AUGUSTA — A city man with a lengthy criminal history and his roommate are facing charges for allegedly trafficking in heroin.

Freeman Adelbert Taylor Jr., 40, and Tina M. Whittemore, 48, were arrested Thursday on charges of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.

According to Kennebec County Sheriff Randall Liberty, sheriff’s deputies, Augusta Police and Maine Drug Enforcement Agents searched the couple’s apartment at 386 Water St., Augusta on Thursday. Liberty said detectives seized heroin, crack cocaine, about $7,000 in cash and numerous scales, drug ledgers and packaging.

“Taylor attempted to flush the heroin, but detectives were able to secure the evidence prior to its trip down the drain,” Liberty said.

The aggravated trafficking charges carry maximum penalties of 30 years in prison.

The search followed months of investigation spurred by tips from concerned citizens and the use of confidential informants, according to an affidavit filed in Kennebec County Superior Court by Kennebec Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Bickford.

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Bickford said that on May 1, deputies saw six different vehicles stop outside Taylor’s residence. The individuals in the vehicles would walk inside, remain one or two minutes and then leave.

According to Bickford, deputies also watched one hand-to-hand drug sale take place between Taylor and an unidentified man in the parking lot of the nearby Walgreens after Taylor walked his dog there.

The affidavit says six grams or more of heroin were contained in individual bags, folds or packages in the apartment.

Liberty said Taylor has a “significant” criminal history that includes convictions for robbery, possession of a firearm by a felon, burglary, theft, assault and numerous drug charges.

On Friday, a judge in Augusta District Court set Taylor’s bail at $5,000 cash or $1,000 with a Maine Pretrial Services contract. Conditions of bail prohibit him from contact with Whittemore.

Taylor remained in jail on Monday.

Bail for Whittemore was set at $500 unsecured with a Maine Pretrial Services contract. She was expected to be released from jail later Monday.


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