Two men from Bronx were arrested Thursday in a drug enforcement operation by the York County Sheriff’s Office, Maine State Police, Wells police and Biddeford police.
Officers had information that a drug deal was going to occur near the Biddeford-Saco line and stopped a Ford Focus driven by Patrick Salters, 23, of Bronx, NY, at the intersection of Clifford Street and Miller Avenue in Biddeford. Two other people were in the car.
Salters initially followed officers’ instructions to turn off the car and put the keys on the roof, but as officers approached, he grabbed the keys and restarted the car. A Biddeford officer attempted to stop him by trying to grab the keys when Salters sped off. The officer’s arms were still in the vehicle, and the vehicle’s door jamb slammed against his arms. The officer suffered minor cuts and bruises but did not need medical attention.
Police chased Salters as he drove south on Miller Avenue. When he reached a dead end, he turned into a yard, where he and his two passengers got out and tried to run away. Salters was caught. Police say that in a search of the area around the vehicle, officers found 90 packets of heroin, with an estimated street value of $4,500.
Biddeford officers found Michael Jones, 21, of Bronx, NY walking along Pool Street less than a mile from where officers arrested Salters. Jones has a warrant from New York on a charge of possession of dangerous drugs. Jones did not have any identification on him, but had almost $2,000 in cash, police said.
Salters was charged with assault on a police officer, trafficking in heroin and eluding a police officer. Jones is charged with trafficking in heroin. The two are being held at the York County Jail, with no bail set.