544,514 views Jun 30, 2016 $24 million dollars was found stuffed in the wall of a home in what's being called one police department's biggest cash seizure to date. Later, outside a Rotary Club meeting, Keller talks more optimistically about the citys current efforts to tackle the crisis. When you cant find work, cant pay your billswho wants to think about that? The drug task force is comprised of sworn law enforcement officers and contributionsfrom theCaroline County Sheriff's Department, Maryland State Police, Maryland Natural Resources Police, Caroline County States Attorney's Office, and the Denton Police Department. You can imagine as a police officer and a father how I felt, Simmers says. The steel tracks of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad started carrying locomotives from Baltimore in the same direction, straight through the heart of Hagerstown, two years after the end of the Civil War. On February 19, city health officials reported the number of heroin overdoses to which EMS crews and city police responded to. 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. Baltimore, Md. As a result of the executed search warrant at Smiths storage unit, law enforcement located 15.4 grams of heroin, 8.9 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin, digital scales with suspected heroin residue, numerous small plastic baggies, and a glass jar containing a suspected cutting agent. They dont stand a chance., The societal ripple effect of the opioid epidemic cant be overstated, says Piercy, who doesnt have to look any farther than outside his downtown Potomac Street office window to witness people nodding and passing out. 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. On at least 30 separate occasions between April 8 and May 8, 2019, Smith visited Tyler Wares residence. This was a normal kid, the daughter of a respected ex-city cop. 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. Two more telltale signs of Hagerstowns plight are present here as well: The countys storefront offices sit in an all-but-abandoned shopping center, and nearby is a Superfund site, less than a mile from three public schools, and still in need of remediation two decades after it was added to the EPAs National Priorities List. The Washington County Narcotics Task Force performed the drug raid at a Hagerstown apartment after first obtaining a warrant based on a narcotics investigation of that address. Hes married with children and living his dream of being a full-time musician, touring his original folk-country songs across the U.S. Bernard said agents serveda search warrant at the store in June and seized approximately $500,000 worth of drugs, including a kilogram of heroin and nine kilograms of cocaine. The person arrested on the outstanding warrant was Violet Benjamin, 53, of Hagerstown. Maybe longer. Holland is being held at the Dorchester County Detention Center without bond. A block away, two restaurants that would become staplesJone and Don Bowmans Bulls and Bears and E. Jay Zuspan IIIs 28 Southsoon opened. I cannot count the number of friends who have died after I almost did, says Katie Wetzel, 27, a recovering addict in Hagerstown who is now married with three kids. osh Morningstar could be the poster boy for the use of prescription opioids gone awry. According to his guilty plea, on March 18, 2019, law enforcement received an anonymous tip from a Hagerstown, Maryland storage facility customer reporting that an individual driving a large SUV and a storage unit conducted a suspected drug deal at the facility. The narcotics task force is a joint operation of the Washington County Sheriffs Office and the Hagerstown Police Department. As stated in his plea agreement, on August 9, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Smiths Hagerstown, Maryland residence. Michael Romito, three counts of distribution of heroin. Most Popular. To learn more about ChatGPT and how we can inspire students, we sat down with BestReviews book expert, Ciera Pasturel. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. For the lions share, howevera nearly all-white mix of solitary adults, young and middle-aged couples, teenagers, and parents dragging along childrenit looks like life has been a struggle for a while. A methadone clinic was not a part of that vision. Dealers now have their own pill presses, explains Drug Enforcement Administration agent Robert Grob at a recent Drug Take Back Day, a collaboration between the Hagerstown Police Department, county health department, and the DEA that encourages local residents to turn in leftover medication for safe disposal. As stated in his plea agreement, on August 9, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Smiths Hagerstown, Maryland residence. On at least 30 separate occasions between April 8 and May 8, 2019, Smith visited Tyler Wares residence. The Frederick County Sheriff's Office arrested and charged 12 people in a drug bust Wednesday. After being arrested on July 1, police said Oliver assaulted an officer and was found with a controlled dangerous substance. Justin Ernest Riggs, 33, was arrested Saturday and is accused of leaking information to a drug trafficking organization . Hitachi Rail Factory "on track" in Hagerstown. A drug bust by Hagerstown (MD) Police Department early this morning resulted in the confiscation of crack cocaine and nearly $4,000 in cash. A block away, the City of Hagerstown opened the artist-run Engine Room Art Space and four artist apartments above it in 2015, which also breathes some life into the city. It is alleged that Luna Mota, the owner of Top 3 Sources, a business in Hagerstown, Maryland, was using his business on West Washington Street for the purpose of having and selling controlled substances. The Caroline County Drug Task Force started the investigation by looking into the operation of a drug trafficking organization believed to be distributing large amount of cocaine, opioids, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamines in Caroline and Dorchester counties and parts of Delaware. Christina Trenton Nee, COO, and Charlie Mooneyhan, CEO, of Wells House. Officials in Frederick and Washington Counties seized over $90,000 worth of cocaine and crack cocaine inside of a Hagerstown home. After the public schools and hospital, the largest employers in Washington County today are the sprawling Citi and First Data call centers. One (seemingly) solid mayor, Republican Donald Frush, who served from 1981-1985 and was known as the Father of Planning in Washington County, disappeared during his campaign for a second term and was found by a reporter at a Johns Hopkins psych ward. 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. Low 33F. 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. . He is being held at the Washington County Detention Center on a $80,000 bond. According to a 2016 report from the U.S. surgeon general, only one in 10 people with an addiction problem receives treatment. The following people were indicted during the investigation: Justin Aaron Spain, 41, of Lanham, Maryland. 6:15 AM. A months-long investigation initiated by citizen complaints resulted in the arrests of two suspected drug dealers Wednesday. Police seized drugs, cash and weapons from the residence, Kerns said. This pooling of investigative resources benefits each investigative unit with increased manpower, less duplication of effort, and by coordinating the targeting of drug offenders. 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. 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. 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. Grant also was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia; possession of needles related to drugs; possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana; creating a common nuisance through distributing narcotics; and escape in the second degree, according to Kerns and online court records. Saturday mornings are the busiest days of the week because the drug treatment clinic is closed on Sundaysmeaning that several hundred people begin showing up at 5 a.m. to ensure that they cancollect their extra days supply of methadone or buprenorphine. Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the West Virginia Air National Guard;U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and U.S. attorney's offices in West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Hagerstown, Maryland Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Fentanyl and Its true that from the outside, the county seat of some 40,000 people still looks a bit like Mayberry, with its turn-of-the-century architecture, elegant City Park, church spires, tidy sidewalks, and walkable streets. The rest of the state did not share that history, and Hagerstown and towns like it are dealing with something entirely new. 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. Those charged are: Lenin Erasmo Luna Mota, also known as "Papi," 48, of Hagerstown, Maryland and the Dominican Republic This epidemic, largely caused by the pharmaceutical industrys complete lack of accountability or care about anyone or anything other than their pockets, has wreaked havoc on my city, Keller said. The task force was assisted by the Washington County Special Response Team and the Hagerstown regional office of the Drug Enforcement Agency, according to an email from Kerns. 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. The Caroline County Drug Task Force started the investigation by looking into the operation of a drug trafficking organization believed to be distributing large amount of cocaine, opioids,. Police In Western Maryland Dismantle Sex Trafficking Operation four counts of possession with intent to distribute spice, three counts of maintaining a common nuisance for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. Through further investigation, law enforcement determined that Smith supplied narcotics to Tyler and Eddie Ware, Hagerstown, Maryland heroin and fentanyl drug dealers. a view from the abandoned hospital parking garage across from the antietam street clinic. Call (240) 382-2757 or get your auth barcode quickly online. #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! The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; and Sheriff Douglas Mullendore of the Washington County Narcotics Task Force. Washington County > Washington County Maryland Narcotics Task Force. Others sell or trade their methadone or bupe (opioid medications used to suppress withdrawal symptoms) to buy the real thing, faking drug tests to game the system. His associate, 33-year-old Rodney Gaines, or "Butta" was also arrested. "The fact that a good portion of the investigation occurred during the pandemic makes the results even more impressive.". She talks enthusiasticallyand genuinelyabout the $40-million downtown revitalization effort and Hagerstowns future. My daughter went to school with her. Up until that point, most people in Washington County viewed addiction as a criminal justice issue. One of the biggest mistakes city officials made was failing to sufficiantly upgrade Municipal Stadium, the nearly 90-year-old home of the minor league Hagerstown Suns, or build a new ballpark downtown. She can be reached via email at julieg@herald-mail.com. nyone wishing to report narcotics information is encouraged to contact the task force by calling 301-791-3205, emailing, Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, 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? The 30-count indictment alleges the operation trafficked large amounts of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine base and cocaine hydrochloride from Hagerstown to Berkeley County, West Virginia, between. Multiple law enforcement agencies ultimately provided assistance with the investigation. On Monday, the following people were brought into custody: Terry Ernede Jr., two counts of distribution of heroin. on the U.S. Department of Justice website. Spain is being held without bond at the Caroline County Detention Center. The NFT is housed within the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)at the DEAs Hagerstown Office. Beckette and Anderson were being held at the detention center Wednesday, each in lieu of a $50,000 bond. 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. The C&O (Chesapeake and Ohio) Canal, which passes through Washington County and primarily transported coal, was already in operation by then, having been completed in 1850. Scrubbing Baltimores Marble Steps Was My Very First Job, How Actress Rachel Hilsons Baltimore Roots Influence Her Work Today, The Mount Vernon Virtuosi is Much More Than a Chamber Orchestra, Deer Park, MD Was Once an Elite VacationlandThanks in Part to its Famous Water, Artist James Evans Uses Photographs and Words to Combat Prejudice in Nature, Baltimore School for the Arts Debuts a Student-Run Newspaper. The charges includeconspiracy to distribute drugs, possession with intent to distribute drugs, and money laundering. Hagerstown, MD 4 days ago. Prosecutors alleged they conspired to sell 100 grams or more of heroin, 500 grams or more of cocaine and . William Miller, one count of distribution of heroin. HAGERSTOWN, MD Five Hagerstown residents have been arrested after a major drug and weapons bust February 9th announced by The Washington County Sheriff's Office and its law enforcement partners this week. Drug bust nets cocaine, cash - Franklin County Free Press Bernard had high praise for the cooperative efforts of the agencies involved, saying "they did a tremendous job. The trail, which he helped develop, is primarily for economic development but also gives residents a sense of place and pride in their community. Julie E. Greene is a reporter for The Herald-Mail. 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. The following agencies maintain drop boxes to drop off your not-needed prescription medication. More than 20 indicted after drug bust in Hagerstown - DC News Now Three Hagerstown residents charged following drug bust - Herald-Mail Media HAGERSTOWN (WJZ) -- Seventeen Hagerstown residents and one Frederick resident were among 34 arrested Wednesday morning on indictments in a drug trafficking conspiracy. Authorities are reporting 12 people have been charged with sex offenses, and seven victims have been placed into the harm reduction program with the Washington County Health Department. Life is great now, he says. A Hagerstown appliance store was allegedly used as a hub for the illegal activities. 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. Baltimore, Maryland Thamar Smith, age 48, of Hagerstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. If effective, they will be a start in rebuilding Hagerstowns economy and, ultimately, its quality of life. Christine Jenkins, one count of distribution of heroin. Grant briefly escaped, fleeing while handcuffed, and was captured a short distance away, Kerns said. Rise of a street boss By 1973,. he one place in Maryland that has had a long struggle with heroin use is Baltimore, of course. Some of the NFT agents are also federally deputized members of the DEA, which gives these local agents enforcement powers anywhere in the United States. Peanut King: After 37 years in prison, a giant of Baltimore's drug Youll see people dressed up nice to see a play or film, and you have addicts walking around, says Matthew Hast, a sculptor who lives at Engine Room. These included the creation of a multi-jurisdictional Maryland State Police Heroin Investigation Unit to focus on mid-to-upper-level heroin and opioid distribution operations. Economists studying national trends say people should simply vacate towns like Hagerstownand seek work elsewhere. Smith accessed the storage unit on 39 separate occasions and obtained at least 250 grams of narcotics during his visits. "The operation in this case, I think it's fair to say, dealt with millions of dollars of drugs and proceeds," he said. When his Vicodin prescription ended, he started buying it on the street, until 5-milligram Vicodins werent enough. The drugs seized during the investigation amounted to 8.6 kilograms of cocaine, 1.02 kilograms of heroin, and 12 ounces of crack cocaine, with a street value of approximately $471,000. Hagerstown Center Of Alleged Drug Conspiracy, Prosecutors Say Alternative Drug & Alcohol Counseling (ADAC), 370 Virginia Ave, Hagerstown MDPhone: (301) 766-0065 or email [emailprotected], 64 South Main Street, Boonsboro, MD 21713, Meetings in Parish House (Park in back, house to the right), Capturing Washington County, Maryland's faces, places and unique spaces with creative and artful imagery. I was gonna overdose and kill myself.. Agents say anyone wishing to report narcotics information is encouraged to contact the task force by calling 301-791-3205, emailing drugtip@washco-md.net, orvisiting their website at wcntf.net. The NFT is housed within the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) at the DEA's Hagerstown Office. A release from the Washington County Sheriff's Office revealed the following: 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. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Indirectly, they could have a hand at reversing the public health crises in the long run, civic leaders say. Even as other Rust Belt towns declinelosing union jobs, community, status, and a general hope for a brighter futurethe numbers in Hagerstown are startling when you step back and look at them. According to his guilty plea, on March 18, 2019, law enforcement received an anonymous tip from a Hagerstown, Maryland storage facility customer reporting that an individual driving a large SUV and a storage unit conducted a suspected drug deal at the facility. 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?. The below persons are wanted or need to be identified by WCNTF at this time for drug violations or involved in a drug investigation. This isnt political. So far in 2020, the rate of overdoses in the county has increased with 83 non-fatal . Mayor Richard Trump (no relation to the president),who ran for office on a slate that promised to return God to City Hall, abruptly resigned without explanation after nine months in office in 2006. 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. While he fled, Grant fell and injured himself, Kerns said. This pooling of investigative resources benefits each investigative unit with increased manpower, less duplication of effort, and by coordinating the targeting of drug offenders. Christina Boward, two counts of distribution of heroin. Now its everywhere here, she says. The alleged traffickers distributed drugs in Caroline and Dorchester counties, as well as parts of Delaware, according to police, who said investigators from multiple agencies developed enough.
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