Easton man facing second meth charge
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
EASTON — A local man was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine for the second time since August, when Maine Drug Enforcement agents responded to help the Maine State Police investigate an incident in Easton on Saturday.
AN MDEA LAB TEAM recovered evidence consistent with materials used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine on Monday from a vehicle owned by Brian White of Easton. 
The car was impounded over the weekend and hauled to a site in Houlton where MDEA officials with a search warrant — dressed in safety suits to prevent contact with the harmful chemicals — were able to collect evidence from the automobile.
“On Saturday, state troopers were called to a burglary in Easton. Trooper Chad Fuller and K-9 Gleni tracked from the crime scene to the residence of Brian White, 31, on the Bangor Road. Their investigation led to a search of White’s vehicle and in doing so, they noticed items used in making methamphetamine,” said Darrell Crandall, MDEA commander.
Crandall said the state police, for safety reasons, stopped the search, secured the vehicle and towed it to an impoundment area in Houlton, where MDEA agents processed the car on Monday, Nov. 19.
“MDEA’s lab team executed a search warrant on a vehicle at the state police barracks in Houlton on Monday, processing evidence of methamphetamine manufacturing. This is the second time this year that MDEA’s lab team has searched this vehicle. In August, agents executed a search warrant on Route 1A in Easton, searching a mobile home and this 1999 Fort Taurus, owned by Brian White,” said Crandall.
Crandall said White was charged in August with trafficking in methamphetamine and has been out on bail since that time.
“In late summer agents seized evidence to show White had been making methamphetamine by what is commonly referred to as the ‘one pot’ or ‘shake and bake’ method,” Crandall said.
“MDEA agents have now charged White with a second count of trafficking in meth and violation of conditions of release. More arrests are likely as the investigation continues over the next few days,” he said.
Crandall said this is the 13th lab seizure in Maine this year, eight of which have been in Aroostook County.
“The lab team completed its work on the vehicle in Houlton late Monday afternoon. Team members seized a considerable amount of evidence from the vehicle, including numerous reaction vessels used to make methamphetamine and components necessary to make the drug,” said Crandall, noting processing the evidence is slow “because the components remain highly volatile and flammable until sampled and neutralized.”
“The evidence seized Monday strongly suggests Mr. White has made and/or attempted to make methamphetamine on several occasions since his arrest in August of this year,” said Crandall.
Personnel from the Houlton Fire Department and Maine Department of Environmental Protection were at the site to assist MDEA’s lab team on Monday.
White remains at the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton. No court date was available at presstime.
Information on drug crimes may be reported to the MDEA by calling 800-452-6457,
visiting the website www.maine.gov/dps/mdea or at MDEA’s smartphone application for iPhone and Android at MyPD.
