SOUTH PORTLAND – A traffic stop on Main Street in South Portland late Tuesday afternoon led to drug charges, according to police.

An officer patrolling the Thornton Heights area of the city pulled over a vehicle for suspicion of a fraudulent inspection sticker. Sheryl Wallace, 45, a transient in the greater Portland area, was issued a summons for the fraudulent sticker.

According to a police press release, during this roadside investigation, the officer developed reason to believe that the passenger, Dennis Splude, 55, a greater Portland transient, had secreted something in his mouth during the stop.

Police said Splude resisted a pat down search, and struggled with the officer on the side of the street. Wallace then approached in order to interfere, but hesitated when a citizen stopped to assist. Other officers arrived and both Splude and Wallace were taken into custody.

Packets of suspected crack cocaine were recovered from Splude’s mouth, so Splude was initially transported to a hospital due to the concern of possible drug ingestion. Additional drug related evidence was seized during a search of the vehicle.

Both subjects were ultimately transported and booked at the Cumberland County Jail. Splude was charged with possession of crack cocaine, refusing to submit to arrest/detention, and falsifying physical evidence.

Wallace was charged with the displaying a fictitious inspection sticker, obstructing government administration, possession of schedule [pharmaceutical] drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana.

Splude’s criminal history includes prior drug convictions, including a 1999 federal cocaine conspiracy conviction.

Dennis Splude
Sheryl Wallace

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