OAKFIELD, Maine — An Oakfield man was arrested last week after Maine State Police discovered a “significant amount of material consistent with the manufacture of meth” as a result of a vehicle stop.
Bo Branscombe, 26, was charged with aggravated trafficking of methamphetamine. Agents with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency had recently opened an investigation into Branscombe after getting information he was reportedly manufacturing methamphetamine.
Branscombe was driving around Oakfield in his light blue Ford Escort Sept. 1 when Maine State Police stopped him. MDEA had alerted other police departments in Aroostook County to be on the lookout for the car.
Police located Branscombe traveling through Oakfield and stopped his car. Found inside was a significant amount of material consistent with the manufacture of meth, according to Stephen McCausland, spokesperson for the Maine State Police. Branscombe was taken into custody and transported to the Aroostook County Jail. His vehicle was seized and towed to a secure location in Houlton.
“On Wednesday, the MDEA lab team, comprised of specially trained agents, assisted by chemists from Maine’s Health and Environmental Testing Lab, searched the car and found a significant amount of evidence supporting the allegation that Branscombe intended to, or was actively involved in the manufacture of methamphetamine,” McCausland said. “The hazardous materials, which can be explosive, were turned over to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for disposal, other than what was needed for testing.”
The Houlton Fire Department also assisted as the car was being searched.
Branscombe made an initial court appearance on Oct. 2. Bail was set at $5,000 and he remains in the Aroostook County Jail. The charge was elevated to a Class A felony, due to a prior felony methamphetamine possession conviction by Branscombe.
