Sanford detective calls arrest a 'grade A bust out of the blue'

Christopher Blier (Sanford Police photo)

SANFORD - A Sanford Police detective with 14 years on the force said Friday's bust of a Lebanon man said to have had 128 gross grams of heroin and $10,170 in cash in his vehicle when arrested represented the biggest heroin bust for the department he could remember.

But what could be even more remarkable about the bust is that for Christopher Blier, 31, of 701 Upper Guinea Road, his contact with Sanford Police Friday evening was his second with law enforcement in just a few hours.

Earlier on Friday around 3:45 p.m. Blier crashed his BMW in the area of 822 Center Road in Lebanon, telling Maine State Police he had swerved to avoid a dog.

Maine State Police Trooper Rick Spicer said despite Blier's alleged stash of drugs and money found by Sanford Police later that night, when he talked with Blier there was no reason to believe he was under the influence of anything and there was no contraband in his car.

"There was no impairment and he had the trunk and everything open and clear," Spicer said today, adding he couldn't speculate on whether Blier could have hidden stuff prior to his arrival.

Once the BMW was towed, Blier walked to a relative's home that was nearby, Spicer said.

A child in the car with Blier at the time of the crash was evaluated by Lebanon Fire and EMS personnel, but no transport was necessary, according to Lebanon Fire and EMS.

Meanwhile, Blier apparently found some new wheels, because around 8:15 Friday night, Sanford Police got a call for a car "all over the road" on Lebanon Street in Sanford.

By the time Sanford Police caught up with him, Blier was on Route 202 headed to Lebanon, just beyond Robertson's Power and Sports, Sanford Police Detective Sgt. Matthew Jones said today.

During the ensuing traffic stop officers spotted drugs in the vehicle, Sanford Police said.

Blier was ordered out of the vehicle but refused and is alleged to have started his vehicle in an attempt to flee.

At that point he was pulled from the vehicle and arrested.

During the vehicle search, 128 gross grams of heroin and $10,170 in cash was found.

Blier was charged with aggravated trafficking, refusing to submit to arrest, obstructing government administration, suspended registration and sale/use of drug paraphernalia.

Jones called it a "Grade A bust out of the blue."

"To get a bust like this on a guy on a suspended registration is unusual," Jones added.

Jones said at this point there's no telling at what point during the day Blier may have taken possession of the drugs and money. He said Sanford Police are now working with Maine Drug Enforcement Agents in what he described as a full-blown investigation.

Bail was set at $50,000 cash, with an arraignment set for 1 p.m. today.