21 Arrested, Indicted in Wiretap Investigation
Police say the World's Most Dangerous, or WMD, gang in Edgewood has been almost completely dismantled in the wake of these arrests.
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Police say an Edgewood street gang is virtually out of commission in the wake of a large-scale wiretap investigation that led to 21 arrests and the confiscation of more than $680,000 in illegal drugs.
Investigators with the Harford County Task Force believe the gang dubbed "World's Most Dangerous," or WMD, may also be connected to other violent crimes such as street robberies, shootings and the murder of a fellow gang member that remains under investigation.
The task force investigation began in late 2011 after patrol officers noticed a pickup in the gang's activity, Lt. Lee Dunbar of the Harford County Sheriff's Office and task force watch commander, said at a press conference Thursday.
After getting enough probable cause for a wiretap, investigators learned illegal drugs were being shipped from Atlanta, GA to Baltimore City and then to the drug dealers in Harford County, Dunbar explained.
Of the 21 people arrested, 15 are charged at the state level and eight are facing federal charges. One of Harford County's most wanted individuals, 20-year-old Isaiah Sibert, was also arrested in connection with the investigation.
"We've pretty much dismantled them at this time," Dunbar said of the WMD drug organization.
In addition to the arrests, police seized more than $100,000 cash, a handgun, two vehicles, 1,060 grams of marijuana, 4,577 grams of cocaine and 2,000 grams of heroin. The estimated, combined street value for the seized drugs is about $680,000, according to a release from the sheriff's office.
Dunbar added that the investigation was one of the most successful the task force has conducted.
"I want to make it known that that's why the task force was formed back in 1988—for cases just like this. Because we can't do it alone. We know that our jurisdictional boundaries are here in Harford County, but we know the drug dealers' boundaries; they don't have any," Dunbar said.
The Harford County Task Force includes members of the sheriff's office, DEA, Maryland State Police, Harford County State's Attorney's Office and Bel Air, Havre de Grace and Aberdeen police departments.
In This article
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Harford County Sheriff's Office
45 S Main St, Bel Air, MD -
Bel Air Police Department
39 N Hickory Ave, Bel Air, MD
Linda Adams Baker
7:00 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Thank you to the Harford County Task Force!
Lost in HdG
6:18 am on Saturday, October 6, 2012
Second that!
Steven Chimmel
11:23 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Edgewood?! You mean the gang wasn't based in Forest Hill?! I'm shocked!
Patrice Ricciardi
6:45 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
Thank you for protecting our community! Special thanks to Detective Dunbar and Sheriff Bane!
hugh jass
7:14 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Protect your community? What has anyone ever done to you?
Robert Nicholson
7:21 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
No, Steve, the gang wasn't based in Forest Hill. Forest Hill is where the gangs customers came from!
Take Responsibility!
7:26 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
You know this how?
Dave Ross
9:33 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
Well said Robert. Supply and Demand. Economics 101.
Hollee Sifford
7:22 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!!
Ed Jr.
9:22 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
Good job Harford County Sheriff's Office!
Dave Ross
9:36 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
Grateful thanks to The Harford County Task Force for a job well done.
Jacqueline Logan Witt
11:45 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
Many thanks to the dedicated law enforcers of Harford County. Those of us who call this are HOME are ever in your debt for helping to keep us safe!!!
hugh jass
7:16 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Jackie, you are scared of black people. You will never be safe living in fear.
Philip Einhorn
1:38 pm on Friday, October 5, 2012
Another example of how fortunate we are to have Jesse Bane's leadership in the Sheriffs Department!!!!!
Dan Thompson
2:31 pm on Friday, October 5, 2012
Sorry Philip, credit goes to the Task Force that has been around for decades and is not the result of any initiative or idea of Sheriff Bane, although he wants you to believe it is. A Task Force that is comprised of all the law enforcement agencies in Harford County, although I guess Sheriff Bane forgot to invite them to the photo op. Additionally, a Task Force that is no longer hindered by Bane's hand selected supervisor for this Task Force, the infamous (and criminal) Mark Forwood. There is your leadership Philip, bask in the fiction that is Jesse Bane.
Penelope Patch
3:22 am on Sunday, October 7, 2012
Dan, I think you're onto something. He's handpicked a couple other questionables.
heather miranda
1:58 pm on Friday, October 5, 2012
Good job! Now all you have to do is get the rest of the gangs out of Edgewood, Aberdeen, and Havre De Grace! And everything thing will all be even more kosher!
Christopher Kidwell
7:22 pm on Friday, October 5, 2012
Never going to happen until they legalize the drug trade in America. Enough said.
If they would just legalize the drug trade, we could dismantle these gangs by making it unprofitable for them to stay together.
hugh jass
7:18 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Heather you don't know any gang members so do you mean black people in groups
joe cianflone
2:16 am on Saturday, October 6, 2012
The good sheriff did it again...can't wait to vote for you again sir!
Carol
7:57 am on Saturday, October 6, 2012
Great job! Everyone knows there are drugs everywhere BelAIr, Forest Hill, Jerretsville and even in Fallston, now that is just talking about Harford County. But no matter where they are cleaning up GREAT JOB!
Simply Saying...
11:03 pm on Saturday, October 6, 2012
Good always conquers evil, we might take some punches, a few cheap shots, but we'll always come out on top:.. Good Job Harford county....Go Orioles
Mark
7:38 am on Sunday, October 7, 2012
Sorry... it is not the Sheriff but the men and women who put their lives out on the line for this county and their jurisdictions that we should all thank. The Sheriff no matter who he or she is have nothing to do with the work they do on the streets. A Sheriff that takes credit for doing the work is not the kind of Sheriff anyone wants or needs.
E12Des
2:22 pm on Sunday, October 7, 2012
I just hope you can keep them behind bars.
hugh jass
7:19 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Hope you never go to jail budddy.. you appear so soft
Pythagoras
3:26 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
This operation was a waste of taxpayer dollars as well as a violation of due process on many levels... The report was that 2kilos of cocaine, 1kilo of heroin, and $118,000cash.. Two Kilos(valued at $34,000) One kilo of heroin(valued at $22,000) add $118,000 they siezed and you may reach a quarter of the cost of the investigation... ”The war on drugs” sounds more to me like ”hustling backwards”.
hugh jass
7:25 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
All this was was a publicity stunt for re election. Some arrest wrrre made and they call it a gang bust. Sorry to tell you folks but this group is not a gang! Criminals maybe but the real gangs are still around. Its not about taxpayer money it is obviously about bringing down a group of blacks in the media knowing the public will eat that up. Its the greatest illusion.
hugh jass
7:12 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Drugs? Are you really serious? You are a racist bunch to target 15 plus black people. Is it really about keeping drugs off the streets? No! Are white kids getting shot up in schools? Yes! Put the money where its needed!