PERRY – As the result of a joint investigation between the Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, a Waterbury, Connecticut man and two people from Washington County have been charged with heroin-related offenses following the seizure last night of a significant amount of heroin in Perry.

As part of a joint investigation into the growing influx of heroin in Washington County, Washington County deputies and MDEA drug agents searched the home of Tara Townsend and James Ritchie, located on Route 1 late last night. The six-month investigation which led to the search involved the undercover purchase of heroin from individuals inside the home. Seized during the search was approximately 135 grams (1350 dosage units) of heroin, with a street value of $54,000, along with other evidence of drug trafficking.

Arrested are
1. Felix Gracia, 37, of Waterbury, CT., has been charged with Class "A" Aggravated Trafficking in Schedule W Drugs (Heroin). Bail has been set at $100,000 cash. Gracia was also wanted on outstanding warrants out of the State of Connecticut.

2. Tara J. Townsend, 35, of Perry, has been charged with Class "A" Aggravated Trafficking in Schedule W Drugs (Heroin). Bail has been set at $100,000 cash

3. James Ritchie, 59, of Perry, has been charged with Class "A" Aggravated Trafficking in Schedule W Drugs (Heroin). Bail has been set at $100,000 cash.

These charges were aggravated due to the amount of heroin seized. All are scheduled to make an initial court appearance today in Machias and were being held at the Washington County Jail.

There were three children, ages 11, 6 and 2, at the home when it was searched and they have been turned over to the custody of DHHS.

Following the arrests, Sheriff Barry Curtis said in a news release, "The end result of this investigation shows what we can accomplish by agencies working together. The Washington County Sheriff's Office is committed to stopping the influx of this poison into our County and we will continue to work with, and support, the efforts of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency."

Washington/Hancock District Attorney Matthew Foster, whose office provided valuable assistance in this investigation, joins Sheriff Curtis in making investigations of this nature a top priority of his administration.

The Pleasant Point Police Department and State Police assisted in the investigation. More arrests are likely.