Bangor Neighbors Tip Off Police to Fentanyl-Selling Operation

An investigation into neighborhood complaints of drug trafficking led police to arrest two people and seize nearly 1.5 pounds of fentanyl.

Maine Drug Enforcement agents have been investigating a group believed to be responsible for the distribution of fentanyl from an apartment building at the corner of Warren and Sanford Streets in Bangor. Police began looking into the location after several neighbors tipped them off to possible drug activity.

Tuesday evening, agents obtained a search warrant for one of the apartments and conducted that search during the early morning hours on Wednesday. Seized in the search were approximately 1.5 pounds of suspected fentanyl and other evidence consistent with illicit drug trafficking. Officials say the estimated street value of the drugs seized is $67,000.

Arrested were:

• Craig Pelkey, 53, of Bangor - charged with aggravated trafficking in fentanyl.
• Sarah Denbow, 37, of Bangor - charged with aggravated trafficking in fentanyl, and violation of conditions of release. Debow was out on bail stemming from a 2020 aggravated drug trafficking arrest in Bangor, which has not yet gone to court.

The charges were elevated to 'aggravated' because of the quantity of drugs that were seized, and the fact that the apartment is less than 1,000 feet from a City of Bangor park that's designated as a 'Drug Free Safe Zone.'

Both Pelkey and Denbow were transported to the Penobscot County Jail, where Pelkey's bail was set at $80,000 in cash. Denbow is being held without bail.

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency was aided in this investigation by the Bangor Police Department.

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