$11,400 in Crack & $15,405 in Cash seized. 4 Arrested for Dealing and 18 for Buying. More Arrests Expected.
On October 27, 2005, the St Mary's County Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) Drug Unit with assistance from BCI Detectives, Maryland State Police Patrol Division, Maryland State Police Drug Enforcement Division, St Mary's County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit, St. Mary's and Calvert County Emergency Services Team and the St. Mary's County Animal Control Officers, served three search and seizure warrants on Kavanaugh Road in Mechanicsville, Maryland. The warrants were obtained as the result of a two month investigation into the sale of Crack Cocaine at a Mechanicsville location. The search of the property resulted in the recovery of 113.4 Grams of Crack Cocaine (street value $11,400), five (5) firearms and $15,405 in currency and numerous stolen items to include power tools and an all terrain vehicle. As a result of the search, the following four persons were arrested:
William Charles Toye, 40 years old of Mechanicsville
Francis Victoria Chase, 53 years old of Mechanicsville
Juwaan M. Carroll, 20 years old of Lexington Park
Travis L Butler, 24 years old of Mechanicsville
Several persons are being sought in connection with the ongoing investigation and additional arrests are anticipated in the coming weeks.
While searches of the three Mechanicsville homes were being conducted, a reversal operation was initiated utilizing undercover police officer posing as street level dealers. The undercover officers sold a non-controlled substance portrayed as Crack Cocaine to buyers. During the operation, the following persons were arrested and charged with purchasing a non-controlled substance which was believed to be Crack Cocaine:
Earl J. Gunn Jr., 44 years old of Waldorf
Charles E. Countiss, 42 years old of Mechanicsville
Joseph H. Hanna, 38 years old of Waldorf
Renee M. Hanna, 36 years old of Mechanicsville
Terri K. Bidne, 49 years old of Chaptico
Eric A. Veney, 36 years old of California
John A. Winchester, 53 years old of no fixed address
Gary A. Edinger, 49 years old of Mechanicsville
Anthony C. Mason, 46 years old of Leonardtown
Edward S. Brown, 39 years old of Chaptico
Thresher V. Lamotte, 39 years old of Hollywood
Bonnie J. Gibson, 38 years old of Lusby
Thomas D. Chayka, 31 years old of Lexington Park
Richard L. Summers Jr., 37 years old of Mechanicsville
Victoria C. Berkshire, 25 years old of Leonardtown
Jack H. Culp 46 years, old of Mechanicsville
Gary L. Hamlet 47 years, old of Leonardtown
Barbara L. Varner-Hampton, 27 years old of Prince Frederick
St. Mary's County Animal Control Officers were forced to respond due to the poor living conditions that more than a dozen dogs were exposed too. Both live and deceased animals were removed from the premises and animal cruelty charges are pending a State's Attorney's Office Review.
The St. Mary's County Bureau of Criminal Investigations is an investigative team comprised of Detectives from the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office and the Maryland State Police, Leonardtown Barrack. The unit was established on July 1, 2003 and is based in Leonardtown, Maryland.