PROACTIVE POLICE WORK LEADS TO FOUR DRUG ARRESTS OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND

(September 3, 2013) – On September 1, 2013, at approximately 2:05 a.m. an Ocean City police officer on uniformed bicycle patrol observed a male acting suspiciously and talking on two cell phones simultaneously in the area of 8th Street and Philadelphia Avenue. When the subject, later identified as Darnell Defate Harris, 25, of Wilmington, DE, noticed the officer observing him, he quickly walked out into traffic crossing east to west causing two vehicles to quickly brake to avoid Harris.

The officer then approached Harris and issued a traffic warning for illegally crossing Philadelphia Avenue and told Harris that he was free to leave; however, Harris did not leave and become increasingly nervous and continued talking on two cell phones, behavior consistent with possible criminal activity. Officers requested to search Harris and he consented. During the search, officers located 24 small plastic bags containing heroin. Officers also seized $135 in US currency. Harris was then placed under arrest.

While officers were arresting Harris, a female, later identified as Clovise Frances Evans, 29, also of Wilmington, approached officers asking about her cell phone that Harris had been using. Soon after, Evans opened the door to her vehicle closeby and officers clearly saw a stun gun. Officers later found a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia after she consented that officers search her vehicle.

Harris was charged by Ocean City Police with possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession with intent to distribute. Evans has been charged with possession of a weapon with in the corporate limits of Ocean City, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both were seen by a Maryland District Court Commissioner. Harris was transferred to the Worcester County Jail on $5,000 bond and Evans was released on her own recognizance.

The next morning, on September 2, at approximately 7 a.m. an Ocean City officer was on patrol in the Inlet Lot when the officer noticed two individuals sleeping in a vehicle in violation of an Ocean City ordinance. The officer made contact with the individuals and they appeared extremely nervous. A K-9 completed a scan of the vehicle and the K-9 gave an alert for possible drugs. During a search of the vehicle, officers located 20 baggies of heroin, syringes, marijuana and other drug paraphernalia. The two suspects were identified as Jeffrey Lee Foard, 24, and Aubrey Marie Sieracki, 31, both from Jarrettsville, MD.

Foard and Sierack were charged by Ocean City Police with possession of heroin, possession of marijuana, two counts of manufacturing and distribution, possession with intent to distribute and other drug charges. Both were seen by a Maryland District Court Commissioner. Foard was transferred to the Worcester County Jail on $7,500 bond. Sieracki was released on $10,000 bond.