State police arrested a Vassalboro man on Wednesday while he was allegedly bringing 2 kilograms of cocaine into Maine from out of state.
Agents from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency had been investigating a residence on Webber Pond Road in Vassalboro for eight months for suspected drug trafficking prior to the arrest, the agency said.
On Wednesday, agents learned that Edwin Lawrence, 24, was headed back to Maine with a substantial amount of illegal narcotics in his possession. They obtained a search warrant for Lawrence and his vehicle in hopes of intercepting him.
At about 8 p.m. state troopers spotted his vehicle headed north on Interstate 295. They pulled him over just north of the West Gardiner tolls, but as they approached the car Lawrence sped off, the agency said.
Troopers chased him for a short distance and ultimately used tire deflation devices to stop the vehicle. Lawrence allegedly fled but was quickly apprehended with help of a state police dog, according to the drug enforcement agency.
Drug enforcement agents and state troopers searched Lawrence and his vehicle and found more than 2,000 grams of cocaine hydrochloride with an estimated street value of $127,000, and just over $1,000 in suspected drug proceeds, the agency said.
Police searched Lawrence’s residence but did not find any additional items.
Lawrence is charged with one count of aggravated trafficking Schedule W drugs, a
Class A felony; one count of eluding a police officer; and one count of refusing to submit to arrest
His bail was set at $92,000.
