20080617 Westminster Police Department "Operation Crack Down" synopsis

Westminster Police Department

“OPERATION CRACK DOWN”

June 17^th, 2008

SYNOPSIS

During the month of May 2008 undercover police investigators were utilized to identify distributors of illegal drugs in the City of Westminster. Nineteen (19) hand-to-hand purchases of illegal drugs were conducted by undercover investigators in the course of the operation. Seven (7) Grand Jury indictments were subsequently obtained for the felonious distribution of illegal drugs including crack cocaine, marijuana and Oxycontin. Of these indictments, six (6) have been served to date. Nine (9) search and seizure warrants have also been obtained and served. A total of fifteen (15) suspects have been arrested during June for drug violations stemming from this investigation. Additional arrests are pending.

GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS

Bradley John Zaranski, W/M, Age 19

Unit block of E. Green Street, Westminster

Indicted for felony distribution of a controlled dangerous substance

Michael Jelani Johnson, B/M, Age 32

4100 block of Trentham Drive, Pikesville

Indicted for felony distribution of a controlled dangerous substance

Vincent Louis Fletcher, B/M, Age 30

800 block of Ashland Avenue, Baltimore

Indicted for felony distribution of a controlled dangerous substance

Russell John Meluh, W/M, Age 53

100 block S. Center Street, Westminster

Indicted for felony distribution of a controlled dangerous substance

Avery Brian Myers, B/M, Age 39

100 block E. Main Street, Westminster

Indicted for felony distribution of a controlled dangerous substance

Wayne Winslow Luby, B/M Age 26

Unit block of Pennsylvania Avenue, Westminster

Indicted for felony distribution of a controlled dangerous substance

One Juvenile (Writ of Attachment Issued by the Circuit Court)

200 Block Montpelier Court, Westminster

Charged with felony distribution of a controlled dangerous substance

SEARCH WARRANTS

1) June 11, 2008

16 E. Green Street

Westminster, Maryland 21157

Arrested: Bradley John Zaranski (see indictment information above)

2) June 11, 2008

169 W. Main Street

Westminster, Maryland 21157

Arrested: Eric Michael Olah, W/M, Age 35

100 block W. Main Street, Westminster

Charges: Possess W/Intent To distribute CDS OXYCONTIN

Possess CDS OXYCONTIN

Possess CDS MARIJUANA

Possess CDS paraphernalia

Sean Joseph Collins, W/M, Age 25

6700 block of Meekins Avenue, Woodlawn

Charges: Possess CDS MARIJUANA

Possess CDS paraphernalia

Possess Forged Currency

Fred Wayne Lafortezza 3rd, W/M, Age 29

4000 block of Marjeef Circle, Baltimore

Charges: Possess CDS MARIJUANA

Possess CDS paraphernalia

Possess Forged Currency

Christopher Robert Patterson, W/M, Age 21

No Fixed Address

Charges: Possess CDS MARIJUANA

Possess CDS paraphernalia

One Juvenile

Unit block Old Bachmans Valley, Westminster

Charges: Possess CDS MARIJUANA

Possess CDS paraphernalia

3) Vehicle Search Warrant on June 11, 2008

2005 Chrysler

Arrested: Michael Johnson (see indictment information above)

*Additional charges pending

Andre Tobias Craig, B/M, Age 31

9916 Linden Hill Road, Owings Mills

Charges: Distribution CDS CRACK/COCAINE

Conspiracy to Distribute CDS CRACK/COCAINE

4) Vehicle Search Warrant on June 11, 2008

1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Arrested: Vincent Fletcher (see indictment information above)

5) June 11, 2008

4102 Trentham Drive,

Pikesville, Maryland 21208

Residence of defendant Michael Johnson

6) Vehicle Search Warrant on June 11, 2008

2002 Mazda

At the residence of defendant Michael Johnson (see indictment information above)

7) June 11, 2008

9916 Linden Hill Road,

Owings Mills, Maryland 21117

Residence of defendant Andre Craig (see arrest information #3 above)

8) Vehicle Search Warrant on June 11, 2008

1988 Ford Mustang

At the residence of defendant Andre Craig (see arrest information #3 above)

9) June 12, 2008

104 S. Center Street

Westminster, Maryland 21157

Arrested: Russell Meluh (see indictment information above)

Tara Danl Moore, W/F, Age 35

104 S. Center Street, Westminster

Charges: Possess CDS CRACK/COCAINE

Possess CDS paraphernalia

Heather Lynn Jarocki-Cave, W/F, Age 29

No Fixed Address

Charges: Possess CDS CRACK/COCAINE

Possess CDS MARIJUANA

Possess CDS paraphernalia

PROPERTY/EVIDENCE SEIZED

Total U.S. Currency seized for forfeiture: Approx. $3,630.00

Total Forged U.S. Currency seized: Approx. $2,080.00

Total CDS CRACK/COCAINE: Approx. 28 grams

Total CDS MARIJUANA: Approx. 51 grams

Total CDS OXYCONTIN: Approx. 140 pills