Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

     On November 18, 2010 during the evening hours, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Enforcement Team along with members of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Canine Division and Patrol Division conducted an aggressive criminal enforcement initiative in the Pocomoke, Worcester County, Maryland area. During this initiative canine teams were deployed along with CET and Patrol personnel in various apartment complexes in the Pocomoke area. These apartment complexes were targeted due to the recent intelligence information that was being received by members of CET regarding to various controlled dangerous substance violations taking place in the parking lot areas. Intelligence was also received that individuals were utilizing their vehicles in these apartment complexes in order to facilitate their criminal activity, specifically controlled dangerous substances. As a result these canine deployments two vehicles were searched and a small amount was recovered. Members of CET made contact with numerous individuals in these apartment complexes who exited their apartments to observe what was taking place. During these contacts several individuals indicated to members of CET their appreciation for the law enforcement presence and enforcement. At the conclusion of deploying canine teams in these apartment complexes, members of the CET, Canine, and Patrol saturated the high crime areas of Pocomoke.

At approximately 2110 hours, DFC. Wells of CET, and DFC. Rhode of the Patrol Division, observed a vehicle traveling on Young Street at which time DFC. Rhode conducted a traffic stop for an equipment violation. As DFC. Rhode exited his patrol vehicle he contacted the operator who was identified as Derrick Smith of Pocomoke, Maryland. DFC. Rhode advised Mr. Smith the reason for the traffic stop and requested his license and registration. As DFC. Rhode returned to his vehicle conduct a drivers license and warrants check, DFC. Wells and DFC. Trader arrived on the scene and observed the front seat passenger and a rear passenger making furtive movements. The front seat passenger was identified as Jarrell Roberts and the rear passenger was identified as Roderick Collier. DFC. Ramey arrived on the scene in order to conduct a canine scan. As Jarrell Roberts exited the front passenger seat, DFC. Trader conducted a pat down for officer safety at which time he located a gallon size plastic freezer bag hidden in the front of Mr. Roberts’s pants. This freezer bag was later found to contain twenty (20) individually wrapped clear plastic bags of marijuana, an electronic digital scale containing marijuana residue along with additional packaging materials which would indicate an intent to distribute. Mr. Roberts was placed under arrest. During this arrest, Mr. Roberts resisted and assaulted DFC. Rhode.  A pat down of all remaining occupants was conducted. DFC. Ramey conducted a canine scan at which time her drug detection canine gave a positive alert on this vehicle for the presence of a controlled dangerous substance in this vehicle. During this canine scan, Roderick Collier shouted to DFC. Trader and DFC. Rhode, that the marijuana found on Mr. Roberts belonged to him. Due to this statement and the positive alert of a canine scan, Mr. Collier was placed under arrest as well. DFC. Wells conducted a thorough search of Mr. Collier at which time DFC. Wells found a clear plastic sandwich bag containing marijuana hidden in the front of Mr. Collier’s pants. This clear plastic sandwich bag was later found to contain seventeen (17) individually wrapped clear plastic bags of suspected marijuana. Mr. Collier was also found to be in possession of an electronic digital scale containing suspected marijuana and cocaine residue as well. Both Mr. Collier and Mr. Roberts were transported to the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office for processing. While in processing, Mr. Roberts and Mr. Collier were unruly and uncooperative. Mr. Roberts was secured in a cell and he began to kick the cell door and window. As Mr. Collier was being prepared to be placed into another cell and he began to resist and pull away from law enforcement personnel. Mr. Collier made various threatening statements indicating he was going to attempt to physically assault law enforcement officers, who were present, if he was un-handcuffed. Mr. Collier continued to pull away from law enforcement in an effort to avoid being properly searched before being placed into a cell.

The total amount of marijuana seized in this investigation was approximately 107.9 along with two (2) scales and small amount of U.S. Currency. These arrests were also made within a school zone as well. These individuals were charged with the following offenses:

Jarrell Roberts:

Possession of Marijuana

Possession with the intent to distribute marijuana

Possession with the intent to distribute marijuana / school zone

Resisting Arrest

Possession of paraphernalia

Assault of law enforcement

Roderick Collier:

Possession of Marijuana

Possession of Cocaine

Possession with the intent to distribute marijuana

Possession with the intent to distribute marijuana / school zone

Resisting Arrest

Possession of paraphernalia