugs were involved, Smith called for the U.S. Border Patrol police dog to assist in the investigation.
“Upon deployment of the K9 team, probable cause was developed to search the vehicle,” the chief said. “As a result of the search, drugs and cash were located and confiscated.”
Several grams of methamphetamines and several thousands of dollars in cash were seized in the arrest. Hansen was charged with unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs, which is a Class B felony. He was taken to Aroostook County Jail.
In an unrelated incident at 7:08 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 25, Officer Smith was conducting a routine traffic stop on the North Road, near Walgreens. During the investigation, the Border Patrol’s police dog arrived to assist. The resulting search by the dog gave a positive indication of drugs.
A search of the vehicle was conducted and revealed methamphetamines present. As a result of the investigation, Micah D. McCarthy, 25 of Houlton was arrested for unlawful possession of a scheduled drug, which is a Class D misdemeanor.
In addition, Rae-Anne L. Whitten, 29, of Houlton was charged with possession of methamphetamine, which is a Class C felony. Both are scheduled to appear in Houlton District Court at a later date.
