Heroin Investigations Lead To Arrests

Lauren Ann Johnson

Over the last several months, members of the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team and the Ocean City Police Department Narcotics Unit have been conducting several heroin investigations in the Northern part of Worcester County, Maryland, specifically the Berlin and Ocean City area. During the course of these investigations, an individual identified as David Sturgill, age 33, of Berlin, Maryland was identified as a source of heroin.

On October 25, 2012, surveillance of Sturgill indicated that

D. Sturgill

he was traveling to the Baltimore area accompanied by a female, later identified as Lauren Ann Johnson, age 24, of Ocean City, Maryland. On October 26, 2012, search and seizure warrant for Sturgill's vehicle, person and residence was authored by the Criminal Enforcement Team. Members of the Criminal Enforcement Team, Maryland State Police, Worcester County Sheriff's Office, and the Berlin Police Department, conducted a traffic stop of Sturgill’s vehicle in order to execute this search and seizure warrant as Sturgill entered into Worcester County near the intersection of Libertytown Road and Ninepin Branch Road in Berlin, MD. Sturgill and Johnson were taken into custody without incident. As a result of this search and seizure warrant being executed on Sturgill and his vehicle, investigators subsequently located and seized the following items:

·         105 individually wrapped bags of heroin

·         Digital scale 

·         Various items of paraphernalia

·         Sturgill's 2006 Ford F-150 pickup truck

At approximately, 1740 hours, law enforcement executed the search and seizure warrant on Sturgill's residence located in Berlin, Maryland. This search and seizure warrant was executed without incident and resulted in the seizure of the following items:

·         Various items of paraphernalia

Sturgill and Johnson were both charged with the following offenses:

·         Possession of Heroin

·         Possession with intent to distribute Heroin

·         Possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia (hypodermic syringe)

·         Possession of controlled Paraphernalia (hypodermic syringe)

This investigation was a success due to the combined efforts of the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team, the Ocean City Police Department Narcotics Unit and the DEA Salisbury Post of Duty and Baltimore Field Division. During the execution of the search and seizure warrants the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team was assisted by the Maryland State Police, Worcester County Sheriff's Office Patrol Division, Worcester County State's Attorney's Office, A.T.F. and the Berlin Police Department. Sturgill and Johnson were transported to the Worcester County District Court Commissioners Office for an initial appearance. Sturgill was subsequently committed to the Worcester County Jail on a $10,000.00 bond and Johnson was committed on a $15,000.00 bond.

Submitted: Lt. Edward C. Schreier