Authorities made six arrests during a Tuesday morning search of a Sanford residence being investigated as the site of suspected illegal drug trafficking.
The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) and Sanford Police Department say that for the past month, they have responding to citizen complains and tips regarding potential drug trafficking occurring at 8 York St. in Sanford.
During the investigation into the suspected drug trafficking operation, MDEA says they observed activity consistent with illegal drug trafficking, as well as individuals trafficking illegal drugs being armed with firearms.
Additionally, undercover purchases of fentanyl were made by the MDEA from John Leroy Gray, 44, or lives at the 8 York St. home, the agency said.
At about 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the MDEA and Sanford Police executed a search warrant at the York Street residence, in order to arrest Gray for felony arrest warrants for drug trafficking.
“Due to the seriousness of the drug trafficking charges, suspected firearms possession, and safety concerns for the neighborhood residents and officers, the Southern Maine Special Response Team assisted in tactically rendering the residence safe and secure for agents,” MDEA wrote in a Tuesday press release.
Sanford Police issued a public notice on social media advising residents and visitors to avoid the area on Tuesday morning while law enforcement was conducting the operation.
A total of seventeen people were detained throughout the residence by the Special Response Team, including Gray, who was arrested without incident for two counts of aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs (fentanyl). He was taken to York County Jail, where his bail was set at $25,000 cash.
All of the individuals encountered at the residence were identified by law enforcement and were released at the scene, except for six individuals — including Gray — who had outstanding warrants for their arrest.
The five individuals arrested at the York Street home, in addition to Gray, were:
- Patrick Bachelor, 48, of Sanford, for an arrest warrant charging failure to appear, bail set at $100;
- Katie Boyatsis, 28, of Dover, N.H., for an arrest warrant charging possession of schedule drugs and a probation revocation, held without bail;
- Jessica Taylor, 40, of Shapleigh, for three arrest warrants charging failure to appear, theft and violation of condition of release, bail set at $600;
- Tyler Cann, 32, of Sanford, for an arrest warrant charging failure to appear, bail not yet set;
- Marissa Tomarchio, 28, of Sanford, for an arrest warrant charging failure to appear, bail set at $250.
Also found during the search of the residence was approximately 40 grams of fentanyl, $1,800 cash in suspected drug proceeds, and other evidence of illegal drug trafficking.
Authorities also found four “realistic style pellet type handguns,” though no actual firearms were found in the home.
