Gardiner police arrested a local woman and a Connecticut man on drug-related charges Thursday night after a traffic stop.

Alexandrea Wysote, 27, of Gardiner, was riding in the passenger seat of a vehicle being driven by Dillon Merrill, 25, when officers pulled the vehicle over shortly before 8 p.m. on Highland Avenue because of a problem with its license plate light.

After searching the vehicle, officers seized 10.9 grams of heroin, several needles, a small amount of marijuana and a digital scale.

Wysote was arrested and charged with aggravated trafficking. She was released on bail Monday. Merrill was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on Friday.

Gardiner police Sgt. Norm Gove said the drugs had an estimated street value of $2,500 to $3,000.

Wysote was arrested in 2012 in connection with a string of pharmacy robberies by her then-fiance, Shawn Merrill, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Shawn Merrill admitted to robbing pharmacies in Waterville, Randolph and Fairfield in June 2012, as well as two pharmacies in Connecticut. Police originally charged Wysote in connection with the Waterville robbery, but she pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of scheduled drugs and paid a $500 fine.

It was not clear whether Dillon Merrill and Shawn Merrill are related.

Court dates for both Wysote and Merrill are pending.

Jason Pafundi — 621-5663

jpafundi@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @jasonpafundiKJ

 

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