WCSO Press Realeases - April 5, 2019

Spates and Copes

Incident: Possession with intent to distribute narcotics: school zone/ Possession of firearms in a drug trafficking crime

Date of Incident: April 3, 2019

Location: 1000 Block of John Street Salisbury, MD
Suspects:

1. Darell Lorenzo Spates, black male, 29 years old
2. Blankford Wallace Copes, black male, 50 years old

Narrative: On April 3, 2019, members of the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office Community Action Team and Criminal Investigation Division executed a search and seizure warrant at a residence on the 1000 block of John Street, Salisbury, Maryland. The execution of said warrant was the result of an investigation into the distribution of controlled dangerous substances and possession of stolen illegal firearms. As a result of the search warrant, Deputies located an amount of crack cocaine that is indicative of the intent to distribute. Deputies located an amount of marijuana individually packaged indicative of the intent distribute. The residence was located within 1000 feet of James M. Bennett High School. Deputies also located 3 firearms to include a Hi-Point 9mm semi-automatic handgun, a Mossberg 500 pistol grip 20 gauge shotgun, and a Remington 870 Magnum shotgun. The Remington 870 shotgun was reported stolen from a residential burglary in January 2019 that was investigated by the Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, a compound bow was recovered that was reported stolen from a residential burglary through the Salisbury Police Department. As a result, Deputies arrested the target of the investigation, Darell Lorenzo Spates and charged him accordingly. Spates was held without bond at the Wicomico County Detention Center.
Deputies located an amount of marijuana individually packaged indicative of the intent distribute. Blankford Wallace Copes was charged appropriately for the marijuana and released on $5,000 bond. 

Charges: 
 
Spates: Possession with intent to distribute narcotics within 1000 feet of a school zone, Possession with the intent to distribute narcotics, Possession of firearm during drug trafficking crime, Possession of firearm by prohibited person (felon) x3, along with other CDS/firearm related charges. 

Copes: Possession with intent to distribute marijuana within a 1000 feet of a school zone, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana.