Heroin Dealing Investigations Net 7 Arrests: HCPD

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — There have been seven people arrested recently related to heroin distribution in Howard County, police said in a statement Friday.

The latest was a man who had been dividing his time between an address in Howard County and another in Anne Arundel County. Police said he was the subject of a three-month investigation into heroin and crack cocaine dealing.

Robert Ehrhardt, 31, of the 6600 block of Pirch Way in Elkridge and the 7800 block of Nauitan Court in Hanover, was arrested on Friday, May 12, court records show. He was charged with multiple counts of drug distribution and released Monday, May 15, on $40,000 bond.

Authorities said that they seized more than 100 grams of heroin and 86 grams of crack cocaine from his residence in Anne Arundel County.

Nicole Koppleman, 28, of the 6600 block of Pirch Way in Elkridge, was at the Hanover house at the time of Ehrhardt's arrest, police said; she was charged with possession of drugs other than marijuana and released on her own recognizance.

In the past two months, police said there have also been five heroin distribution-related arrests:

• Antonio Eugene Russell, 43, of the 17700 block of Frederick Road in Mount Airy, was charged with drug possession with the intent to distribute and related charges in early May; he was released on $5,000 bond.
• Jonathan Donyell Russell, 37, of the 17700 block of Frederick Road in Mount Airy, was charged with drug possession with the intent to distribute and related charges in early May; he was released on $25,000 bond.
• Dennis Carl Bonenberger, 27, of Timber Run Court in Monrovia, was charged with drug possession with intent to distribute and related charges in early May; he was released on $3,500 bond.
• Brandon Dews, 32, of the 2900 block of North Avenue in Baltimore, was indicted Wednesday on three counts of narcotics distribution from December 2016 to February; he was released on $75,000 bond.
• Roger Lee Burks, 28, of the 1600 block of Eutaw Place in Baltimore, was indicted in April by a grand jury on four charges of distributing narcotics from October and November 2016; he was released on $50,000 bond.

“We are aggressively going after people who are selling opioids, like heroin and prescription pills, on our streets,” Howard County Police Chief Gary L. Gardner said in a statement. “These recent arrests are a positive step in our effort to address this epidemic, but we know we can’t enforce our way out of the problem. That’s why we are collaborating with other agencies to approach this from all sides, including prevention, education, treatment and recovery.”

Heroin Death Toll Climbs

There have been 18 heroin-related deaths and 73 non-fatal heroin overdoses in Howard County so far this year, police said Friday.

There were 29 heroin-related deaths and 131 non-fatal heroin overdoses in 2016, police reported.

Anyone who suspects drug activity may call 410-290-DRUG and remain anonymous.

Marylanders who struggle with substance use disorders can find location-based treatment resources at MdDestinationRecovery.org or via the 24/7 Maryland Crisis Hotline: 1-800-422-0009.

Photo by National Crime Agency via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons 4.0.