The operation was further supported by the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Initiative, the Governors Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services, and the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network Initiative. Now its everywhere here, she says. Though extreme, the transition seemed gradual. 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. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. (ABC7) The news from Hagerstown wasn't good. Nine People Indicted in Historic Drug Bust on Maryland Eastern Shore In some cases, the defendants face penalties of five to 40 years in prison, 20 years in prison and 10 years to life, Bernard said. Its a phone call away. Ozempic Face showing up in Hagerstown? Doctor Explains However, the shops we visited had good deals and were brightly lit, clean and had nice staff. All Rights Reserved. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. On at least 30 separate occasions between April 8 and May 8, 2019, Smith visited Tyler Wares residence. 100 West Washington Street Hagerstown, MD 21740. Theyll deliver. icki Sterling, director of the Washington County Health Departments Division of Behavorial Health Services, says the turning point for the county in addressing the opioid epidemic was the death of former Hagerstown police sergeant Kevin Simmers daughter, Brooke, who overdosed on heroin 10 days after she had been released from a four-month prison stay. Earlier this spring, Keller, the city councilwoman who lost her best friend to an overdose, announced that the city would be joining several hundred municipalities, counties, and states in pursuing legal action against the nations largest drugmakers, alleging that they played a key role in launching the opioid epidemic. If you are in immediate danger dial 911. There were things going on, but no cohesiveness at the top.. 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. Andrew Clopper, one count of distribution of heroin. Christina Boward, two counts of distribution of heroin. The first three municipality lawsuits against drugmakersall Ohio casesare scheduled to be heard in U.S. District Court in Cleveland early next year. The school started with 85 students but this year surpassed 300, even though that meant holding classes in hallways and stairwells. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Thirteen people, including corrections staffer, charged in alleged Grant was treated at Meritus Medical Center and released to authorities, Kerns said. "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. 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. Washington County, MD Narcotics Task Force Nine arrested in early morning drug bust in Westernport. In an indictment unsealed on Wednesday, U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur announced that four have been arrested and two are still being sought in connection with the Hagerstown drug bust. (DG) - A sex trafficking operation was dismantled in Washington County. A dog tied up behind Byers Market on North Burhans Boulevard. I wanted to be in narcotics. HAGERSTOWN, Md. President Donald Trump spoke to a packed hangar at Hagerstown Regional Airport during his campaign in 2016 and won the county vote by a 2-1 margin. 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. Multi-Jurisdictional Investigation Dismantles Western MD Drug She mentions the increased training for Narcan, a medication that can prevent fatal overdoses, across the city. Md. 'drug kingpins' arrested; more than $1M in drugs seized 2023 Washington County. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DEA and the Washington County Narcotics Task Force for their work in the investigation. 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. We get to engage and feel like were being a positive influence on the city.. 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. Hagerstown PD's Biggest Drug Bust Caught On Film By Copwatch HTOWN 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. According to a 2016 report from the U.S. surgeon general, only one in 10 people with an addiction problem receives treatment. District of New Jersey (973) 645-2888. Additionally, in less than one month, Smith and Tyler contacted each other 714 times by cell phone. Through further investigation, law enforcement determined that Smith supplied narcotics to Tyler and Eddie Ware, Hagerstown, Maryland heroin and fentanyl drug dealers. By Ron Cassie and Lauren LaRocca Photography by BENJAMIN C. TANKERSLEY | July 2018, By Ron Cassie and Lauren LaRocca. The Caroline and Dorchester County Task Forces, Homeland Security Investigations and Drug Enforcement Administration, were further assisted by Dorchester County States Attorneys Office, Dorchester County Sheriffs Office, MSP Special Operations Group, MSP STATE Team, MSP Homicide, MSP PACE, MSP Gun Unit, MSP Criminal Investigations (Easton, Centreville, Salisbury, Princess Anne and Worcester), MSP Technical Surveillance Unit, Easton Police Department, Wicomico County Sheriffs Office, Talbot County Narcotics Task Force, Kent County Narcotics Task Force, Queen Annes County Narcotics Task Force, Somerset County Narcotics Task Force, Queen Anne's County Sheriffs Office, Federalsburg Police, and the Hurlock Police Department. Indirectly, they could have a hand at reversing the public health crises in the long run, civic leaders say. On June 29, the task force said agents presented cases to a Grand Jury that resulted in the indictment of 16 Hagerstown residents. / CBS Baltimore. "That is a snapshot, one day in the time of this case so that tells you that over the whole year of the investigation the breadth of this conspiracy and this illegal enterprise," Bernard said. Kerns said Anderson was part of an investigation that occurred prior to the search warrant being executed. Information for Victims of 1st Million Dollars, LLC. Images courtesy of Hagerstown police Department. News Flash Frederick, MD CivicEngage 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. Thats a lot of drugs, Kerns said Wednesday in a phone interview. Police Seize 83 Pounds of Meth in Massive Montgomery Co. Drug Bust A local taxi company sporadically drops people off. On Tuesday afternoon, the following people were brought into custody: Thor Swenson, two counts of distribution of heroin. The seizures, and the refills, continued for about eight months, then ceased, but Morningstar found himself dependent on the narcoticphysically, mentally, and emotionally. In a Brookings Institution study of 114 metropolitan areas that specialized in manufacturing from 1980-2005, the Hagerstown-Martinsburg (West Virginia) area had the second-highest percentage of industry job change in the U.S., a staggering 70 percent. 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. ; Cody William Grant, 26, of 826 Dewey Ave., Apt. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Ive seen growth in investor confidence, says Director of Community & Economic Development Jill Frick Thompson, attributing it to the citys 10-year plan. This pooling of investigative resources benefits each investigative unit with increased manpower, less duplication of effort, and by coordinating the targeting of drug offenders. As stated in his plea agreement, on August 9, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Smiths Hagerstown, Maryland residence. He blames forces beyond the citys reach, as well as futile and often misguided leadership. While this is small victory for the task force, agents say the communitys drug problem is far from over. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Hes married with children and living his dream of being a full-time musician, touring his original folk-country songs across the U.S. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . 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. Smith accessed the storage unit on 39 separate occasions and obtained at least 250 grams of narcotics during his visits. Hagerstown, Maryland Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Fentanyl and The NFT is housed within the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) at the DEA's Hagerstown Office.