PORTLAND — The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and Portland Police Department announced the arrests of seven people during the execution of a “High-Risk” Search Warrant at 658 Congress Street, apartment 402 in Portland.
A “High-Risk” Search warrant was executed by the Portland Police Special Reaction Team (SRT) in order to safely secure apartment 402 and detain any occupants of the apartment prior to the agents search of the apartment.
Arrested by Portland Police: Bruce Cavallaro, 46 of Portland for Criminal Trespass. Bail set: Unsecured bail; Michael Walbridge, 35 of Portland for, Criminal Trespass, Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Violation of Probation. Bail set: No bail, Probation Hold; Chanta Gaddist, 38 of Yarmouth for, Criminal Trespass, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Violation of Bail. Bail set: No bail due to bail violation charge; James Williams, 50 of Portland for, Criminal Trespass, Carrying a Concealed Weapon. Bail set: Unsecured Bail; David Covington, 38 of Portland for Criminal Trespass. Bail set: Unsecured Bail; Monica Miller, 30 of Portland for Criminal Trespass. Bail set: Unsecured Bail; Erica Mathies, 25 of Portland for Criminal Trespass. Bail set: Unsecured Bail.
Over the past two months, Portland Police responded to over a dozen “Calls for Service” to 658 Congress Street, a multi-resident apartment building.
The calls included, but were not limited to suspected drug trafficking, threatening display of weapons, to include firearms, and disorderly persons.
Residents of the building and visitors reported being intimidated and harassed by groups of people who frequented apartment 402.
During this time, agents from the Maine Drug Enforcement’s Cumberland District Task Force were investigating illegal drug trafficking from apartment 402.
During the investigation it was revealed the apartment renter, Bruce Cavallaro, and others were distributing illegal drugs from apartment 402 as well as the common hallways and the front and rear entrances of the apartment building.
The building’s landlord filed for and was granted a “Writ of Possession” from the Cumberland County District Court on Feb. 2, as part of an official eviction of Bruce Cavallaro and others from 658 Congress Street, apartment 402.
Cavallaro and others refused to vacate the apartment previously when evicted.
Cavallaro was served the Writ of Possession on Feb. 7, ordering him and others to vacate the apartment within 48 hours.
Based on the agent’s drug trafficking investigation as well as Cavallaro and others refusal to leave the apartment, and the safety of the building residents, a search warrant was drafted and issued for apartment 402.
At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 11, the Portland Police SRT made an initial entry into 658 Congress Street and safely secured apartment 402.
During the entry, the seven aforementioned people were detained, subsequently arrested and transported to the Cumberland County Jail without incident.
A subsequent search of the apartment resulted in the seizure of quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine and crack cocaine, as well as additional evidence of drug trafficking.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges will be reviewed based on evidence seized during the search.
