TIME MACHINE ... This Sunday's Preview

1966.. It's a team effort of Thompsons on the Pocomoke City Police force; Circa 1900.. Winter in Worcester County; 1905.. Pocomoke's William Sartorius; 1941.. Moonshiners asked to aid in Aluminum drive; 2008.. The Eastern Shore provides Maryland's official state dessert.

Although you may not find all of these items in a history book, they are a part of our local history and you can read more about it this Sunday right here at The Pocomoke Public Eye!

Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about? It can be just a line or two, or more if you wish. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!

Delivery Of Antares Stage 1 Assembly

The delivery of the Anteres Stage 1 Assembly had been delayed until Wednesday, February 5, 2014. 

So, Wednesday morning around 8:00 a.m. the rocket assembly passed through the intersection of Route 13 and Route 113 in Pocomoke City, Maryland headed for Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia just a few miles south.

The next targeted date for launching of the Anteres rocket is scheduled for sometime in April 2014.

We'll be waiting and watching for more updated information.

Many thanks Leslie and Cindi.bw

Representative Andy Harris - Tax Filing Season Readiness Events

 

You're Invited: Tax Filing Season Readiness Events

Dear Friends,

This Saturday, February 8, my office will host two Tax Filing Season Readiness outreach events that are free and open to the public. The first will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md. The event will take place in the theater at the Student Services Center. Free parking is available in the lot adjacent to the Student Services Center.

 

This presentation will address new changes specific to the Eastern Shore, including the shift of income tax preparation assistance from the local Salisbury IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center to the local Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs. These programs are administered through Shore Up in Salisbury and UMES in Somerset County, as well as local AARP state representatives, all of whom have been invited to attend the event in Princess Anne.

 

A similar event will be held later that day, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Elkton Central Branch Library located at 301 Newark Avenue, Elkton, Md. 21921. Free overflow parking is available at the Singerly Fire Company across the street from the library.

 

At both events, the IRS will provide information on tax preparation services, identity theft, and refund fraud, as well as guidance on how to select a return preparer. The events will also provide an opportunity for district constituents to speak with an IRS representative regarding personal tax-filing issues. 

 

I am pleased my office is hosting Tax Filing Season Readiness events to provide you with the opportunity to speak with an IRS representative about your specific tax-filing issues and to obtain information about the most recent changes to the federal tax code. The current tax code is very complex and sometimes burdensome for millions of individuals and small businesses. With all of the federal tax code changes from year to year, my office frequently addresses these concerns with the IRS. Last year alone, my office handled 126 IRS-related cases. Knowing of this difficulty, I am pleased to have the IRS as a guest for this event on behalf of my constituents.

 

Please RSVP for either event below.

 

Do you plan on attending?

Yes No Maybe

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P.S. - If you haven't already, click here to subscribe to my e-newsletter so you can keep up with what I'm doing in Washington.

 Sincerely,

Andy Harris, M.D.
MEMBER OF CONGRESS

Worcester County Rabies Clinic

FBI Offers Reward for Information On Armed Robbery

FBI Offers Reward for Information About Mother’s Bar and Grill Armed Robbery

The Baltimore Division of the FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for any information about the armed robbery at Mother’s Federal Hill Grill at 1113 South Charles Street on Sunday, February 2, 2014. Four armed men wearing masks entered the restaurant just before 7 a.m. as employees arrived for work. All four men were armed and threatened employees. One worker was hit with the butt of a shotgun when unable to open the safe.

“Someone in our community knows who these men are. We need that person to come forward—the information they provide could stop these men from striking again and someone being seriously hurt,” said Baltimore FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen Vogt.

“We will not tolerate violence, in any form, at any level,” said Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts. “We will bring every resource to bear against those who would use guns to bring harm to our city. We are incredibly thankful for the assistance of our federal partners as we all work to reduce violent crime.”

These men, pictured below, are to be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about the robbery or the robbers is asked to call the Baltimore Division of the FBI at 410-265-8080.

Callers can remain anonymous and could receive a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone connected to the crime.

Source:

Murder Trial of Northampton County Man Results In Plea Deals

Durrell Fitchett

By Wesley Edwards
A trial for the murder of a Northampton County man was conducted Tuesday in Northampton Circuit court and each of the four defendants reached plea deals with the Commonweath. 

The victim and the defendants attended a party in Machipongo last April. The four defendants from Tasley were charged for their participation in the murder of Mr. Jesse (Bob) Gordon.

The first defendant Durrell Fitchett was originally charged with first-degree murder, malicious wounding, displaying a firearm in a threatening manner, murder by a mob, and participating in gang violence. The scheduled bench trial did not occur when Fitchett entered a plea agreement to second-degree murder and the firearm charge.

John Logan

 Commonwealths attorney Bruce Jones laid out the case as a party with in a garage with a live DJ, alcohol, and drugs. The victim was shot after some type of confrontation from a distance of 6 to 24 inches.

After the shooting, Fitchett and the other three defendants began beating and kicking Gordon. Gordon was declared dead on arrival at Riverside Memorial Hospital from the gunshot wound.

The second defendant Deleon Fitchett then entered his plea agreement. Fitchett's charges were reduced from malicious wounding by a mob, murder by a mob, and gang violence to one count of malicious wounding with the other charges being dropped.

The third defendant Devon Blake a half-brother of the first two defendants was charged with malicious wounding by a mob and with his plea agreement the charges were reduced to unlawful wounding.

The fourth defendant John Logan a cousin of the first three was charged with malicious wounding by a mob murder, by a mob and participating in gang violence. All of these charges were reduced to one charge of unlawful wounding under a plea agreement.

The four defendants were returned to jail and will remain in custody pending the completion presentence reports.

Source:

Delmarva Discovery Center Upcoming Events

PRESS RELEASE FROM: Delegate McDermott Introduces a Bill To Help Retirees & Maryland’s Economy

February 5, 2014

“Delegate McDermott Introduces a Bill To Help Retirees & Maryland’s Economy”

 

ANNAPOLIS - “Maryland needs to become a state that people want to retire in if we want to see our economy grow.  In order to do this, Maryland needs to become more tax friendly and this bill is just one piece of the puzzle to help us do it” stated Delegate Mike McDermott (R- Worcester & Wicomico Counties) in the House of Delegates hearing on House Bill 75, entitled “Income Tax - Income Modification - Retirement Income.”

 

House Bill 75 will allow retirees to exempt the first $50,000 from their pensions from the state’s income tax.  Under current law, Maryland already provides a pension exclusion for retirees who are at least 65 years old or who are completely disabled. “The Tax Foundation makes it quite clear that there is a migration, an exodus, if you will, of money and people leaving the state of Maryland… Maryland needs to move in a more competitive direction if we want to actually compete with other states in the region.  If not, we will continue to see an exodus of individuals, small business, and Fortune 500 Companies” continued Delegate McDermott.  

 

“This bill helps people who have grown up in, worked in, raised kids in, and made a life for themselves in Maryland;  this bill bets on those people.  If the Maryland legislature exempts the first $50,000 of retirement income from the income tax, not only will retirees stay in Maryland, rather than go to more tax friendly states such as Florida or Texas, but we will see that money invested back into the communities here. We will see those people by another car here.  We will see those people help their kids buy a house here. The benefits and the economy growth that Maryland will see from this bill substantially outweighs the costs” concluded Delegate McDermott, before the House Ways and Means Committee.

House Bill 75 is still awaiting a vote by the Ways and Means Committee.  If passed by the House and Senate, this bill will take effect for the 2014 tax year.

 

 

AUTOPSY COMPLETED IN DEATH OF DELAWARE FUGITIVE

Maryland State Police

AUTOPSY COMPLETED IN DEATH OF DELAWARE FUGITIVE

(SALISBURY, MD) – An autopsy of the armed fugitive fatally wounded as police attempted to arrest him in Salisbury two days ago has been completed. 

The autopsy was conducted on the body of James L. Norris, 25, of Wilmington, Delaware, who was fatally wounded on the afternoon of February 4, 2014. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore has concluded Norris died of a single gunshot wound to the head. He sustained no other injuries.

Examination of the wound, clothing, and other evidence by pathologists, crime scene technicians and investigators has led them to conclude Norris did fire the gun held in his right hand jacket pocket, but he was not struck by that round. Investigators believe the round that struck Norris was fired from the police officer’s gun.

Investigators believe one round was fired by Norris and one round was fired by the officer. One projectile was recovered from the car Norris was in. The other round has not yet been located. Ballistic examination of the recovered round will be conducted in an attempt to determine whose gun it was fired from.

The investigation is continuing. 

Delegate Mike McDermott ~ 2nd Amendment Rally 2014

2014 2nd Amendment Rally

Delegate Mike McDermott

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

 

 In his STRONG voice for our freedoms yesterday Delegate Mike McDermott hit the nail on the head!!  Speaking to a group of Marylanders in Annapolis, Delegate McDermott not only seemed to be speaking to those in ONE state but to ALL Americans in ALL of America!

 

Here is what he had to say....

 

Drugs and Assault Weapons Recovered During Search & Seizure Warrants

From:   The Office of the State’s Attorney for Worcester County & The Office of The Sheriff For Worcester County, MD.
            
February 4, 2014

Drugs and Assault Weapons Recovered During

Search & Seizure Warrants

 

 

SNOW HILL – Members of the Criminal Enforcement Team, a highly specialized drug enforcement unit of the Office of the Sheriff for Worcester County executed four coordinated search and seizure warrants in Worcester County during the days of January 30th and 31st resulting in the seizure of marijuana, crack cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and assault weapons.
 

Working together with local, state and federal partners, two months of investigation led to three simultaneously executed warrants in Pocomoke and one separately executed warrant in Bishopville, MD.

In total, Nine-hundred and twenty-six grams of Marijuana, twelve grams of crack cocaine, twenty-seven individual bags of heroin and two tablets of ecstasy were recovered. In addition, one Intra Tec Tec 9 Assault Pistol one Smith & Wesson .38 Caliber Revolver and one Hi Point .40 Caliber Carbine were also recovered.

Sheriff Mason applauded the efforts of law enforcement by saying, “Thanks to the members of the Criminal Enforcement Team and our allied partners, the streets of Worcester County are both cleaner and safer today”.

 

State’s Attorney for Worcester County, Beau Oglesby added, “Drugs and guns go hand in hand, and when our law enforcement officers risk their lives to make our communities safer you can rest assured that our Office will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law”.

 

The following individuals were arrested as a result of these investigations:

 

Davonte Lamont Purnell (Age 22) Pocomoke, Maryland
Possession of Marijuana
Possession with intent to distribute Marijuana
Possess of Crack Cocaine
Possession with intent to distribute Crack Cocaine
Possession of Assault Pistol
Possession of a high capacity magazine
Illegal Possession of a regulated firearm
Illegal possession of ammunition
Felon in possession of a firearm
Committed to Worcester County Jail on a $100,000.00 Bond

 

Marcus Shaquille Cropper (Age 20) Pocomoke, Maryland
Possession of Marijuana
Possession with intent to distribute Marijuana
Possess of Crack Cocaine
Possession with intent to distribute Crack Cocaine
Committed to the Worcester County Jail on a $50,000.00 Bond

 

Eric Aaron Cropper (Age 46) Pocomoke, Maryland
Possession of Marijuana
Possession with intent to distribute Marijuana
Possess of Crack Cocaine
Possession with intent to distribute Crack Cocaine
Committed to the Worcester County Jail on a $50,000.00 Bond

 

Clement Lee Johnson (Age 31) Bishopville, Maryland
Possession of Marijuana
Possess of Crack Cocaine
Possession with intent to distribute Crack Cocaine
Possession of Heroin
Possession with intent to distribute Heroin
Possession of Ecstasy / MDMA
Possession of drug paraphernalia
Possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime (2Cts.)
Possession of a stolen firearm
Committed to the Worcester County Jail on a $125,000.00

 

The following agencies assisted the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team during this investigation and the execution of these search and seizure warrants.

Worcester County Sheriff’s Office
Worcester County Bureau of Investigation
Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office
Ocean City Police Department Narcotics Unit
Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force
Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office SERT Team
Berlin Police Department SWAT Team
Maryland State Police – Berlin Barrack
Pocomoke City Police Department
Homeland Security Investigations – RAC Ocean City

Great job! bw

Worcester Co. State's Attorney Beau Oglesby To Meet With Top Officials To Discuss Heroin Issue

 

The Office of The State’s Attorney
Date: February 4, 2014

 

 

SNOW HILL – On Wednesday, February 5th, 2014 State’s Attorney for Worcester County, Beau Oglesby, announced that he would be traveling to Baltimore on Friday, February 7th, to meet with U.S. Attorney, Rod Rosenstein and other top officials to discuss the issue of fentanyl laced heroin which has already caused 37 deaths across the state of Maryland.

 

Oglesby stated, “We need to be as informed as possible, meeting with officials from across the State as well as our federal partners will ensure that we address this issue before it becomes a problem for the Eastern Shore.”

In recent weeks newspapers from across the country have been reporting on this deadly epidemic. Heroin overdoses have spiked dramatically because this new heroine is mixed with the powerful pain killer, fetanyl. Fetanyl is estimated to be 80 times more powerful than morphine according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“This is a real problem that’s very dangerous. No one should die from an overdose, and there are resources within the community designed to help those with addictions find a pathway to recovery. It is important to send a reminder to those who might bring these poisons to our shores that there will be no leniency from this Office, and they will be held accountable for their actions”, Oglesby said.

 

Snow Hill Area Chamber of Commerce ~ 4th Annual Oyster Roast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tickets are also available online on the Chamber website at www.snowhillareachamber.com - tickets are limited and sell out quickly so don't delay!

 

Snow Hill Area Chamber of Commerce

Facebook

 

NASA / Kepler Finds a Very Wobbly Planet

Kepler Finds a Very Wobbly Planet

NASA Photo
 

This illustration shows the unusual orbit of planet Kepler-413b around a close pair of orange and red dwarf stars. The planet's 66-day orbit is tilted 2.5 degrees with respect to the plane of the binary star's orbit. The orbit of the planet wobbles around the central stars over 11 years, an effect called precession. This planet is also very unusual in that it can potentially precess wildly on its spin axis, much like a child's top.


Imagine living on a planet with seasons so erratic you would hardly know whether to wear Bermuda shorts or a heavy overcoat. That is the situation on a weird, wobbly world found by NASA's planet-hunting Kepler space telescope.

The planet, designated Kepler-413b, precesses, or wobbles, wildly on its spin axis, much like a child's top. The tilt of the planet's spin axis can vary by as much as 30 degrees over 11 years, leading to rapid and erratic changes in seasons. In contrast, Earth's rotational precession is 23.5 degrees over 26,000 years. Researchers are amazed that this far-off planet is precessing on a human timescale.

Kepler 413-b is located 2,300 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus. It circles a close pair of orange and red dwarf stars every 66 days. The planet's orbit around the binary stars appears to wobble, too, because the plane of its orbit is tilted 2.5 degrees with respect to the plane of the star pair's orbit. As seen from Earth, the wobbling orbit moves up and down continuously.

Kepler finds planets by noticing the dimming of a star or stars when a planet transits, or travels in front of them. Normally, planets transit like clockwork. Astronomers using Kepler discovered the wobbling when they found an unusual pattern of transiting for Kepler-413b.

"Looking at the Kepler data over the course of 1,500 days, we saw three transits in the first 180 days -- one transit every 66 days -- then we had 800 days with no transits at all. After that, we saw five more transits in a row," said Veselin Kostov, the principal investigator on the observation. Kostov is affiliated with the Space Telescope Science Institute and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. The next transit visible from Earth's point of view is not predicted to occur until 2020. This is because the orbit moves up and down, a result of the wobbling, in such a great degree that it sometimes does not transit the stars as viewed from Earth.

Astronomers are still trying to explain why this planet is out of alignment with its stars. There could be other planetary bodies in the system that tilted the orbit. Or, it could be that a third star nearby that is a visual companion may actually be gravitationally bound to the system and exerting an influence.

"Presumably there are planets out there like this one that we're not seeing because we're in the unfavorable period," said Peter McCullough, a team member with the Space Telescope Science Institute and Johns Hopkins University. "And that's one of the things that Veselin is researching: Is there a silent majority of things that we're not seeing?"

Even with its changing seasons, Kepler-413b is too warm for life as we know it. Because it orbits so close to the stars, its temperatures are too high for liquid water to exist, making it inhabitable. It also is a super Neptune -- a giant gas planet with a mass about 65 times that of Earth -- so there is no surface on which to stand.

NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif., is responsible for the Kepler mission concept, ground system development, mission operations and science data analysis. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., managed Kepler mission development. Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. in Boulder, Colo., developed the Kepler flight system and supports mission operations with the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado in Boulder. The Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore archives, hosts and distributes Kepler science data. Kepler is NASA's 10th Discovery mission and was funded by the agency's Science Mission Directorate.

For images and more information about Kepler-413b, visit:

http://hubblesite.org/news/2014/12

For more information about the Kepler space telescope, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/kepler

 

Source:

DRIVER CHARGED IN CRASH THAT INJURED STATE TROOPER

Maryland State Police Press Release

DRIVER CHARGED IN ANNE ARUNDEL CO. CRASH THAT INJURED STATE TROOPER

(GLEN BURNIE, MD) – Maryland State Police today issued traffic charges to an Anne Arundel County driver involved in a crash four months ago that critically injured a state trooper on a traffic stop.

The driver is identified as Enrique Guzman, Jr., 21, of Pasadena, Md. He was issued two traffic citations this morning at his home by a Maryland State Police Crash Team investigator. He is charged with a violation of Maryland’s ‘move over’ law, which carries a fine of $750. He is also charged with negligent driving, which carries a fine of $280. The penalty for each charge also includes three points if the violation contributed to a traffic crash. Acceptance of the citations is not an admission of guilt. Guzman has a right to stand trial on the charges or pay the fines prior to trial.

The charges were placed after a detailed crash reconstruction and investigation was conducted by the Maryland State Police Crash Team. The investigation was reviewed by the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office. After the review, prosecutors determined the two charges listed above should be issued to the driver.

Guzman is charged in connection with a crash that occurred at about 1:00 a.m. on October 6, 2013, on eastbound Rt. 100, prior to the Catherine Avenue exit. Trooper Jacqueline Kline, assigned to the Glen Burnie Barrack, had just stopped on the shoulder of the highway to back-up a K-9 trooper on a traffic stop. The investigation revealed that as Trooper Kline walked along the highway shoulder toward the patrol car in front of her, the car driven by Guzman struck her.

Trooper Kline was thrown onto the hood of the striking vehicle, a 2007 Nissan Versa. She was then propelled into the back of the State Police K-9 car, where she struck the back windshield and metal K-9 cage inside the car.

Trooper Kline was hospitalized for several weeks, but is now out of the hospital. She continues to improve with a speed that amazes her medical team and her fellow troopers. 

Community Crime Watch Meeting

Weather Permitting:

Stockton area Communtiy Crime Watch  meeting  will be held Friday, February 7, 2014 at 6:00 PM at the Stockton Vol. Fire Dept.

Ms.  Janet Tull of the Worcester County Health Department will have a special presentation.

The Kickoff Party for Relay for Life Rescheduled

  From:  CITY OF POCOMOKE (facebook page)

The Kickoff Party for Relay for Life of South Worcester County has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 11th at 6pm at the MAR-VA Theater. All are welcome to attend!

Postponement - Trooper 4 Ribbon Cutting

Trooper 4 Ribbon Cutting POSTPONED
From: Maryland State Police Aviation Command

Due to the forecasted weather statewide tonight into tomorrow, the Maryland State Police Aviation Command is postponing the Ribbon Cutting ceremony scheduled for tomorrow to celebrate the new AW139 multi mission helicopter assigned to Trooper 4 in Salisbury. A number of guests and speakers would have to travel through areas forecasted to receive ice and freezing rain.

 

A new date has not been selected. A new press release will be sent out when a date is selected.

 

 I sincerely hope you will be able to attend.

 

Sgt. Michael Mann
Maryland State Police Aviation Command
Salisbury Section - Trooper 4

FUGITIVE FATALLY WOUNDED IN WICOMICO CO. IDENTIFIED

Maryland State Police Press Release

(SALISBURY, MD) – After locating and notifying family in Delaware, Maryland State Police are identifying the armed man fatally wounded yesterday in Wicomico County during an encounter with police officers attempting to arrest him.

The man is identified as James L. Norris, 25, whose last known address was in the 400-block of North Franklin Street, Wilmington, Delaware. He was pronounced dead at Peninsula Regional Medical Center shortly after 7:30 p.m. yesterday.

Norris was a passenger in a car stopped about 4:30 p.m. yesterday on Rt. 13 at Philadelphia Avenue, in Salisbury. Norris was wanted on handgun charges by the Wilmington Police Department. Police were attempting to take him into custody when he was fatally wounded.

Investigators with the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit remain uncertain at this time if the fugitive was wounded by a self-inflicted gunshot or by the police officer from the Salisbury Police Department who was a member of the Maryland State Apprehension Team. Police found the fugitive had his hands clenched around revolvers in both jacket pockets.

The investigation is continuing. 

Heart N Home ~ "Popcorn Family With Popcorn Machine"

Website ~ www.heartnhomegifts.com
Facebook ~  HEART N HOME

Worcester County Canned Food Drive Is Underway

Worcester County seeks public participation with food drive

Worcester County Volunteer Services and Liquor Control are hosting a canned food drive for the Maryland Food Bank (MFB) from Jan. 31 through Feb. 7.

All county employees and the public are invited to participate.

Canned food items can be deposited in specially-marked Maryland Food Bank barrels at these participating locations:

The Office of the State's Attorney for Worcester County
(see message on facebook page)

Worcester County Jail in Snow Hill

 Worcester County Branch Libraries: Ocean City, Ocean Pines, Berlin, Snow Hill and Pocomoke

All Department of Liquor Control (DLC) Shore Spirit Retail Liquor Store locations

Worcester County Recreation Center in Snow Hill

Central Landfill storage building in Newark

Cape Isle of White Offices in Bishopville
 

Heroin Epidemic - Maryland Medical Examiner Releases Report On Over-Dose Related Deaths

WORCESTER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

ALERT!

The Maryland Medical Examiner recently released a report indicating that there has been 37 over-dose related deaths since September 2013. It appears the source of these deaths has been heroin that was tainted/treated with fentanyl.

These deaths represent about 12 percent of the over 318 overdose deaths during this period.

While these deaths have been sporadic, the heroin epidemic is one that we take very seriously.

Sheriff Mason has made it a priority to go after those who import this drug into our county. Our area has seen an increase in arrests by our Criminal Enforcement Team and by local Law Enforcement Agencies.

Fentanyl is a synthetic morphine substitute that is roughly 100 times more powerful and deadly than that of Morphine it is supposed to resemble. Combined with Heroin, this deadly combination is devastating our area and families.

 The Sheriff's Office along with our partners in Law Enforcement take this very serious and are ramping up our efforts to identify those who use, deal, and distribute this drug.

#####

 

 

MD. Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene

 Warns of Potent and Deadly Drug Combination

 

 

Baltimore, MD (January 31, 2014)  --- Maryland’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) reports an increase in the number of deaths linked to a potent and deadly batch of heroin that is tainted with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, DHMH announced today.

 

According to OCME data, between September 2013 and today, at least 37 Maryland deaths were caused by the lethal drug combination.  The fentanyl/heroin deaths represent approximately 12 percent of 318 overdose deaths during the same time period. This represents the preliminary total of overdose deaths for the period between September 2013 and January 2014.  

"DHMH is reaching out to local behavioral health providers to ensure that they are fully informed about this dangerous and deadly trend,” said Dr. Gayle Jordan Randolph, Deputy Secretary for DHMH Behavioral Health Services. “We will support the local authorities as they adapt their overdose prevention plans in response to this deadly trend."

 

 

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl is estimated to be 80 times more powerful than morphine and hundreds of times more potent than heroin.  The presence of fentanyl dramatically increases the risk of an overdose death.

 

“Deaths due to the deadly heroin mixture appear to be widespread in Maryland and not localized to any specific area,” says Dr. David Fowler, Chief Medical Examiner for the State. “We have also seen overdose deaths due to fentanyl mixed with cocaine.”

 

Fentanyl-related deaths have been reported from Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore, and throughout Central Maryland. Recent reports indicate that heroin-fentanyl overdose deaths have also been seen in Washington State, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and along the I-95 corridor. The location of an overdose death does not necessarily indicate the source of a drug.

 

 

County	Number of Deaths
Anne Arundel	4
Baltimore City	10
Baltimore County	5
Calvert	2
Carroll	1
Charles	1
Frederick	2
Howard	2
Prince George’s	5
Queen Anne’s	1
Somerset	1
Washington	2
Wicomico	1
Total	37

 

The State’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Plan is available at

http://adaa.dhmh.maryland.gov/Documents/content_documents/OverdosePrevention/MarylandOpioidOverdosePreventionPlan2013.pdf

Source: