Crack Cocaine

A search of an apartment in downtown Hagerstown Tuesday night turned up drugs and guns, and led to the arrest of three people by the Washington County Narcotics Task Force. The arrests were made at 160 W. Washington St., third floor, Apartment 5 in Hagerstown at 6 p.m. During a search of the apartment officers found crack cocaine and marijuana, two handguns and $4,600 in cash, police alleged. Bobby Vernon Randolph Jr., 38, of 1711 Valley Ave., Winchester, Va., was charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Drug charges filed after traffic stop FREDERICK, Md. - Three men were charged with drug violations late Wednesday after Frederick Police Department officers stopped the vehicle in which they were riding on South Market Street at the Interstate 70 overpass, police said. Michael Eugene Lyles, 28, of no fixed address, was charged with possession of crack cocaine, police said. Richard Allen Crampton, 30, of 9201 A Liberty Road in Frederick, was charged with possession of crack cocaine and possession of controlled-dangerous substances paraphernalia, police said.

Two Hagerstown men and a South Carolina man were arrested Saturday during a Hagerstown Police Department Street Crimes Unit undercover prostitution sting, according to a written release from Sgt. Jim Robison. Each of the men were charged with general prostitution in connection with allegedly soliciting an undercover police officer for sexual favors, according to the release. Gerald Bernhisel, 59, of 570 Jefferson St. in Hagerstown, and Jimmy Sherlock, 54, of P.O. Box 7691 in North Augusta, S.C., each were charged with one count of general prostitution.

A Hagerstown man faces several drug charges following a search of his home Friday, according to a Hagerstown Police Department press release. Chaz Darnell Keyes, 23, of 321 Bethune Ave., was charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine and possession of marijuana, police said. Members of the police department's Street Crime Unit went to the residence Friday shortly before 4 p.m. with a search-and-seizure warrant, police said.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A Martinsburg man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Friday to distributing crack cocaine, according to U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Johnston's office. Danny Lee Pence, 21, of 751 Mount Olive Drive, pleaded guilty to distributing 1.36 grams of crack cocaine in Martinsburg on Oct. 6, 2004, according to Johnston's office. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 17.

Washington County District Judge Ralph H. France II set bond at more than $100,000 each Monday for a Hagerstown man and a woman charged with conspiring to sell drugs in Hagerstown, court records state. France set bond for Nathaniel G. Baugher, 27, of 500 N. Mulberry St., Apt. 3, at $150,000 and bond for Karen A. Sharpe, 42, of 645 Oak Hill Ave., Apt. 2FS, at $110,000, according to records. Baugher is charged with conspiracy to distribute and attempt to distribute crack cocaine and possession of marijuana, records state.

HAGERSTOWN -- Authorities are searching for two Hagerstown residents who have been charged with several counts of drug distribution and possession, according to a press release from the Washington County Narcotics Task Force. Lawrence Edward Epps, 34, whose last known address was 250 S. Burhans Blvd., has been charged with distribution of crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine, conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, second-degree assault and reckless driving. Epps is black, stands about 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs about 165 pounds, the release said.

Three face drug charges after stings FREDERICK, Md. - The Frederick Police Department charged three men with drug and other charges Friday and Saturday following undercover operations by the department's Drug Enforcement Unit, according to press releases. Dominique Isiah Smallwood, 18, no fixed address, and Shane Robert Stewart, 26, of 1365 David Lane in Frederick, were charged Saturday in an operation targeting drug use and sales in the Housing Authority Projects of the City of Frederick.