In a substantial crackdown on drug trafficking in Germantown, Montgomery County police have made multiple arrests and seized an arsenal of firearms, significant drug hauls, and several vehicles. The Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Community Action Team (DCAT), fortified by aiding divisions, carried out three search warrants on June 25th as part of an investigation spurred by complaints of suspected drug activity in the 19500 block of Gunners Branch Road, first reported in the fall of 2024.
According to the Montgomery County Department of Police, police discovered four firearms, distribution-level quantities of crack cocaine, PCP, and MDMA, and about $43,000 in cash. Along with these seizures, law enforcement also impounded five vehicles. During the operation, five men were arrested, each facing charges related to controlled dangerous substances (CDS). The suspects, Duane Shelton, Kevin Patton, Andre Russell, Michael Marshall, and Alexander Burch, have assorted bond statuses, with Shelton, Patton, and Russell being held without bond while Marshall was released on bond and Burch on his recognizance.
The effort is a part of the overarching strategy to combat organized crime within the state, backed by the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network (MCIN). As revealed in the Montgomery County Department of Police press release, "This operation was supported in part by the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network (MCIN)." The MCIN's purpose is to foster intelligence sharing and multi-agency operations to thwart and dismantle criminal networks across Maryland, with the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy contributing grant funding and strategic support to MCIN member sites.
