ROCKLAND — A man who was arrested in March for allegedly trafficking drugs pleaded not guilty July 14 in Knox County Unified Court. 

Scotch Hanning, 36, of Winfield, Pa., and Rockport, was apprehended March 6 at the Knox County Regional Airport in Owls Head with 115 packets of heroin allegedly in his possession.

Knox County Sheriff’s deputy John Hansen arrested Hanning and also Misty Hollenbach, 30, of Lewisburg, Pa. at the airport while they were returning a rental car. Both were wanted on felony warrants in Pennsylvania.

Hanning was indicted by the Knox County grand jury June 8 for aggravated drug trafficking in heroin.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Maine Violent Crimes Task Force, led by the U.S. Marshal's Office.

Hansen and deputy marshalls found the heroin Hanning was allegedly carrying and $520 in cash. His accomplice, Hollenbach, had a loaded hypodermic syringe and several packets of heroin in her possession, according to the court document.

When Hollenbach was interviewed by police, she said they drove to Philadelphia, purchased the heroin with $2,000 of her tax return and returned to Maine to sell a portion of the drugs they acquired, according to the court document.

Hollenbach told police that Hanning was establishing a client base and was selling heroin in the Augusta area where they had a motel room.

Hanning declined to be interviewed police after he was arrested.

While he was in the police car at the Knox County Jail, waiting to be processed, Hanning tried to ingest packets of heroin and began choking. Additional packets were forced from his mouth by police. He was evaluated by EMS and cleared for jail, according to the court document.

Maine Drug Enforcement Agency was called in to assist in this case for follow-up and continued investigation, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.

Hanning will appear in court again Sept. 15 for a dispositional conference.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com