Joshua Reed, one count of distribution of heroin. 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. Attorneys Christina A. Hoffman and Joan Mathias, who are prosecuting the case. Indirectly, they could have a hand at reversing the public health crises in the long run, civic leaders say. A huge component of this initiative includes a $40-million effort, started in 2017, which will expand three key institutionsthe University System of Maryland at Hagerstown, the Maryland Theatre, and Barbara Ingram School for the Artswith a slated completion date of spring of 2020. The seizures, and the refills, continued for about eight months, then ceased, but Morningstar found himself dependent on the narcoticphysically, mentally, and emotionally. It could not be determined Wednesday if those arrested remained in custody or were on pre-trial release. 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. 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. 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. Prosecutors alleged they conspired to sell 100 grams or more of heroin, 500 grams or more of cocaine and . 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. But how many people do you know that have been attacked by a terrorist? This pooling of investigative resources benefits each investigative unit with increased manpower, less duplication of effort, and by coordinating the targeting of drug offenders. Hes married with children and living his dream of being a full-time musician, touring his original folk-country songs across the U.S. A handful, with newer haircuts and cars, might be professionalssomewhere in this politically conservative county. Beckette and Anderson were being held at the detention center Wednesday, each in lieu of a $50,000 bond. 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. 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. On February 19, city health officials reported the number of heroin overdoses to which EMS crews and city police responded to. For a century, Hagerstown had been the dominant city, and Frederick a little cow town. Additionally, through further investigation, law enforcement determined that Smith supplied narcotics to Tyler and Eddie Ware, who were Hagerstown, Maryland heroin and fentanyl drug dealers. The number of child abuse cases has gone up. 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. The indictment seeks forfeiture of $410,016 in cash, six vehicles and a .22-caliber revolver and ammunition. Images courtesy of Hagerstown police Department. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Baltimore Magazine. 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. 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. Ive seen growth in investor confidence, says Director of Community & Economic Development Jill Frick Thompson, attributing it to the citys 10-year plan. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( The seized drugs have a street value of approximately $471,000, according to prosecutors. #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 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. Shortly after Grant was taken into custody, the task force executed a search-and-seizure warrant at 807 Hamilton Blvd., Kerns said. The mayor and City Council at the time didnt want it. It is a cruel twist that Hagerstown, on the receiving end of so much heroin from Baltimore, has such a shortage of addiction specialists that the Wells House, one of the largest outpatient clinics here, utilizes Baltimore doctors via telemedicine to treat its clients. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. At that time, police apprehended Beckette, who was inside the duplex, Kerns said. But the current economic picture in Hagerstown stands in stark contrast to the days when it earned its Hub City nicknamewhen five major passenger and freight lines merged here in a way that resembled the spokes of a wheel. Now, however, nearly all of the rails leading into downtown have been removed. Washington Daily Voice serves the towns of: Boonsboro, Fountainhead-Orchard Hills, Hagerstown, Halfway, Maugansville, Paramount-Long Meadow, Robinwood, Smithsburg. The loot was wrapped in bundles. 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 . Christina Trenton Nee, COO, and Charlie Mooneyhan, CEO, of Wells House. s the former managing editor of Hagerstowns daily newspaper,The Herald-Mail, Dave Elliott witnessed firsthand the citys downward spiral. 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? (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. William Miller, one count of distribution of heroin. Thamar Smith, age 48, of Hagerstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. TTY users may call any government office through the Maryland Relay Service 1-800-735-2258, Drug Activity Phone Tip Line 301-223-2632. 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. There were a few people dedicated to establishing a Maryland orchestra, a few people trying to revive the Maryland Theatre. February 21, 2023. in Hagerstowns North End, according to Lt. Todd Kerns, who served as the task forces director in 2013. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Others walk from nearby apartments. A release from the Washington County Sheriff's Office revealed the following: But the sad fact is that in 2018, Phoenix Health Center drawsmore people downtown than anything else on a Saturday. With the highways and economic factors, its all a perfect storm.. Conspiracy to commit possession with intent to distribute narcotics. Timothy Michael Ford, age 23 of Hagerstown, MD (1) Possession of heroin (2) 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. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DEA and the Washington County Narcotics Task Force for their work in the investigation. Or an illegal immigrant? Baltimore, Maryland - Thamar Smith, age 48, of Hagerstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.. July 28, 2021 / 2:11 PM Is Hagerstown eating its way to dementia? Its hope or heroin out here.. To learn more about ChatGPT and how we can inspire students, we sat down with BestReviews book expert, Ciera Pasturel. Gregory Lovern Williams Jr., 39, of Federalsburg, Maryland. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Clear skies. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. First published on July 28, 2021 / 2:11 PM. Police allege Anthony Latimer, 41, Hagerstown, was dealing drugs from his car when Alpha Platoon patrol officers approached the car in the 300 block of North Jonathan Street at 5:30 a.m. Latimer stepped . A dog tied up behind Byers Market on North Burhans Boulevard. After being arrested on July 1, police said Oliver assaulted an officer and was found with a controlled dangerous substance. 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. He moved on to 10-milligram Percocet, then 30-milligram. 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. Justin Ernest Riggs, 33, was arrested Saturday and is accused of leaking information to a drug trafficking organization . Thats how strong the grip of this addiction is.. Economists studying national trends say people should simply vacate towns like Hagerstownand seek work elsewhere. Its like watching a slow train crash coming that you dont know how to stop.. The NFT is housed within the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)at the DEAs Hagerstown Office. October of 2011, I woke up one day and thought, this is the day you die or the day you get clean. 2023 www.heraldmailmedia.com. According to Bernard, those charged are: Lenin Erasmo Luna Mota, also known as "Papi," 48, of Hagerstown, Maryland, and the Dominican Republic Joseph Archie Spain III, 44, of Preston, Maryland. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Michael Anthony Holland, 36, of Hurlock, Maryland. Low 33F. "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. Men outside a Hammond Street garage. A local taxi company sporadically drops people off. The narcotics task force is a joint operation of the Washington County Sheriffs Office and the Hagerstown Police Department. Smith accessed the storage unit on 39 separate occasions and obtained at least 250 grams of narcotics during his visits. Stay up to date with the latest community news written by award-winning editors and local reporters. Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Ive been a right-wing Republican all my life, Simmers says. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Four people were apprehended, three in relation to the possession of controlled substances, and one on an outstanding warrant. The epidemic has not peaked yet by any means, says Mike Piercy, director of the Washington County Department of Social Services. Its a problem, says former Hagerstown police chief Victor Brito, who resigned in May to lead the Rockville force. 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. 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. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for October 7, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. 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. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. 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 . 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. 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. Lock 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. I was on the other side, and I get it, and people have every right to make that point.. Meanwhile, health care, housing, and education costs have skyrocketed over the ensuing decades, but wages, adjusted for inflation, have remained essentially flat in Hagerstown, growing just 5 percent in total over that 25-year span. I mean you can kind of look at it as a small part of the community that we you know are dealing with but we know its not just at the end of security road, washignton gardens that end of town, its all over the town, said Sgt. 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. More than 80 percent of students at three Hagerstown public schools receive free or reduced-priced lunches. Weve been struggling for decades and hopefully this will get the ball rolling, she says. A drug bust by Hagerstown (MD) Police Department early this morning resulted in the confiscation of crack cocaine and nearly $4,000 in cash. 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. Having beautiful open spaces is important, and its important to have a connection to your community, says city engineer Rodney Tissue, who moved to Hagerstown in 1986 and raised his two daughters here. Martinsburg Police Chief George Swartwood said the arrests and seizures of drugs represent "more to this community than just numbers on a page.". NEWARK, NJTwo members of an alleged drug trafficking ring based . 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. Over a period of about three years, he went from prescription Vicodin to shooting up heroin. All rights reserved. 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. She highlighted not just the personal toll of the opioid epidemic on families but decreasing property values, its effect on businesses and workforce participation rates, and the immense strain placed on the citys police, EMS, and fire department budgets. Maybe longer. 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?. 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. In the first decades after World War II, during the early rumblings of the automobile age, Hagerstown continued to thrive, becoming a trucking hub as well a rail hub. A Hagerstown. George Wallace campaigned here in 1968 and 1972. On at least 30 separate occasions between April 8 and May 8, 2019, Smith visited Tyler Wares residence. Williams is being held at the Dorchester County Detention Center held without bond. Walter Javier Martinez, 17, was last seen in the area of Wellington Court and may have left in a blue vehicle. It's hard to imagine Hagerstown and similar cities receiving restitution anywhere near the true cost of the opioid epidemic and officials acknowledge that. Still, they are something of a Hail Mary pass for municipalities. When a methadone clinic was first proposed at this site, two blocks from Hagerstowns main street, in the spring of 2001, it was met with vehement opposition. On Monday, task force agents said they found Oliver with a significant amount of heroin. Thirty-two-year-old City Councilwoman Emily Keller, a go-getter single mom and insurance agent, lost her oldest friend to an overdose and ran for office specifically to lead the fight against the opioid epidemic. 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. 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). A block away, two restaurants that would become staplesJone and Don Bowmans Bulls and Bears and E. Jay Zuspan IIIs 28 Southsoon opened. 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. Maybe 10-15 percent dont give you any problem and are trying to do the right thing, says Lee Green, an addictions counselor who is also an active member of a 12-step program. Beckette also was charged with possession of a large amount of heroin (more than 28 grams); possession of a firearm in relationship to a drug-trafficking crime; creating a common nuisance through distributing narcotics; and theft of less than $1,000 in value, according to Kerns and online court records. I legitimately thought about that for five or six hours that day. Fifteen Members of Alleged Drug Ring Arrested. 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. We have a long way to go, but the school has brought life downtown, Hovermale says. 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. Inside the bedroom, Heather Strausbaugh sat talking with her client the conversation ranged from nightlife and bars to their families. Daily, he watches people, mostly in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, selling and scoring drugs in the citys central parking lot behind the gallery. Please provide as much information as possible, Your name and address/information is optional. His associate, 33-year-old Rodney Gaines, or "Butta" was also arrested. 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. Politically, Washington County has always tilted right. The indictments were returned July 20, said Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard of the northern district of West Virginia. Nicholas Silverman, 20, Bronson Benjamin,33, both of Hagerstown, and Farrah Wisner, 19, of Baltimore were arrested and charged with possession. A methadone clinic was not a part of that vision. 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. 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. 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. Theres an unmistakable world-wearinesswritten into their faces. Baltimore, Maryland Thamar Smith, age 48, of Hagerstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. E, all face drug charges, according to Kerns and online court records. As stated in his plea agreement, on August 9, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Smiths Hagerstown, Maryland residence. Jackie Devon Thompson, 41, of Frederick, Md. Rise of a street boss By 1973,. Just like all shopping centers it's half empty now and easy to find parking. Plainspoken but good-natured, and a well-respected journalist, Elliott started atTheHerald-Mailin 1970. 2 counts of conspiracy to commit possession with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances, 3 counts of using a firearm in drug trafficking, Possession of a controlled dangerous substance not marijuana. Hagerstown, MD 3 days ago. The first search was in the 500 block of Lynnehaven Drive in Hagerstown. The opioid trade has become so lucrative here that dealers from Baltimore and even New York travel to Hagerstown, and often farther into West Virginia, because they can earn up to $40 more a gram for heroin and a similarly higher profit margin for fake pills, like the counterfeit, fentanyl-laced Vicodin that killed Prince. Several weapons were seized, including two stolen handguns, as well as rifles and shotguns, Kerns said. TheCaroline County Drug Task Force is a multi-agencydrug task force, based inRidgely, Maryland; which functions under the direction and control of thedrug task forceadvisoryboard. Eight planned downtown catalyst projects include an expanded City Farmers Market and the creation of a cultural trail, part of which has already been implemented. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. 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. All it takes is a little fentanylor a microgram of carfentanyl, which is 100 times more potent. Press Release. Lenin Erasmo Luna Mota, also known as Papi, 48, of the Dominican Republic, is one of 34 people indicted by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of West Virginia on charges stemming froma multi-state drug operation, according to Randolph J. Bernard, the district's acting U.S. attorney. He moved toThe Frederick News-Postin 1989 but lived in Hagerstown until 2000. George Alfred Butler, 56, of Federalsburg, Maryland. The search warrants were a result of a multi- state . 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. Police seized drugs, cash and weapons from the residence, Kerns said. (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. Then he went from eating it to snorting it. The rear of North and Locust Food Mart. 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. Robison. 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. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. But he moved his family to Pennsylvania a couple years ago, leaving Hagerstown behind. People began to say, Oh, if it can happen to that family, it can happen to my family, Sterling says. He liked the feeling the Vicodin gave him and began to sometimes take the pills just for that hydrocodone buzz. 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. West Virginia State Police have denied a request to release dash camera footage or body camera footage of an incident on Feb. 12 on Interstate 81 in Berkeley County, W.Va., in which a Hagerstown man died after a struggle with a trooper. Call (240) 382-2757 or get your auth barcode quickly online. On at least 30 separate occasions between April 8 and May 8, 2019, Smith visited Tyler Wares residence. Those kind of manufacturing jobs generally pulled up stakes for cheaper labor in the South or overseas, a trend that has continued. -- The number of meth cases, particularly of one-pot meth labs in Western Maryland, has been experiencing a recent surge. Kevin and Dana Simmers at the future site of Brooke's House. 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. Smith accessed the storage unit on 39 separate occasions and obtained at least 250 grams of narcotics during his visits. At Meritus Medical Center outside of downtown Hagerstown, nearly three children a week are born addicted to opioids. Andrew Clopper, one count of distribution of heroin. The team lost its Orioles affiliation in the 1980s when the Os said goodbye to Hagerstown and hello to nearby Frederick.

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