HARPSWELL — Deputies from the Cumberland County and Sagadahoc County sheriff’s departments on Wednesday arrested a 25-year-old Bowdoinham man in connection with a June 11 home invasion on Basin Point Road.
Police say Michael A. Blasingame, of 137 Pratt Road, was arrested at his residence on charges that he broke into the home of a 77-year-old woman to steal prescription drugs, including Oxycontin.
Police said Blasingame was wearing a ski mask and armed with a knife when he broke into her home around 9 p.m. He allegedly knocked the woman to the floor before making off with pills.
According to Cumberland County Capt. Don Goulet, Blasingame had “an indirect connection to the victim through a family member.” He declined to elaborate, or to name the victim, saying doing so could make her vulnerable to additional attacks.
During the investigation last week, Goulet confirmed the woman was a cancer patient who was receiving at-home care.
During the attack, the woman was cut on her finger when Blasingame allegedly attempted to help her from the floor – a detail that led police to believe the attacker knew the woman.
Goulet said Wednesday that detectives were led to Blasingame through a series of interviews.
“His name kept coming up,” said Goulet, who added that Blasingame was known by police in the area.
“He’s not a virgin to the system,” Goulet said.
Goulet estimated that less than 50 pills were stolen during the attack. He said Oxycontin typically has a street value of $1 per milligram. The pills, he said, are typically 40 or 80 milligrams, putting the street value for one pill between $40 and $80.
The woman was in bed when Blasingame allegedly entered her home. She was transported to Parkview Adventist Medical Center in Brunswick, where she was treated for the laceration on her finger.
Goulet also said the woman was so shaken that she hadn’t stayed at home since the robbery. He said the lead detective called her after Blasingame was arrested.
Blasingame was charged with robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and theft by unauthorized taking. He’s being held at the Cumberland County Jail on $50,000 cash bail pending arraignment later this week.
Steve Mistler can be reached at 373-9060 ext. 123 or smistler@theforecaster.net
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