Man faces drug charges again

January 26, 2007|by ERIN JULIUS

HAGERSTOWN - A Hagerstown man who was acquitted of drug charges Tuesday in Washington County Circuit Court found himself back in jail Thursday on charges that he sold drugs to a police informant and assaulted a police officer.

Keith Eric Singleton, 20, of 1034 W. Irvin Ave., faces nine charges, including assaulting a police officer, the manufacturing and distribution of narcotics, and distributing fake narcotics, according to court documents.

Singleton was charged Wednesday night with selling two bags of crack cocaine to a police informant. When police tried to arrest him after the alleged sale, Singleton attempted to flee and rammed a police cruiser with his Ford Explorer hard enough that one of the wheels of the SUV dislodged, charging documents state.

The police officer who was driving the car that Singleton rammed was treated for a sprained neck at Washington County Hospital.

During Singleton's trial Tuesday, Circuit Judge M. Kenneth Long Jr. granted the defense's motion for acquittal on one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. The jury then acquitted Singleton of charges of possession of marijuana and transporting a handgun in a vehicle.

"Yet the night before he went to court, he sold fake crack cocaine to an informant," Washington County Assistant State's Attorney Brett Wilson said Thursday during Singleton's bond review hearing.

Wilson told District Judge Ralph H. France II that Singleton sold fake crack cocaine to a police informant Monday.

France ordered that bond for Singleton, who appeared at the proceeding via closed-circuit television, remain at $400,000.

When France asked Singleton if there was any reason to lower the bail amount, Singleton said he wanted to be released because he needs to take classes at Hagerstown Community College.

Singleton said he takes forensic science and criminal justice classes and wants to go into "police management."

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