Two Pr. George's County Employees Arrested on Drug Charges

Two Prince George's County public works employees have been arrested for allegedly intending to sell prescription narcotics linked to a Montgomery County doctor's office, police said.

The county employees -- Ryan Hampton, 26, of Jessup and James Schmitz, 58, of Huntington -- were arrested Monday while on duty.

Lucille Baur, a Montgomery County police spokeswoman, said county police and agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant yesterday at the doctor's office in the 9300 block of Old Georgetown Road. No charges were filed and the investigation remains open, she said. Police did not immediately release the name of the doctor.

According to police sources familiar with the arrests, stashes of prescription drugs with an estimated street value of $6,000 were found after a search of the county vehicle that the employees had been using. The police sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

Hampton was charged with possession with intent to distribute oxycodone (Oxycontin) and possession of Adderall. Schmitz was charged with possession of hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and possession of buprenorpine nalaxin (Suboxone). Most of the drugs are prescription painkillers. Suboxone is used to treat opioid dependence.

Hampton was remanded to the county's jail on a $5,000 bond; Schmitz was released on personal recognizance. Both were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation and an internal review, County Executive Jack B. Johnson said in a statement.

According to the statement, Department of Public Works and Transportation officials were made aware in February of apparent illegal drug use and drug sales by departmental employees.

Johnson said police were called in immediately to investigate. "We do not tolerate this type of conduct from county employees," Johnson said. "The conduct of a few people should not detract from the hard work by our county employees."