CALAIS (AP) – A suspected drug dealer who allegedly sold what he said was cocaine to a confidential police informant faces a charge of theft by deception after tests revealed that the white powder was actually baking soda.
“That’s a funny case,” officer Dave Claroni said, “because he sold cocaine, but it turned out to not be cocaine so he is charged with theft because he presented something that wasn’t what it claimed to be. Because of his prior convictions he’s charged with felony theft.”
Robert Barter, 30, of Baileyville was arrested after the June 22 sting operation in which the informant was given $200 and instructed to purchase 2.5 grams of cocaine from Barter.
In an affidavit filed in Washington County Superior Court, a police officer said he recognized the powder as cocaine and a test showed a positive result for the drug.
But after further testing proved that the substance was sodium bicarbonate, the drug trafficking charge was dismissed and replaced with the charge of theft by deception, Assistant District Attorney Joelle Pratt said.
The summer investigation involving the confidential informant resulted in drug charges against two other suspects, one of whom was accused of selling liquid methadone near a clinic that dispenses the synthetic opiate.
AP-ES-09-18-07 0937EDT
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