2 Alleged Drug Kingpins Charged After Harford County Traffic Stop: Police

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Two men were charged as drug kingpins after a traffic stop this week on Interstate 95 in Harford County, according to Maryland State Police.

Shani McDonald, 32, of Windsor Mill, and Vernon Kidd Jr., 49, of Finksburg, were charged with drug kingpin, possession with intent to distribute and importing drugs into the state, police said.

The men were stopped on I-95 near exit 89 (for MD 155/Havre de Grace) in a Mazda CX 7 where Kidd was driving, McDonald was in the rear passenger side and more than 1,000 grams of cocaine were in the trunk, according to police. The stop occurred on Monday, Sept. 12, police said Thursday.

"Police believe McDonald and Kidd were transporting the drugs from New York into Maryland for the distribution," officials said in a statement.

According to police, a six-month investigation into someone moving large quantities of heroin between Carroll and Baltimore counties led them to McDonald. Investigators accused McDonald of distributing heroin in Hampstead, Manchester, Finksburg, Westminster and parts of Baltimore County.

Upon executing warrants at two houses used for drug packaging, storage and currency in Baltimore County and Baltimore City connected to McDonald, authorities said they recovered nearly 600 grams of heroin; $10,827 in cash; and two handguns, including one stolen in 1995.

On Thursday, police said McDonald and Kidd were being held at the Harford County Detention Center.

Pictured are (left) Vernon Kidd Jr., 49, and Shani McDonald, 32 (right). Photos courtesy of Maryland State Police.