SKOWHEGAN —Skowhegan police are investigating a crash that occurred last week off Canaan Road that involved a Jeep hauling a camper, and the camper was found to have narcotics inside with a street value of about $24,000.
Skowhegan police Chief David Bucknam said in a statement that around 11:50 a.m. May 21 Skowhegan police officers Benaiah Willhoite and Michael Grady responded to the area of Berry Drive for a report of a crash involving a Jeep towing a camper where the camper had separated from the Jeep and rolled over and was resting in the middle of the road.
Afterward, the Jeep operator, Kayla Hanson, 24, of Presque Isle, was arrested and charged with operating under the influence, according to Bucknam. She also was charged with violation of bail conditions, he said.
Skowhegan police Cpl. Joshua York with K9 Reece conducted a free-air sniff of the Jeep and camper and the dog alerted police to the presence of narcotics inside the camper, according to Bucknam. Both the Jeep and camper were towed to 201 Service Towing in Skowhegan and impounded, pending issuance of a search warrant for the camper, he said.
Willhoite was issued a search warrant for the camper and he and Grady, Skowhegan police Detective Michael Bachelder, and a special agent with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, searched the camper and located a safe inside, Bucknam said.
“The safe was forced open and inside there were multiple sandwich bags of methamphetamine,” Bucknam said. “Officers also located a .357 magnum revolver inside the camper.”
Bachelder and the MDEA agent processed the drugs and firearm and the total weight of the methamphetamine was 230.9 grams, according to Bucknam. He said the investigation continues.
Berry Drive is near the Canaan town line.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
