Traffic Stop

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On Thursday, September 1, 2022  at approximately 9:45 am,  Maine State Police Troop G received a complaint from the Maine Turnpike Authority Dispatch that an MTA maintenance crew member had observed a white minivan operating erratically in the area of mile marker 55 northbound.  The crew also reported there appeared to a be a male and a female in the van involved in an altercation.  Troopers located the vehicle a few minutes later and observed the same conduct reported by the Maine Turnpike Authority.  The vehicle was stopped near Exit 63 in Gray and both occupants, the driver 41-year-old Julio Garcia of Gray and passenger 33-year-old Hope Champagne of Gray were uncooperative with the investigation. Due to the nature and location of the stop Exit 63 NB was temporarily shut down and traffic was diverted to I-295. Garcia was ultimately charged with Criminal Operating After Suspension and the vehicle was towed from the scene.

On Thursday, January 6, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. as part of an ongoing criminal investigation, Maine State Police along with partners from FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Oxford, and Norway Police Departments conducted two traffic stops in the town of Oxford targeting ongoing criminal activity. During the traffic stops, three people were arrested on various charges following searches and seizures of drugs and a pistol. 

During the first traffic stop law enforcement officers discovered the driver, 32-year-old Maurice James of Portland was on probation for trafficking drugs, and his passenger, 28-year-old Brianna Reeve of Oxford was on five sets of bail conditions. During the second traffic stop the passenger in the car, 30-year-old Tiffany Russell of Lisbon was found to have three active warrants for her arrest. The driver was not charged.  

Following the traffic stops, which both occurred on Mechanic Falls Rd. (Rt. 121) in Oxford, a search warrant for a residence in the town of Oxford was obtained by State Police and the residence was searched. 

Located during the traffic stops and at the residence were 204 grams of fentanyl, 12 grams of cocaine base, a quantity of methamphetamine, $1064 of suspected drug proceeds, and one pistol that had been thrown out of one of the vehicles during the traffic stop. The following individuals were arrested, with more arrests expected as the investigation continues:

•    Maurice James was charged with Probation Violation (on probation for trafficking drugs), Aggravated Trafficking Fentanyl, Aggravated Trafficking Cocaine Base, Possession of Firearm by Prohibited Person
•    Brianna Reeve was charged with Aggravated Trafficking Fentanyl, Aggravated Trafficking Cocaine Base, Possession of Firearm by Prohibited Person
•    Tiffany Russell was arrested on three active warrants, charged with Unlawful Possession of Fentanyl

Both Maurice James and Brianna Reeve were taken to the Oxford County Jail. Tiffany Russell was taken to the Androscoggin County Jail. Please contact the jail for booking photos.