Gorham, Maine – The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and Gorham Police Department have arrested a Gorham man for manufacturing methamphetamine. This is his second arrest within the past six months for operating methamphetamine laboratories.
Matthew Cole (37) of Gorham was arrested and charged with Unlawful Operation of a Methamphetamine Laboratory and Violation of Conditional Release (Pending Unlawful Operation of a Methamphetamine Laboratory & Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person charges from May 5, 2023)
Cole had been free on bail for drug, theft, and firearm charges.
On Sunday, November 19, 2023, at approximately 12:00 pm, Gorham police officers responded to the area of 1 Church Street, the First Parish Congregational Church after a concerned citizen contacted police about a man suspected of conducting drug deals.
Officers located the suspect, Matthew Cole outside of the Church where the citizen had described. Cole had numerous backpacks, bags, and other items to include what officers recognized as “One Pot Methamphetamine Laboratories “, both of which were in the active stages of the process of producing methamphetamine and next to the Church’s outside wall. Due to the extreme chance of explosion and or fire, the area was evacuated for safety, to include the occupied church. Cole was subsequently arrested for possessing approximately 27 grams of methamphetamine.
The Gorham Fire Department was notified and responded to monitor the laboratories pending the arrival of the MDEA Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team (CDLET), a specially trained group of agents from around the state, trained to mitigate the danger of the labs and render them safe, as well as collect samples for evidence. Due to the extreme fire and explosion hazards associated with methamphetamine labs, agents are required to wear fire retardant suits and Air Purifying Respirators (APR) to avoid the toxic off gassing of the chemical process.
Lab team members arrived and mitigated the two labs, collecting evidence of the crime to include, lithium, Coleman Fuels and other items utilized in the manufacturing process.
All toxic byproducts of the labs were turned over for destruction to the State’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) who responded to the scene.
Due to the ever-increasing availability of crystal methamphetamine from the South West border, one pot methamphetamine laboratory responses have become less frequent in the state from 52 in 2018, 35 in 2019, 8 in 2020, 2 in 2021, 0 in 2022, and presently 4 in 2023.
Cole was transported to the Cumberland County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in Portland Unified Court Monday at 1:00 pm.
All persons arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If you suffer with substance, use disorder, please call 211 or text your zip code to 898-211 for a list of resources available in your area.
If you have information about this investigation or the illegal sale of drugs in your community, you are urged to contact the Maine Drug Enforcement office closest to you or by texting MDEA to TIP411 (847411) or by calling the MDEA tip-line at 1-800-452-6457.