RSU 63 school board member charged in infant drug overdose case, due in court Wednesday afternoon

EDDINGTON, Maine (WABI) - A member of the RSU 63 school board charged with alleged crimes against an infant is due to make her first court appearance Wednesday afternoon.

Brewer police arrested 36-year-old Brittany Wood Tuesday evening as she was leaving a Brewer residence. She faces charges of domestic violence, aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

Multi-agency investigation

The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office had been searching for Wood in connection with the May 31 incident involving a child drug overdose.

According to a court affidavit, Wood called 911 around 2:30 p.m. on May 31 to report that her 9-month-old daughter had stopped breathing. When first responders arrived, they said they did not observe anything in the baby’s mouth. The child received Narcan, which made her responsive and breathing.

The Sheriff’s Office says they received numerous tips from the public about where Woods could be. On Tuesday, with help from the Maine State Police Cellular Analysis Team, the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Apprehension Team, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Brewer Police Department, investigators narrowed Wood’s suspected location to a residence in Brewer.

At 7 p.m. Tuesday night, they say Wood left the residence as a passenger in a white pickup truck. That truck was stopped and she was taken into custody without incident. Her profile on the Penobscot County inmate list shows she is not eligible for bail.

School board response

Eddington Town Manager Shawna Hinkley released a statement addressing the situation.

“To Eddington Residents & the RSU63 Community

“I would like to take a moment to address the situation involving Brittany Wood, one of our RSU63 School Board representatives, which many of you may have seen reported in the news.

“I understand there are questions in the community about what happens next. Since this situation came to light, I have contacted both our Superintendent and the Chair of the RSU School Board to discuss the necessary process we must follow. This is an unusual situation, and we are taking the time to ensure that we handle it correctly.

“Our focus is on filling the remainder of the term in accordance with the rules governing the School Board. I recognize that many people are seeking answers, and I appreciate everyone’s patience as we work through this matter.”

WABI reached out to school board chair Rachel Downs and interim superintendent Sheila Caldwell. Neither responded as of publication.