In February 2022, the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office Street Level Crimes Unit along with investigators from the Cecil County Drug Task Force began an investigation into illegal drug sales that were occurring in the North East area of Cecil County.
Officials said the investigation determined that a suspect resided in the unit block of Zion Acres Road North East, Maryland and would meet other individuals at various locations in Cecil County to distribute the illegal substances. Investigators were able to obtain search and seizure warrants for the suspect’s residence, person, and vehicle.
On May 4th, investigators were conducting surveillance in the parking lot of the Best Western Inn, located in the unit block of Elwoods Road North East, Maryland. Investigators observed the suspect, identified as Christopher Matthew Allen, 34, of North East, involved in a drug transaction with the occupants of a Chevrolet Impala in the parking lot of the hotel according to police.
The occupants of the Impala were identified as Christopher Mark Garland, 31, North East, and a 29-year-old woman. All of the subjects were detained by investigators. In the floorboard of the Impala, investigators observed several bags of suspected controlled dangerous substances along with a black-in-color handgun according to police. Further investigation identified the handgun as a Rohm .22 caliber revolver loaded with six rounds of ammunition and the suspected drugs as cocaine. A search of the female suspected revealed a bag of suspected methamphetamine in her brassiere said police.
Officials said during a search of Christopher Allen’s 2007 BMW, investigators found 109 suspected bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl, one bag of suspected methamphetamine weighing 17 grams, an operational scale with suspected methamphetamine, and two cellular phones.
Investigators also executed the search and seizure warrant at Allen’s residence, located in the unit block of Zion Acres Road North East. Inside Allen’s bedroom, investigators located $22,277.00 in US currency in various denominations. Investigators also found 1689 blue wax stamped bags containing suspected heroin/fentanyl said police. The bags were packaged as “sticks” for immediate resale. A suspected handwritten drug ledger and a title for the BMW were also located in the bedroom added police.
The following individuals were charged as listed:
Christopher Matthew Allen
Charges: Controlled dangerous substance (CDS) possession – 3 counts
Distribution of CDS – 1 count
CDS Possession with Intent to Distribute – 3 counts
CDS Possession Large Amount – 2 counts
Christopher Mark Garland
Charges: CDS Possession – 3 counts
CDS Possession with firearm – 1 count
Charges (cont): Illegal possession of regulated firearm – 1 count
Loaded handgun in vehicle – 1 count
Firearm possession with felony conviction – 1 count
Additional charges related to the investigation are expected police said Monday.
This investigation was a coordinated effort between the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office and Cecil County Drug Task Force under the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network (MCIN). The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services provides funding and strategic support to MCIN member sites to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal organizations through inter-agency collaboration and data sharing to make Maryland safer.
