HOULTON, Maine — Two Houlton police officers were taken to the hospital Dec. 21 after inhaling a small amount of a white substance during a drug investigation at the Shiretown Motel.
Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin said Sgt. Eric Crouse and Det. Kris Calaman were responding to a report of suspicious activity at the motel at 2:09 a.m. The officers responded to the room where the alleged activity was taking place and positioned themselves outside the room.
“While one officer was located outside a window that looks into the room, Sgt. Crouse went to the door,” Asselin said. “Officer York could observe drug activity taking place inside.”
The room was secured as soon as the officers were allowed entry.
“Sgt Eric Crouse and Det. Calaman inhaled a very small amount of white powder that became airborne when they opened the lid of a small Tupperware-type container,” Asselin said. “They were seen and released at Houlton Regional Hospital. They were transported there by ambulance as a precautionary measure.”
Both officers were sensing tightness in their chests, a sweet taste in their mouth and experiencing sinus pressure, the chief said.
“HPD is waiting for the lab results, but preliminarily it appears the substance was bath salts,” he said. “Both officers returned to duty. Drug screening conducted at HRH was negative.”
There were a total of five people in the room. One person, Ryan Doody, 36, of Woodland, was arrested on an outstanding warrant and summonsed for possession of synthetic hallucinogenic drugs; violation of conditional release; trafficking in prison contraband; sale and use of drug paraphernalia; and refusing to sign a uniform summons and complaint.
The chief said a search warrant was obtained and evidence found in the room included drugs (pills and powder), a 9mm handgun, ammunition, two propane tanks, a knife, an EBT card that didn’t belong to anyone in the room, receipts, drug paraphernalia, a laptop, a bong, cellular phones and syringes. All of the items were seized.
“We are waiting for lab tests to come back before we charge anyone else,” Asselin said. “This is in the preliminary stages right now.”
The smoke detector inside the room had been covered over with a plastic bag.
The matter is still under investigation. Border Patrol and an agent from MDEA assisted. Officer Richard York and Sgt. Eric Crouse were the primary officers on the case. Also assisting were Det. Kristin Calaman and Officer Ezekiel Collins.
