Call (240) 382-2757 or get your auth barcode quickly online. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Including Brookes father. Butler is being held at the Caroline County Detention Center without bond. Arrest made in Feb. 5 Hagerstown homicide. According to a 2016 report from the U.S. surgeon general, only one in 10 people with an addiction problem receives treatment. He liked the feeling the Vicodin gave him and began to sometimes take the pills just for that hydrocodone buzz. He was charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession of heroin. 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. Economists studying national trends say people should simply vacate towns like Hagerstownand seek work elsewhere. The man seemed nervous. Washington Daily Voice serves the towns of: Boonsboro, Fountainhead-Orchard Hills, Hagerstown, Halfway, Maugansville, Paramount-Long Meadow, Robinwood, Smithsburg. 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. He was released after posting his $5,000 bond. 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.. 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. 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. "If they just had a pipefine," he said. Beckette and Anderson were being held at the detention center Wednesday, each in lieu of a $50,000 bond. 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. Its not the white picket fence. 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. Nicholas Silverman, 20, Bronson Benjamin,33, both of Hagerstown, and Farrah Wisner, 19, of Baltimore were arrested and charged with possession. Christina Boward, two counts of distribution of heroin. Calls can not be returned if call blocking features are used. On Tuesday afternoon, the following people were brought into custody: Thor Swenson, two counts of distribution of heroin. The first indictment names 25 defendants accused in one or more of the drug conspiracies. Stretching from New York to Tennessee and Baltimore to Utah respectively, I-81 and I-70 are two of the longest interstates in the U.S., and they intersect in Hagerstown. To learn more about ChatGPT and how we can inspire students, we sat down with BestReviews book expert, Ciera Pasturel. While the most pressing question confronting Hagerstownand other resource-deprived towns in Maryland such as Frostburg, Cumberland, Cambridge, Snow Hill, Elkton, and Edgewoodmay be how to get immediate help to those struggling with addiction, the broader question is more vexing: How does an isolated, blue-collar town recover from the worst drug epidemic in U.S. historyon top of45 years of deindustrialization? All it takes is a little fentanylor a microgram of carfentanyl, which is 100 times more potent. 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. All rights reserved. There were things going on, but no cohesiveness at the top.. Its a phone call away. The indictment seeks forfeiture of $410,016 in cash, six vehicles and a .22-caliber revolver and ammunition. E, all face drug charges, according to Kerns and online court records. On February 19, city health officials reported the number of heroin overdoses to which EMS crews and city police responded to. Shortly after Grant was taken into custody, the task force executed a search-and-seizure warrant at 807 Hamilton Blvd., Kerns said. 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. From the early 1970s onward, there was a vacuumeconomically, socially, politically, culturally. The narcotics task force is a joint operation of the Washington County Sheriffs Office and the Hagerstown Police Department. The seizures, and the refills, continued for about eight months, then ceased, but Morningstar found himself dependent on the narcoticphysically, mentally, and emotionally. Life is great now, he says. The two have been charged in connection with a drug distribution conspiracy in the Westminster area of Carroll County, Maryland. Some folksa waitress with an apron tied around her waist, a guyin construction gearare clearly stopping by on their way to a job. Indirectly, they could have a hand at reversing the public health crises in the long run, civic leaders say. Derosiers isBeing held at the Dorchester County Detention Center held without bond. Hagerstown, MD 3 days ago. The following people were indicted during the investigation: Justin Aaron Spain, 41, of Lanham, Maryland. Fifteen Members of Alleged Drug Ring Arrested. 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. Bernard had high praise for the cooperative efforts of the agencies involved, saying "they did a tremendous job. HAGERSTOWN (WJZ) --Seventeen Hagerstown residents and one Frederick resident were among 34 arrested Wednesday morning on indictments in a drug trafficking conspiracy. Through further investigation, law enforcement determined that Smith supplied narcotics to Tyler and Eddie Ware, Hagerstown, Maryland heroin and fentanyl drug dealers. He was taken into custody Tuesday at his Security Road home, Kerns said. HAGERSTOWN, Md. 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 . This pooling of investigative resources benefits each investigative unit with increased manpower, less duplication of effort, and by coordinating the targeting of drug offenders. The person arrested on the outstanding warrant was Violet Benjamin, 53, of Hagerstown. Washington street leading east at the hagerstown public square in 1957. s the former managing editor of Hagerstowns daily newspaper,The Herald-Mail, Dave Elliott witnessed firsthand the citys downward spiral. Grant briefly escaped, fleeing while handcuffed, and was captured a short distance away, Kerns said. HAGERSTOWN, Md. 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?. She discusses plans for the rollout of a new awareness program, Washington Goes Purple, a symbolic color adopted by opioid prevention advocates, geared toward steering youth away from substance abuse. Beckette was charged with three counts each of intent to distribute narcotics and possession of a controlled dangerous substance that was not marijuana, according to online court records. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorneys Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach. 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. After the public schools and hospital, the largest employers in Washington County today are the sprawling Citi and First Data call centers. 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. 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. Those kind of manufacturing jobs generally pulled up stakes for cheaper labor in the South or overseas, a trend that has continued. NOW PLAYING ABOVE. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Hagerstown, MD 2 days ago. 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. February 21, 2023. The team lost its Orioles affiliation in the 1980s when the Os said goodbye to Hagerstown and hello to nearby Frederick. There were a few people dedicated to establishing a Maryland orchestra, a few people trying to revive the Maryland Theatre. 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. 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. 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. 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.. Jazzmen Vaughn, one count distribution of heroin and one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Doctor Explains. on the U.S. Department of Justice website. She talks enthusiasticallyand genuinelyabout the $40-million downtown revitalization effort and Hagerstowns future. 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 drugs seized during the investigation amounted to 8.6 kilograms of cocaine, 1.02 kilograms of heroin, and 12 ounces of cocaine base "crack," with a street value of approximately $471,000. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. Its a problem, says former Hagerstown police chief Victor Brito, who resigned in May to lead the Rockville force. 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. However, the shops we visited had good deals and were brightly lit, clean and had nice staff. "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. On June 29, the task force said agents presented cases to a Grand Jury that resulted in the indictment of 16 Hagerstown residents. 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. The below persons are wanted or need to be identified by WCNTF at this time for drug violations or involved in a drug investigation. 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. Drug & alcohol testing in Hagerstown, MD at 2 clinics. Thats how strong the grip of this addiction is.. Thats everyone I know. Christine Jenkins, one count of distribution of heroin. 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. Later, outside a Rotary Club meeting, Keller talks more optimistically about the citys current efforts to tackle the crisis. If effective, they will be a start in rebuilding Hagerstowns economy and, ultimately, its quality of life. Information entered into this system will be submitted to the Washington County Narcotics Task Force only. Plainspoken but good-natured, and a well-respected journalist, Elliott started atTheHerald-Mailin 1970. A locked padlock A list of the indicted individuals is available on the U.S. Department of Justice website. HAGERSTOWN, Md. 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. 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. Through the investigation and the evidence, officers were able to obtain 11 search warrants. 2023 Washington County. 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 a huge step forward. Spain is being held at the Caroline County Detention Center without bond. Its hope or heroin out here..

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