hagerstown, maryland drug bust

a view from the abandoned hospital parking garage across from the antietam street clinic. Beckette and Anderson were being held at the detention center Wednesday, each in lieu of a $50,000 bond. The NFT is housed within the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)at the DEAs Hagerstown Office. When the University System of Maryland satellite campus at University Plaza was established in the city center in 2005, it was the first time anything like that had moved into town in decades: something big, with money behind it and staying power. Its a huge step forward. Travon Bristol, two counts possession with intent to distribute spice aka K-2 and one count of maintaining a common Nuisance. Cameron Tibbs, one counts of distribution of heroin. First published on July 28, 2021 / 2:11 PM. The 30-count indictment alleges the operation trafficked large amounts of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine base and cocaine hydrochloride from Hagerstown toBerkeley County, West Virginia, between August2020and June of this year, according to a news release from Bernard's office. If you are in immediate danger dial 911. in Hagerstowns North End, according to Lt. Todd Kerns, who served as the task forces director in 2013. Several weapons were seized, including two stolen handguns, as well as rifles and shotguns, Kerns said. During the execution of the search warrant, Smith informed law enforcement that he had a storage unit in Hagerstown, Maryland and told officers where he kept the keys to the unit. The school started with 85 students but this year surpassed 300, even though that meant holding classes in hallways and stairwells. According to a 2016 report from the U.S. surgeon general, only one in 10 people with an addiction problem receives treatment. To me, the urban improvement project is huge. The task force said Oliver was previously arrested by Hagerstown Police Department officers last Wednesday for fleeing on foot from a car accident in the south end of Hagerstown. Jim Robison, Director for the Washington County Narcotics Task Force. He moved on to 10-milligram Percocet, then 30-milligram. From March 20 to April 24, 2019, law enforcement surveilled activity at the suspected unit on a daily basis and observed Smith opening the storage unit to weigh and process suspected narcotics for distribution. Hagerstown, MD 3 days ago. But today, while Frederick, just 25 miles east down I-70, is regularly named among the best places to live in the U.S., Hagerstown more closely resembles a microcosm of Baltimoreessentially a small town with big-city problems, continually in survival mode. Additionally, in less than one month, Smith and Tyler contacted each other 714 times by cell phone. Everyone had a story., n its heyday, Hagerstown built the massive Fairchild transport planes that carried U.S. troops across the Pacific during the Korean War; post-war, they made Boeing jets. Life is great now, he says. Washington Daily Voice serves the towns of: Boonsboro, Fountainhead-Orchard Hills, Hagerstown, Halfway, Maugansville, Paramount-Long Meadow, Robinwood, Smithsburg. She also cites the new safe needle program implemented by the county health departmentalbeit over the objection of a couple of state delegatesto combat Hepatitis C and HIV infections. Three Hagerstown residents face drug charges after suspected heroin and suspected methamphetamine with a street value of approximately $50,000 was seized along with $9,000 in cash and several firearms during a drug bust this week involving multiple agencies, officials said. He couldnt hold down a job for more than a month or two, he says, and bounced around from one employer to the next: cleaning bathrooms, painting houses, waiting tables, making pizza. They buy the stuff to cut it, the right color dye, and press in a number or an initial, and it looks like the real thingPercocet or whatever.. Across the country, rural addiction rates have surpassed those in urban areas, yet there is still not a single inpatient drug treatment facility in Washington County. In 2016 (the most recent year available), an average of 113 prescriptions for opioids were written for every 100 Washington County residentsnearly twice the national average. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( He liked the feeling the Vicodin gave him and began to sometimes take the pills just for that hydrocodone buzz. Prosecutors alleged they conspired to sell 100 grams or more of heroin, 500 grams or more of cocaine and . Now, however, nearly all of the rails leading into downtown have been removed. Law enforcement determined that the reported vehicle was registered to Smith and that the unit had been rented to Smith under a fraudulent New York State drivers license that bore Smiths photograph and the alias Michael Silver. (In 2007, three Purdue executives pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the misbranding of OxyContin and paid $34.5 million in fines, while the company agreed to pay $600 million to resolve a Department of Justice investigation.) Im not in economic development, but you also cant help but wonder, how do you build a workforce and attract new businesseswhich we desperately needwhen this is happening everywhere in your community?. Andre Luther Woolford, 33, of Hurlock, Maryland. Or an illegal immigrant? 100 West Washington Street Hagerstown, MD 21740. We had 13 infant deaths over the past two years, eight of whom were born substance exposed and later died at home because of neglect or some other cause, Piercy says. Tyler and Eddie Ware pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl on October 28, 2020, and January 11, 2021; respectively. , Rep. Hoyer on legacy, traditions and Speaker McCarthy, How much more DMV residents will pay for healthcare, Husband of missing DC real estate executive arrested, Virginia H.S. A Maryland State Police corporal who occasionally works out of the Hagerstown barrack was arrested Saturday for allegedly leaking case information and abetting an illegal drug operation, according to federal court documents. Because of that, its residents have more money and higher expectations, and a strong restaurant base and downtown arts and culture district has grown there, sustained by its community. Joshua Reed, one count of distribution of heroin. (DG) - A sex trafficking operation was dismantled in Washington County. Forget Special Agent in Charge Washington, DC @DEAWashingtonDC June 29, 2022 Contact: Public Information Office Phone Number: (571) 362-1934 For Immediate Release And for the past two-and-a-half decades, the city has taken a public health approach to addiction, offering methadone programs, needle exchanges, HIV testing, and inpatient treatment opportunities before the pharmaceutical industry dumped OxyContin and other opioids onto a nave market. Breezy Jill Beckette, 22, of 807 Hamilton Blvd. Theres an unmistakable world-wearinesswritten into their faces. In the early 1980s, King ran a large drug operation in East Baltimore and was a well-known figure, driving a DeLorean sports car and smoking with a bejeweled Zippo. Had we not gotten this building donated, it never wouldve happened, says Hovermale, whos lived in Hagerstown most of his life and now serves as principal of BISFA. s the former managing editor of Hagerstowns daily newspaper,The Herald-Mail, Dave Elliott witnessed firsthand the citys downward spiral. In a town with two traditional public high schoolsNorth High and South Highit has become the norm for incoming generations to attend several funerals before seeing their first classmate get married. Opioids may be the deadliest catastrophe to hit Hagerstown, but the current crisis follows a long string of blows to a city that never made the transition from a mechanical to a hi-tech economy. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. So far in 2020, the rate of overdoses in the county has increased with 83 non-fatal . The Frederick Police Department is seeking assistance locating a 17-year-old male, who has been missing since June. District of New Jersey (973) 645-2888. But there is often trauma, or simply the stress of living in poverty, that is putting them under intense pressure.. For the past 44 years, since Valley Mall was built on the outskirts of town, shuttering the department stores, retail shops, restaurants, theaters, and five and dimes, there have been hopes of reviving Hagerstowns once-thriving city center. She mentions the increased training for Narcan, a medication that can prevent fatal overdoses, across the city. This isnt political. Baltimore, Maryland - Thamar Smith, age 48, of Hagerstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.. This was a normal kid, the daughter of a respected ex-city cop. Grant was charged with five counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance that was not marijuana and two counts of distributing narcotics, according to online court records. Kristie Lockhard, a 38-year-old recovering addict volunteering at the event, says when she first started using heroin in 1999, she would drive to Baltimore two or three times a day to buy it. Robison. The National Road, Route 40, began carrying wagon trains through Hagerstown to the Ohio River Valley in 1818. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. I wanted to knock down doors and haul bad guys off to jail, and thats what I did for 30 years., Since his daughters death, Simmers and Brooke's stepmother, Dana, have been very public about sharing their experience, sparing none of their familys worst moments and pain. Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. . Weve been struggling for decades and hopefully this will get the ball rolling, she says. You have permission to edit this article. Hagerstown is still a meat and potatoes kind of place, says Elliott. Now, how many families do you know that have been affected by addiction? Its hope or heroin out here.. Most Popular. HAGERSTOWN (WJZ) -- Seventeen Hagerstown residents and one Frederick resident were among 34 arrested Wednesday morning on indictments in a drug trafficking conspiracy. Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. During the early morning hours of December 20 th, the Allegany County Sheriff's Office with the assistance of numerous allied agencies executed search and seizure warrants at three separate locations in the Town of Westernport. The mayor and City Council at the time didnt want it. In recent decades, theyve swapped roles. Still, they are something of a Hail Mary pass for municipalities. I was gonna overdose and kill myself.. Situated near the Potomac River and what was once Western Maryland and West Virginia coal country, Hagerstown served as a vital gateway to the fertile Midwest. The office is currently staffed by personnel to include officers from the Hagerstown City Police Department, Deputies from the Washington County Sheriffs Department, an Intel Analyst, a Gang Analyst, two prosecutors from the State Attorneys Office, and two support staff. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. Hagerstown built automobiles, bottled Coca-Cola, made shoes, clothing, furniture, and Breyers ice cream, and was the worlds largest manufacturer of pipe organs. On June 29, the task force said agents presented cases to a Grand Jury that resulted in the indictment of 16 Hagerstown residents. The person arrested on the outstanding warrant was Violet Benjamin, 53, of Hagerstown. Thats a lot of drugs, Kerns said Wednesday in a phone interview. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Spain is being held without bond at the Caroline County Detention Center. Summer Camp registration opens Apri, Congratulations to Boot Barn for celebrating a rib, On behalf of the National Park Service, the Washin, Check out the special events Washington County Rec, In observance of Presidents' Day, Washington Count, Americans with Disabilities Act Information. The below persons are wanted or need to be identified by WCNTF at this time for drug violations or involved in a drug investigation. The huge A&W Johnston clock, first built in 1836 and later refurbished, still stands four stories above the town square in a period brick building. Since the start of the addiction crisis, which now kills more in the U.S. than car accidents and gun violence combined, emergency rescue calls have tripled in Hagerstown. We have more kids living with their grandparents and a greater need for foster parents. Smith accessed the storage unit on 39 separate occasions and obtained at least 250 grams of narcotics during his visits. A Hagerstown pawn shop. HAGERSTOWN, Md. Grant was treated at Meritus Medical Center and released to authorities, Kerns said. The 30-count indictment charges the residents of Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and the Dominican Republic with trafficking large amounts of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine base and cocaine hydrochloride from Hagerstown to locations in Berkeley County, West Virginia, from August 2020 to June 2021. HAGERSTOWN, Md. (Photos from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office) We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Drugs, money, weapons confiscated during an operation last week in Hagerstown. Whether these efforts, which remain largely public investmentschools, libraries, parkscan spark enough commercial interest to compete with the Valley Mall, the two Walmart Supercenters, and the Premium Outlets remains to be determined. CDS Possession/Use of Cocaine and Derivatives CDS Possession/Use of Synthetic Narcotics (Fentanyl) CDS Sale/Manufacturing Synthetic Narcotics (Fentanyl), CDS Sale/Manufacturing Other Dangerous Drugs CDS Possession/Use Opium (Heroin) CDS Sale/Manufacturing Cocaine, CDS Possession/Use- Cocaine CDS Possession/Use of Synthetic Narcotics (Fentanyl) CDS With Intent to Distribute Narcotics, CDS Possession- Not Cannabis CDS Possession/Use, (Use the blue dots to scroll the list of recent arrests). The rear of North and Locust Food Mart. The first indictment names 25 defendants accused in one or more of the drug conspiracies. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Police say most of these deals happened in broad daylight. Shortly after Grant was taken into custody, the task force executed a search-and-seizure warrant at 807 Hamilton Blvd., Kerns said. It's hard to imagine Hagerstown and similar cities receiving restitution anywhere near the true cost of the opioid epidemic and officials acknowledge that. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Quicker than ordering a pizza.". HAGERSTOWN, Md. More than 1,000 pounds of prescription medicine is collected in the first two hours of the event, which is held in an empty parking lot outside the county health offices. I was on the other side, and I get it, and people have every right to make that point.. The epidemic has not peaked yet by any means, says Mike Piercy, director of the Washington County Department of Social Services. Woolford is being held at the Dorchester County Detention Center held without bond. CARROLL COUNTY 30-year-old James Samms was arrested for drug distribution conspiracy. Later, outside a Rotary Club meeting, Keller talks more optimistically about the citys current efforts to tackle the crisis. Torri Deann Richardson, 37, and Roger Dean Saylor III, 30, were. A drug bust by Hagerstown (MD) Police Department early this morning resulted in the confiscation of crack cocaine and nearly $4,000 in cash. four counts of possession with intent to distribute spice, three counts of maintaining a common nuisance for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. Police seized more than 80 pounds of meth, 200 bags of fentanyl, more than two dozen guns and $135,000 in cash in a massive drug bust in Montgomery County. Walter Javier Martinez, 17, was last seen in the area of Wellington Court and may have left in a blue vehicle. Before long, he was buying heroin because it was cheaper than pills, and he went from snorting to injecting it, simply to maintain the same highand eventually just to function, if you could call it that. Anderson was charged with distribution of narcotics and possession of a controlled dangerous substance that was not marijuana, according to online court records. "They represent lives saved from overdose deaths and the continuing nightmare of drug addiction and the never-ending spinoffs of associated crimes from robberies, retail thefts, shootings and others that tear at the very fabric of our great and prosperous community," he said. #washcoproud, CDS Possession/Use of Cocaine and Derivatives, CDS Possession/Use of Synthetic Narcotics (Fentanyl), CDS Sale/Manufacturing Synthetic Narcotics (Fentanyl), CDS Sale/Manufacturing Other Dangerous Drugs, CDS With Intent to Distribute Narcotics, Please contact Deb Fling at (301) 514-7373 or email, Washington County Government is hiring for full-ti, The Washington County Office of Emergency Manageme, SAVE THE DATE! Founded in 1986, the Washington County Narcotics Task Force (NFT) is comprised of members from the Hagerstown Department of Police and the Washington County Sheriffs Office. 2023 Washington County. Its low-income, and I think its hard for people to find and keep employment there, he says. Doctor Explains. Add to all of this one more factor: Three prisons in Hagerstown, includings two state penitentiaries, have had a habit, according to local law enforcement officials, of leaving ex-offenders in town once theyre released. And now, Hagerstowns unique coordinates, once its greatest asset, play a leading role in enabling its public health crisis. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. (ABC7) The news from Hagerstown wasn't good. E, all face drug charges, according to Kerns and online court records. Law enforcement determined that the reported vehicle was registered to Smith and that the unit had been rented to Smith under a fraudulent New York State drivers license that bore Smiths photograph and the alias Michael Silver. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Clear skies. Call (240) 382-2757 or get your auth barcode quickly online. Perhaps as many as three-quarters of those in local methadone programs, according to recovering addicts interviewed for this story, still get high, using coke, crack, ecstasy, Spice, or benzos like Xanax, which are particularly dangerous in combination with methadone. Corey Diehl, two counts of distribution of heroin. Rise of a street boss By 1973,. In addition to Mota, the news release listed those indicted in connection with the alleged operation as: All but 11 of the defendants had been arrested as of Wednesday. College Park mayor, DC COVID Centers to close at the end of March, Mother calls for answers after son killed by police, MTPD: Two teenagers arrested, one had gun, Burglar used Germantown mans toothbrush, razor,, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. HAGERSTOWN (WJZ) --Seventeen Hagerstown residents and one Frederick resident were among 34 arrested Wednesday morning on indictments in a drug trafficking conspiracy. Four people were apprehended, three in relation to the possession of controlled substances, and one on an outstanding warrant. All Rights Reserved. A sitting train and truck behind a lot along West Franklin Street. basketball state quarterfinal highlights, D.C. high school basketball playoffs highlights (3/3/23), Maryland high school basketball playoffs highlights, Court docs reveal videos fmr. Prosecutors allege that Luna Mota, the owner of Top 3 Sources, was using the West Washington Street store to keep and sell drugs. After being arrested on July 1, police said Oliver assaulted an officer and was found with a controlled dangerous substance. on the U.S. Department of Justice website. There were a few people dedicated to establishing a Maryland orchestra, a few people trying to revive the Maryland Theatre. The two have been charged in connection with a drug distribution conspiracy in the Westminster area of Carroll County, Maryland. You can imagine as a police officer and a father how I felt, Simmers says. Its a problem, says former Hagerstown police chief Victor Brito, who resigned in May to lead the Rockville force. The indictment also calls for the forfeiture of $400,000 in cash, a .22 caliber pistol, ammunition and six vehicles, all believed to be proceeds of the drug conspiracy. All rights reserved. A months-long investigation initiated by citizen complaints resulted in the arrests of two suspected drug dealers Wednesday. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Magnitude 2.0 earthquake reaches Montgomery County, Best smart home devices for older users, according, How to get started on spring cleaning early, according, Worried about your student using ChatGPT for homework? Simmers, an outgoing, thick-shouldered 53-year-old, joined the military out of high school in the early 1980s with the intention of going into law enforcement. Some folksa waitress with an apron tied around her waist, a guyin construction gearare clearly stopping by on their way to a job. He was released after posting his $5,000 bond. The trail, which he helped develop, is primarily for economic development but also gives residents a sense of place and pride in their community. EASTON, Md. After several months of investigation and the help of several agencies, nine people have been indicted for allegedly being apart of a drug trafficking organization in two Maryland Eastern Shore counties. At that time, police apprehended Beckette, who was inside the duplex, Kerns said. Kevin and Dana Simmers at the future site of Brooke's House. Fifteen Members of Alleged Drug Ring Arrested. Kimberly Thompson, one count of maintaining a common nuisance for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. Spain is being held at the Caroline County Detention Center without bond. The man seemed nervous. His associate, 33-year-old Rodney Gaines, or "Butta" was also arrested. Conspiracy to commit possession with intent to distribute narcotics. With a projected $125 million in investments needed to fully develop the proposala big ifthe project, according to city officials, has the potential to create 875 jobs. Investigators have seized 8.6 kilograms of cocaine, 1.02 kilograms of heroin and 12 ounces of cocaine base. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. William Miller, one count of distribution of heroin. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Stephen McCormick, two counts of distribution of cocaine. Over a period of about three years, he went from prescription Vicodin to shooting up heroin. Read More. U.S. Attorney's Office December 21, 2012. Stay up to date with the latest community news written by award-winning editors and local reporters. Speaking at a news conference Tuesday, Bernard saidMota is accused of using hisbusiness, Top 3 Sources on West Washington Street, to store and sell drugs and launder the proceeds. During the execution of the search warrant, Smith informed law enforcement that he had a storage unit in Hagerstown, Maryland, and told officers where he kept the keys to the unit. We get to engage and feel like were being a positive influence on the city.. Through further investigation, law enforcement determined that Smith supplied narcotics to Tyler and Eddie Ware, Hagerstown, Maryland heroin and fentanyl drug dealers.

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