From the Harford County Sheriff’s Office:
On, April 3, 2013 at 11:30 am, Harford County Sheriff’s deputies, assigned to the Harford County Traffic Task Force, were conducting a traffic safety initiative on I-95 and stopped a black 2001 Chevy Tahoe with North Carolina tags traveling south near the Rt. 155 exit. The driver was identified as Shareef Damone Fed and the passenger as Anjeanette Monroig-Barrett. During the stop, a K-9 scan by the Maryland State Police resulted in a positive alert for the presence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS).
A subsequent search of the car recovered the following: .4 grams of powder cocaine, 44 grams of marijuana, and (1) cellophane wrapped block of heroin containing (400) individual bags of heroin packaged and ready for street sale. An additional (24) individually packaged bags of heroin were also recovered for a total weight of 118 grams of heroin. The total street value of the recovered drugs is approximately $4,900.
As a result of the search both suspects were taken into custody. Shareef Damone Fed, 30, with multiple addresses in Norlina, NC and Newark, NJ is charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, import heroin into the state, possession of a large amount of heroin, possession of heroin, possession of cocaine, and possession of marijuana. Mr. Fed is being held on $500,000 bond at the Harford County Detention Center. Additionally, he is being held without bail on a warrant from New Jersey for narcotics violations. The passenger, Anjeanette Monroig-Barrett, 31, with an address listed at 1077 Burchette Rd, Manson, NC is was charged with possession of marijuana. Ms. Monroig-Barrett was released on a $5000 bond from the Harford County Detention Center.
The Harford County Traffic Task Force is a joint law enforcement initiative created for the purpose of using multiple law enforcement agencies and resources to target efforts to reduce traffic crashes and traffic violations on Harford County roadways. Members of the Task Force operate throughout Harford County enforcing traffic laws to include speeding, aggressive driving, safety violations, driving while under the influence and driving while intoxicated violations. The Task Force is comprised of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland State Police Bel Air and JFK Barracks, Aberdeen Police Department, Bel Air Police Department, and Havre de Grace Police Department.
K says
What is a traffic safety initiative? Is it like random traffic stops on 95? Going forward, every time someone gets pulled over by the police, will their vehicle be scanned by a drug sniffing dog? I’m just curious what the traffic violation was for this North Carolina car. Obviously, what the twosome were transporting was enough for a lockup. But, what did they do for the initial stop?
mvphkr says
I was wondering the same thing as you, K…what was the probable cause for stopping this vehicle? Did the driver commit a traffic violation such as speeding or tailgating, that would have gotten anybody stopped? Or did officers decide to stop him, and then look for a reason to do so? To be honest, the lack of information in this article raises suspicion.
Across the Bridge says
A traffic stop was conducted therefore the deputy had probable cause. The supreme court has upheld it doesn’t matter if the officer uses a minor violation just to get the vehicle stopped because he believes there may be a more serious crime being committed, as long as there is in fact a violation. You aren’t prosecuting or defending this case so it really is none of your concern what his PC was. Just be happy that this large amount of drugs were taken off the street by an alert deputy who was doing more then just issuing tickets.
edgewood what says
With a very high crime rate in areas of Harford county, I often scratch my head when I see Sheriffs Deputies working radar on I-95. We have the state police for this area. With several barracks in the area. Meanwhile Someone was stabbed in edgewood, robbed in Abingdon, and molested in Aberdeen.
Kharn says
Reasonable suspicion for a traffic stop and probable cause for a search are two different things. Any suspected primary violation is enough for a traffic stop, but that does not include PC for a search. A K9 walk-around, as long as the traffic stop is not unnecessarily extended for the K9 to arrive (ie, the cop does not spend 20min on the phone with his girlfriend to delay writing the ticket so the K9 can arrive from another call), does not require PC, but the dog’s reaction can be PC for a search if the dog reacts to the vehicle.
Sniff This says
K you just better hope that the police don’t invest in a dip$hit sniffing dog or you will definitely be going to jail. You are an idiot!
mvphkr says
Very helpful comment there, Sniff This…K asked a legitimate question, one that most intelligent readers probably share, and your response is to attack him.
Hmmm….you are likely one of those deputies in the HCSO who rides around looking for kids with beads and bandanas hanging from their rearview mirrors, so you have an excuse (obstructed windshield) to stop and search them. In the meantime, Grandma with her handicapped tag hanging around her mirror gets a pass…
I’m glad this drug dealer got locked up…but K and I wonder what the probable cause was for stopping him. That’s not unreasonable, and if your best contribution to this discussion is a crude insult, I feel sorry for you…
Sniff this says
No definitely not a deputy I’m a filthy Harford County Biker that just got done twisting your old lady’s ape hangers!
Shameful says
If u have a crap load of drugs in your car, wouldn’t it be wise to abide by the rules of the law.
mvphkr says
Drug dealers aren’t exactly the smartest criminals around. You wouldn’t believe how many of them consent to vehicle searches by police because they don’t know their rights, and they think they are smarter than the police.
Plus, if you are willing to violate the law by carrying a load of drugs in your car, chances are you violate traffic laws too…which is how a lot of them get caught.
Bear says
Most of the dealers are smarter than the police. That’s why we’re not winning the war on drugs. Only the dumb ones are being caught.
Hank says
More like the police have rules and laws to follow and the dealers don’t.
Bear says
And the smart dealers know that Hank. By the way, there are more smart dealers than dumb ones. It is why we will never win the war on drugs.
Because says
I think we should give in to chaos and anarchy because you think it’s a waste of time. Nah. I love a good hopeless fight. Especially against apathy.
Fed up says
Correct Hank – just like all the other thousands of laws on the books. Most of us never even come close to breaking those laws – but criminals couldn’t care less about any of them. That’s what defines them as criminals. So we’ve been listening to this “war on drug” drum beat for how many decades and we still see this sort of crime. Is this worthy of a new law…you know, just like Martin and Michael’s “new gun laws.” It would be very revealing if we could follow the trail of these two obvious criminals from their booking, jail, court date, and beyond. That would be the real story here. That would be helpful to all of us to understand better how our judicial system works…or doesn’t. Anyone on this thread think this was their first offense? How about a posting of their priors and any time served. And best yet, why are they out on the streets – I think we deserve that explanation for once, just like the violent repeat offenders we hear about every night at 10PM. Why are they on the street?
Kharn says
I forget if it was the FBI or ATF that put out a pamphlet about suspicious activities of certain criminals. Flagrant traffic violations were one, strict adherence to traffic laws was another. I guess there’s a happy medium of violating just enough laws, while not too many, to be above suspicion.
Marc Eaton says
As a Drug Interdiction Deputy once said ” You gotta stop em to pop em”. Good work guys.
mustachquerade says
^^ Likes This ^^ Thanks for the chuckle Marc!
rob boroughs says
umm im not sure what your point is as far as probable cause to make a traffic stop. the guy had 424 BAGS OF HEROIN IN HIS POSSESSION. What the hell is wrong with you people. you really think; “he used his blinker therefore its ok for him to traffic heroin” what the f is wrong with you. get trash like this off the streets by any means necessary. heroin is bad mmmkay
Kharn says
My rights are more important than catching a drug mule.
Blame to other guy! says
Seems to me like the best part of you ran down the crack of your mamas a$$ and ended up as a brown stain on the mattress Kharn!
j johnson says
Hope you still feel that way when he or his customers break into your house, rape your wife and run your ass down while you run into the streets screaming like a little girl.
Think a little says
A primary moving/traffic violation gives an officer the right to pull a subject over. Generally speaking, something additional must come to the officers attention at the time of the stop and/or consent by the subject in possession of the vehicle to allow probable cause for a search. With the information provided it’s not possible to tell what occured for the officer to have PC to search the vehicle (operator under the influence, smell of marijuana, etc.). I like to give our officers the benefit of the doubt as most of them are good, honest individuals, and im sure they probably had reason (or the case wouldn’t stick) but don’t crucify the posters that just ask questions. We all want our streets safer and the drug dealers incarcerated, but making ridiculous comments like “by any means necessary”, and insinuating that its ok for police to not follow the law becuase the poster should be scared that his significant other is going to be raped is an childish and dangerous mindset to have. When you get pulled over you’re going to be the first ones complaining (and for good reason) if your rights are violated. Once again, not saying that rights were violated in this case, just think before you open your mouths people. I really hope those of you who commented as such are just trolling for a fight and aren’t so short sighted.
Kharn says
Here’s where they found PC for the search:
“During the stop, a K-9 scan by the Maryland State Police resulted in a positive alert for the presence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS).”
As long as the dog arrives before the conclusion of the traffic stop, and the stop was not intentionally stretched to allow the arrival of the dog, it can walk around the vehicle.
Also, dumb criminals grant consent all the time, even when they know there’s enough stuff in the vehicle to send them up the river. Being able to talk a suspicious person into allowing a search is a great skill for a police officer.
Fed up says
Thanks Think a Little and Kharn – laws are a two-way street. I doubt any of us want these kind of people walking the streets for many reasons, but the laws protect the law-abiding as much as anyone and our rights are to be protected to the utmost. I think most of us support law enforcement as well, but we can also point to many abuses of authority that has occurred over the years and none of us would want to fall victim to that. It is a fine line the police walk, but our laws must be the rule book and law enforcement, like you and me, is subject to the same set of laws.