3 Charged After Cops Seize Crack, Opioids In Anne Arundel County Drug Busts

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Multiple people are facing charges after Anne Arundel County police seized crack cocaine, opioids, marijuana and other pills in two recent drug busts, authorities said.

Early Friday morning, an officer stopped a blue Honda Accord on Route 100 near Catherine Avenue in Pasadena. During the stop, the officer found 224 gel caps containing suspected heroin and fentanyl, 88 vials containing crack cocaine, and multiple alprazolam pills and oxycodone pills.

According to police, the officer also confiscated two cell phones and $1,193 in U.S. currency.

Police arrested the driver of the car, identified as James N. Helsel, 40, of Severna Park. They also arrested the passenger, identified as Wayne Chase, 58, of Baltimore. Both men are facing multiple felony and misdemeanor drug charges, according to online court records.

On Tuesday, police also arrested Edward Benedetto Schwartz II, 42, of Pasadena after executing a search warrant at a home in the 100 block of Broadway in Pasadena.

During the search, police seized a loaded handgun, 20 suspected Adderall pills and approximately 1,270 grams of suspected cannabis.

Schwartz faces two misdemeanor drug charges and one felony drug charge, according to online court records.