Police log for Sunday, March 11

March 10, 2001

Police log for Sunday, March 11

Tractor-trailer crash closes I-70 lanes

Eastbound lanes on Interstate 70 near Interstate 81 were closed Saturday evening after a tractor-trailer overturned, Maryland State Police reported.

It was about 45 minutes after the 5:40 p.m. accident when state police opened the shoulder of the interstate to allow a single line of traffic through, said Assistant Fire Chief Edward Ernst with the Volunteer Fire Company of Halfway, Md., Inc.

The tractor-trailer's passenger, whose name was not available, was taken to Washington County Hospital with minor injuries, police said.

The driver apparently came off the ramp from northbound I-81 to eastbound I-70 too fast and laid the tractor-trailer down, sliding about 100 feet until the truck rested against a guard rail, Ernst said.

The trailer was carrying Sharp electronic appliances, including televisions, VCRs, fax machines and copiers, Ernst said. The top of the trailer ripped open, but the contents remained inside.

About 50 gallons of fuel spilled, but was quickly cleaned up, Ernst said.

Firefighters and emergency service crews from Halfway and Williamsport were still at the scene late Saturday night as cleanup continued.

City police arrest five in drug sting

The Hagerstown Police Department arrested five people on drug charges as part of a reverse sting operation Saturday morning.

In the operation, officers posed as drug dealers selling simulated crack cocaine, police said.

Police said the following people were charged with possession of a noncontrolled dangerous substance reasonably believed to be a controlled dangerous substance:

HEIGHT="6" ALT="* "> Robert Edward Gross, 46, 20137 Beaver Creek Road, Hagerstown.

HEIGHT="6" ALT="* "> Robert Douglas Farmer, 20, 2005 Westgate Drive, Martinsburg, W. Va. He was also charged with possession of a controlled substance, crack cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

HEIGHT="6" ALT="* "> Trent Rene Shields, 43, 11316 Greenberry Road, Hagerstown. He was also charged with possession of a noncontrolled substance in sufficient quantity to indicate an intent to distribute, police said.

HEIGHT="6" ALT="* "> Bernard Leslie Fields Jr., 21, 69 E. Antietam Street, Apartment #3, Hagerstown. He was also charged with possession of a controlled substance, marijuana.

HEIGHT="6" ALT="* "> Amelia Clara Peacock, 19, 69 E. Antietam Street, Apartment #3, Hagerstown. She was also charged with possession of marijuana and conspiracy to possess a noncontrolled substance

All five were arrested for offenses in the first block of Murph Avenue, police said.

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