hagerstown, maryland drug bust

Washington, D.C. Man Convicted After Nine-Day Trial for Use of a Firearm in Connection with a Murder and a Robbery, and for a Drug Distribution Conspiracy. 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. 2023 Washington County. This was a normal kid, the daughter of a respected ex-city cop. Through further investigation, law enforcement determined that Smith supplied narcotics to Tyler and Eddie Ware, Hagerstown, Maryland heroin and fentanyl drug dealers. 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. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . In truth, Hagerstown has a higher poverty rate than Baltimore City, a higher percentage of people under 65 with a disability, lower home-ownership rates, and a lower percentage of its workforce with college degrees. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Its low-income, and I think its hard for people to find and keep employment there, he says. Some of them were done outside, some were done in the apartments, numerous kids were in the area playing, numerous people out and about, said Sgt. The number of child abuse cases has gone up. Butler is being held at the Caroline County Detention Center without bond. The person arrested on the outstanding warrant was Violet Benjamin, 53, of Hagerstown. 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. Ive been a right-wing Republican all my life, Simmers says. 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. At Meritus Medical Center outside of downtown Hagerstown, nearly three children a week are born addicted to opioids. Inside the bedroom, Heather Strausbaugh sat talking with her client the conversation ranged from nightlife and bars to their families. he one place in Maryland that has had a long struggle with heroin use is Baltimore, of course. The arrests were made during an eight-week investigation that was centered in the Queen City Drive and Park Street areas and was launched in response to complaints from citizens, businesses and visitors concerning the solicitation of prostitution. Additionally, in Through further investigation, law enforcement determined that Smith supplied narcotics to Tyler and Eddie Ware, who were Hagerstown, Maryland heroin and fentanyl drug dealers. Washington street leading east at the hagerstown public square in 1957. Drugs, money, weapons confiscated during an operation last week in Hagerstown. The indictments were returned July 20, said Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard of the northern district of West Virginia. I wanted to be in narcotics. A methadone clinic was not a part of that vision. Herman Mills, a Republican mayor from 1965-1973 who owned several gas stations and stores, was a sort of kingpin of the local ruling class, as Elliott puts itand the last in a long line of businessmen and factory owners investing in Hagerstown. HAGERSTOWN, Md. NTF has partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Hagerstown Resident Office and works closely with Hagerstown Police Department's Street Crime Unit. Photography by Benjamin C. Tankersley | July 2018. the sun has yet to rise over South Mountain, but already a line of cars is arriving at the Phoenix Health Center in Hagerstown. Baltimore, Maryland - Thamar Smith, age 48, of Hagerstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.. Four people were apprehended, three in relation to the possession of controlled substances, and one on an outstanding warrant. On at least 30 separate occasions between April 8 and May 8, 2019, Smith visited Tyler Wares residence. A mortality rate increase for any first-world demographic group had been virtually unheard of for decades, with the exception of Russian men after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a phenomenon blamed on soaring alcoholism rates. 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 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. The seizures, and the refills, continued for about eight months, then ceased, but Morningstar found himself dependent on the narcoticphysically, mentally, and emotionally. Justin Ernest Riggs, 33, was arrested Saturday and is accused of leaking information to a drug trafficking organization . October of 2011, I woke up one day and thought, this is the day you die or the day you get clean. Hes married with children and living his dream of being a full-time musician, touring his original folk-country songs across the U.S. Please provide as much information as possible, Your name and address/information is optional. A dog tied up behind Byers Market on North Burhans Boulevard. Corey Diehl, two counts of distribution of heroin. She can be reached via email at julieg@herald-mail.com. Still, they are something of a Hail Mary pass for municipalities. Plainspoken but good-natured, and a well-respected journalist, Elliott started atTheHerald-Mailin 1970. She talks enthusiasticallyand genuinelyabout the $40-million downtown revitalization effort and Hagerstowns future. Hagerstown, MD 3 days ago. Two drug busts were done on Wednesday after a three month investigation discovered a drug trafficking organization in the area. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Economists studying national trends say people should simply vacate towns like Hagerstownand seek work elsewhere. On Tuesday afternoon, the following people were brought into custody: Thor Swenson, two counts of distribution of heroin. Its these fast-rolling interstates that carry the deadly opioids, including heroin and fetanyl, flooding Marylands western counties. It could not be determined Wednesday if those arrested remained in custody or were on pre-trial release. Simms is being held at the Caroline County Detention Center without bond. Breezy Jill Beckette, 22, of 807 Hamilton Blvd. Derosiers isBeing held at the Dorchester County Detention Center held without bond. "Drug traffickers don't work nine-to-five hours, so the people investigating this case have to work 24-seven, and this team worked for approximately a year investigating this case," he said. Cameron Tibbs, one counts of distribution of heroin. Methadone, he argues, is a drug just like heroin. He found an opiate specialist doctor and took Suboxone for about a year, then safely weaned off. Another resident artist, Anthony Jones Jr., is a recovering cocaine addict and alcoholic who credits artand Engine Roomas part of his salvation, giving him a sense of purpose and allowing him to be creative rather than self-destructive. 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. 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. We kind of got shit pie handed to us., Source: Maryland Vital Statistics Administration. 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 can collect their extra day's supply . Spain is being held without bond at the Caroline County Detention Center. But how many people do you know that have been attacked by a terrorist? Thats everyone I know. 3, in Hagerstowns North End; and Daniel Matthew Anderson, 28, of 1008 Security Road, Apt. In an emotional press conference, she pointed the finger directly at the pharmaceutical companies, including Purdue Pharma, which hired hundreds of sales representatives to promote their product and has been accused of using misleading information to hide the drugs addiction potential. Its like watching a slow train crash coming that you dont know how to stop.. 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. 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 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. 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. The state Attorney General's Office announced that 13 people, including a dietary sergeant at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women in Anne Arundel County, were indicted on charges they. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Baltimore Magazine. The Washington Narcotics Task Force has made 11 arrests in connection to a local drug trafficking organization investigation. Spain is being held at the Caroline County Detention Center without bond. 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. Home to one-fourth of the countys population, Hagerstown accounts for the majority of those seeking treatment, as well as the majority of overdose fatalities, which included 21 city residents in the first four-and-a-half months of this yeara pace that would, if it continues, triple last years total. That investigation led to the Narcotics Task Force obtaining 9 search warrants. (ABC7) The news from Hagerstown wasn't good. 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. Those kind of manufacturing jobs generally pulled up stakes for cheaper labor in the South or overseas, a trend that has continued. Mostly sunny skies with gusty winds. Its a huge step forward. 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. The guilty plea was announced by Jarod Forget,Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)'s Washington Division; United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; and Sheriff Douglas Mullendore of the Washington County Narcotics Task Force. Holland is being held at the Dorchester County Detention Center without bond. 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. Some folksa waitress with an apron tied around her waist, a guyin construction gearare clearly stopping by on their way to a job. A Hagerstown appliance store owner is charged with using it as a front for an illegal drug operation estimated to havehandled millions of dollars worth of drugs and proceeds, according to federal authorities. 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. Ten years ago, the Hagerstown native started having seizures once or twice a week that left his muscles tense, his bones aching, and his head feeling like it might explode. 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. Weve been struggling for decades and hopefully this will get the ball rolling, she says. Quicker than ordering a pizza.". July 28, 2021 / 2:11 PM Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Clear skies. These kinds of places are where non-college-educated, white working-class people have been dying in increasing numbers from what Princeton economists Anne Case and Angus Deaton referred to in their landmark 2015 paper as deaths of despairsuicide, drug poisoning, and liver diseasewhich are reversing the life expectancy progress that the U.S. has seen over the past 50 years. The 16-bed treatment project for women is partly to honor their daughter, who once shared her wish of getting off drugs and opening such a center with her parents, but it is also borne of frustration, as the family repeatedly struggled to get the help their daughter needed. 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. Theyll deliver. Neither did the Washington County health officer or then-Hagerstown Police Chief Arthur Smith, who questioned the wisdom of opening a methadone clinic in a city that, he claimed, did not have a heroin problem. Miguel Angel Santiago Caraballo, 30, of Chambersburg, Pa. The below persons are wanted or need to be identified by WCNTF at this time for drug violations or involved in a drug investigation. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. The Washington County Narcotics Task Force recovered approximately 188 grams of suspected heroin and 95 grams of suspected methamphetamine Monday from 807 Hamilton Blvd. There were a few people dedicated to establishing a Maryland orchestra, a few people trying to revive the Maryland Theatre. "This is the largest drug bust in my time as a prosecutor and as the elected state's attorney," Caroline County State's Attorney Joe Riley said. The narcotics task force is a joint operation of the Washington County Sheriffs Office and the Hagerstown Police Department. Torri Deann Richardson, 37, and Roger Dean Saylor III, 30, were. 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. A local taxi company sporadically drops people off. Citing a release from the U . 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. You have permission to edit this article. At that time, police apprehended Beckette, who was inside the duplex, Kerns said. 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. Over a period of about three years, he went from prescription Vicodin to shooting up heroin. 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. The NFT is housed within the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) at the DEA's Hagerstown Office. 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. Patrica Diaz,four counts of possession with intent to distribute spice, three counts of maintaining a common nuisance for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. Hagerstown built automobiles, bottled Coca-Cola, made shoes, clothing, furniture, and Breyers ice cream, and was the worlds largest manufacturer of pipe organs. Dwayne Unglebower, four counts of possession with intent to distribute spice, three counts of maintaining a common nuisance for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. Lewis Chamberlain, two counts of distribution of heroin. The first indictment names 25 defendants accused in one or more of the drug conspiracies. Instead, you go get high and forget about it for a while., Forty-year-old Brooks Zombro, who has lived in Hagerstown his whole life, puts it another way: Hagerstown is a manufacturing town, then we lost all those factory jobs our parents and grandparents had, [and] it has become a playground for big box retail that has all but eliminated and destroyed our downtowns small business district. The mayor and City Council at the time didnt want it. The Frederick County Sheriff's Office arrested and charged 12 people in a drug bust Wednesday. y any definition, the epidemic in this part of Maryland, a state with one of the top five death rates from opioids in the country, is among the worst anywhere. / CBS Baltimore. orking with Philadelphia-based Urban Partners, the city has put together a 10-year City Center Plan, which began in 2014, to enhance the towns quality of life and attract new developers, investors, and businesses. He moved on to 10-milligram Percocet, then 30-milligram. An official website of the United States government. A locked padlock Frederick, which seems worlds away rather than a mere 20 minutes, has benefitted from its MARC train station, which has grown the town into a bedroom community of D.C. Its also close enough to Baltimore that people make the I-70 commute. The following agencies maintain drop boxes to drop off your not-needed prescription medication. There wasnt a door that I knocked on when I was campaigning for City Council that people didnt say heroin and the opioid crisis was the number one issue, Keller says. Kerns said Anderson was part of an investigation that occurred prior to the search warrant being executed. But he moved his family to Pennsylvania a couple years ago, leaving Hagerstown behind. After the public schools and hospital, the largest employers in Washington County today are the sprawling Citi and First Data call centers. Thamar Smith, age 48, of Hagerstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. I legitimately thought about that for five or six hours that day. These ongoing efforts build on one of Hagerstowns legacy assets, the lush City Park, utilized year-round, as well as the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts therein, where the new Cultural Trail begins before it winds toward downtown. HAGERSTOWN (WJZ) --Seventeen Hagerstown residents and one Frederick resident were among 34 arrested Wednesday morning on indictments in a drug trafficking conspiracy. He is being held at Eastern Regional Jail in Berkeley County, W.Va. Federal authorities allege the drug ring involved millions of dollars worth of drugs and proceeds, distributing large amounts. Including Brookes father. Big out-of-town industries such as Fairchild Aircraft, which once employed 10,000 people and closed its plant in 83, and Mack Trucks, which arrived in 1961 (and still makes trucks here, although it employs fewer people), were controlled from a distance and had no stake in the community, Elliott asserts. NOW PLAYING ABOVE. On Monday, task force agents said they found Oliver with a significant amount of heroin. Call (240) 382-2757 or get your auth barcode quickly online. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. District of New Jersey (973) 645-2888. Some NTF agents are even deputized by the DEA as Federal Task Force Officers (TFO's). Its not as conscious a decision as that. 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. 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. We get to engage and feel like were being a positive influence on the city.. His associate, 33-year-old Rodney Gaines, or "Butta" was also arrested. 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. Stay up to date with the latest community news written by award-winning editors and local reporters. . Smith accessed the storage unit on 39 separate occasions and obtained at least 250 grams of narcotics during his visits. Smith and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Smith will be sentenced to 92 months in federal prison followed by 4 years of supervised release. More than 20 Hagerstown residents were indicted for drug trafficking after the Washington County Narcotics Task Force wrapped up a two month long drug investigation into the distribution of heroin, crack cocaine and spice in the area. In recent decades, theyve swapped roles. Though extreme, the transition seemed gradual. 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. 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. Smith and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Smith will be sentenced to 92 months in federal prison followed by 4 years of supervised release. Ive seen growth in investor confidence, says Director of Community & Economic Development Jill Frick Thompson, attributing it to the citys 10-year plan. Hagerstown, Maryland Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Fentanyl and Heroin Drug Charges Drug Enforcement Administration Jarod A. . seventy-five miles west of Baltimore, the sun has yet to rise over South Mountain, but already a line of cars is arriving at the Phoenix Health Center in Hagerstown. 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. The following people were indicted during the investigation: Justin Aaron Spain, 41, of Lanham, Maryland. 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. Three people were taken into custody in Washington County last week on drug charges involving fentanyl and crack cocaine. Grant briefly escaped, fleeing while handcuffed, and was captured a short distance away, Kerns said. Thats a lot of drugs, Kerns said Wednesday in a phone interview. According to a 2016 report from the U.S. surgeon general, only one in 10 people with an addiction problem receives treatment. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Most Popular. "If they just had a pipefine . (DC News Now) The Hagerstown Police Department said officers executed a search and seizure warrant at 115 S. Mulberry St. on Oct. 7, finding fentanyl, crack cocaine, $5,000 cash, and firearms. To me, the urban improvement project is huge. Additionally, in less than one month, Smith and Tyler contacted each other 714 times by cell phone. Fifteen Members of Alleged Drug Ring Arrested. If we were somehow able to turn around the [addiction] numbers today, it would take another 20 years to shake off the damage., police investigating a burglary on West Franklin Street. Hagerstown, MD 2 days ago. Police say most of these deals happened in broad daylight. Life is great now, he says. He moved toThe Frederick News-Postin 1989 but lived in Hagerstown until 2000. 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. This designation provides local agents enforcement powers anywhere in the United States. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. The epidemic has not peaked yet by any means, says Mike Piercy, director of the Washington County Department of Social Services. Those charged are: Lenin Erasmo Luna Mota, also known as "Papi," 48, of Hagerstown, Maryland and the Dominican Republic Now its everywhere here, she says. Others arrive in pajamas and sweatpants, barely awake, clutching telltale lockboxes for take-home doses. On Monday, the following people were brought into custody: Terry Ernede Jr., two counts of distribution of heroin. a shuttered barber shop on Jonathan Street. 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. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Several weapons were seized, including two stolen handguns, as well as rifles and shotguns, Kerns said. This has been very beneficial since drug violators frequently move through the tri-state area. HAGERSTOWN, Md. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. Michael Romito, three counts of distribution of heroin. Consider, for example, that three of the four railroad properties on the Monopoly board were spokes in that Hagerstown hub, connecting the city to Richmond, Washington, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and New York. 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.

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