By Dolores E. Pike

On Friday State's Attorney Joel Todd held a press conference, announcing that the Worcester County Grand Jury, which met in September, handed down indictments for 49 people in a variety of cases. It was the culmination of an investigation begun in October 2004, conducted by the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation

At the same time Mr. Todd also announced the results of 10 search warrants simultaneously executed in Pocomoke City on Tuesday, October 17 and one search warrant on Wednesday, October 18. Recovered in the raids were crack cocaine with a street value of $11,000, weapons, two digital scales and $3,000 in cash. Charged at that time were Licurtis Whitney and Aisha Marshall, both of Pocomoke City. According to Mr. Todd, approximately 150 officers, some from as far away as Kent and Queen Anne's County, took part in the operation.

After surveillance of another suspect in Pocomoke City, on October 19 a juvenile wanted on an indictment for distribution of cocaine/possession was arrested. At the time of his arrest by the narcotics section, the suspect was found to be in possession of marijuana and a.380 Colt handgun.

The raids were the result of a meeting in late September between State's Attorney Todd, Worcester County Sheriff Charles Martin, Pocomoke City Chief J. D. Ervin and Lt. Doug Dods, Barrack Commander, Barrack V, Maryland State Police in Berlin. The combined law enforcement agencies agreed to step up their efforts to combat crime in Pocomoke City where a drive-by shooting took place in mid-September.

"We are going to continue the efforts throughout the county particularly in the south end of the county. The Pocomoke Police Department has asked the task force for assistance…the Sheriff's office, the State Police and the drug task force will continue to patrol the streets, particularly on weekend evenings and sometimes during the week on an intermittent basis, with the drug dogs. We are trying to make drug dealing uncomfortable for drug dealers in Worcester County," said Mr. Todd.

Of the Grand Jury indictments handed down, to date two of the seven offenders from Berlin, Garnet Lee Baines, III and Junior Ragmon., have been charged. Six of the 42 offenders from Pocomoke City who have been charged so far are Kay Marie Schoolfield, Shamus Montez Hall, Craig Lamont Smith, Curtis Lamont Schoolfield, Corey Brusshea Cropper and Danny Markeith Smith. The remaining offenders have not yet been served and will be identified at a later time.