(Nov. 5, 2015) The bust of two local men last week provided further insight into the ongoing battle over the trafficking of heroin across the Maryland-Delaware border.
Dominick Papa, 50, of Ocean City, was arrested for driving without a license after allegedly transporting Samuel McKinnish, 46, of Berlin, into Delaware to buy heroin.
The arrest was made by Ocean City police officers assigned to the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team, which includes police from several county jurisdictions who are deputized to operate anywhere in Worcester.
Dfc. Mike Richardson said in his report that, while working with other detectives on a detail in Ocean Pines, he saw Papa driving north on Route 589. Richardson wrote that he recognized Papa from other incidents, and knew that Papa drove despite not having a license. Richardson also reported that he saw a passenger in Papa’s truck and that person was later identified as McKinnish.
Richardson and other detectives trailed Papa north to Polly Branch Road in Selbyville, Del., which Richardson wrote is a “known drug location” by agencies in both states.
Detectives saw Papa’s vehicle enter and then exit a block of Polly Branch Road, between Roosevelt and Washington Avenues, which was described as an “open air drug market,” according to the report. They waited until Papa drove back over the Maryland line and pulled the car over at Peerless Road and Route 113.
Papa was arrested for driving without a license and no contraband was found on his person, Richardson wrote.
McKinnish, however, consented to speaking with detectives, although Richardson wrote that he clearly informed McKinnish that he did not have to. McKinnish, when told that detectives were certain he had purchased heroin, admitted to buying “two bundles on Polly” but had already done several of the packets in the vehicle.
Richardson allegedly found 12 small Ziploc bags with wax packets of heroin. The packets were stamped “Tyson” in red ink, Richardson noted.
McKinnish was arrested for drug possession and released on his own recognizance. A trial is scheduled for Feb. 1, 2016.
Dominick Papa, 50, of Ocean City, was arrested for driving without a license after allegedly transporting Samuel McKinnish, 46, of Berlin, into Delaware to buy heroin.
The arrest was made by Ocean City police officers assigned to the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team, which includes police from several county jurisdictions who are deputized to operate anywhere in Worcester.
Dfc. Mike Richardson said in his report that, while working with other detectives on a detail in Ocean Pines, he saw Papa driving north on Route 589. Richardson wrote that he recognized Papa from other incidents, and knew that Papa drove despite not having a license. Richardson also reported that he saw a passenger in Papa’s truck and that person was later identified as McKinnish.
Richardson and other detectives trailed Papa north to Polly Branch Road in Selbyville, Del., which Richardson wrote is a “known drug location” by agencies in both states.
Detectives saw Papa’s vehicle enter and then exit a block of Polly Branch Road, between Roosevelt and Washington Avenues, which was described as an “open air drug market,” according to the report. They waited until Papa drove back over the Maryland line and pulled the car over at Peerless Road and Route 113.
Papa was arrested for driving without a license and no contraband was found on his person, Richardson wrote.
McKinnish, however, consented to speaking with detectives, although Richardson wrote that he clearly informed McKinnish that he did not have to. McKinnish, when told that detectives were certain he had purchased heroin, admitted to buying “two bundles on Polly” but had already done several of the packets in the vehicle.
Richardson allegedly found 12 small Ziploc bags with wax packets of heroin. The packets were stamped “Tyson” in red ink, Richardson noted.
McKinnish was arrested for drug possession and released on his own recognizance. A trial is scheduled for Feb. 1, 2016.