RUMFORD – A Rumford woman being sought by police Wednesday on a narcotics trafficking arrest warrant turned herself in Thursday afternoon.

Patricia Paquette, 50, of 25 Falmouth St., was charged with two counts of aggravated trafficking in narcotic prescription painkillers, Class B felony crimes.

She failed to post either $10,000 surety or $5,000 cash bail, and was transported to Oxford County Jail in Paris.

According to a jail official, Paquette was released Friday after posting bail. A court date has yet to be set.

Deborah K. Gates, 47, of Falmouth Street was also arrested Thursday.

Gates, who was arrested after she went to the police station to be interviewed, was charged with a Class B felony of trafficking in morphine-based narcotics.

She was released on $200 cash bail. A court date has yet to be set.

Both women were caught along with two men following Wednesday’s drug search raids – dubbed Operation Rx – at 25 Falmouth St. and 235 Pine St.

Detective Lt. Wayne Gallant said Friday that no drugs were found at the Pine Street residence, which police searched after getting consent from the landlord.

However, a large variety of pills, drug paraphernalia and several empty prescription pill bottles were found at the Falmouth Street apartment where Paquette and her boyfriend, Ronald Harding, lived, Gallant said.

“We’re still trying to learn the names of a lot of unidentified pills,” he added.

Known narcotics seized included morphine and Vicodin, a pain reliever.

Harding, 40, who was arrested Wednesday, was charged with misdemeanor possession of prescription drugs. He was transported to the Paris jail, and released on $800 cash bail. No court date has been set.

Paquette’s son David was arrested at his 235 Pine St. apartment by police with an arrest warrant.

David Paquette, 26, was charged with a Class A felony of aggravated trafficking in narcotic prescription painkillers and a probation violation.

Due to a probation hold, he was not allowed to post the $3,000 cash bail on the trafficking charge, and remained in jail, police said.

Gallant said three prescription drug overdose deaths in Rumford from January through March sparked the sudden crackdown.

“There was a suicide on Waldo Street and a death on Falmouth Street that we’re still looking into. Those deaths were drug related due to the misuse of prescription drugs,” Gallant said.

He also defended the large number of law enforcement agents who participated in each search.

In addition to Gallant, the Pine Street detail drew Rumford Sgt. Stacy Carter, Sgt. Tracey Higley, and patrolman James Bernard; probation officer Michael Downs; Franklin County Sheriff Detective Tom White and Cpl. Nate Bean and his narcotics detection dog, Ben; and Oxford County Sheriff Sgt. Gary Hill.

Those executing search and arrest warrants at 25 Falmouth St. were Rumford Sgt. George Cayer, patrolmen Mark Cayer and Roy Hodsdon; Maine Drug Enforcement Agent Tony Milligan; Oxford County Sheriff Capt. James Miclon and Deputy Chancey Libby; and U.S. Border Patrol agents Capt. Frank Blauvelt and Jay Kase and his narcotics detection dog, “Saro.”

Rumford Police Chief Timothy Bourassa was the overall supervisor.

“Each person had a job to do. It’s always better to have extra officers with you, because sometimes you get there, and there’s 8 or 10 people there, or you walk in and find illegal activity going on, and you need to document everything,” Gallant said.

He said Operation Rx would continue.

“We’re still digging, we’re still looking. These four aren’t the only ones who are going to be arrested. If you’ve got an addiction to drugs, you’ve got to get help, or we’re going to go get you,” he added.

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