OC Seat Belt Operation Leads To Drugs, Gun

OCEAN CITY -- A “Click It or Ticket” enforcement detail conducted by Ocean City Police last Sunday morning resulted in a significant drug bust including the recovery of a loaded handgun.

Around 11 a.m., police were conducting a “Click It or Ticket” seatbelt enforcement detail as part of a national campaign in the area of 33rd Street and Baltimore Ave. During the operation, OCPD officers stopped a vehicle for having four unrestrained adults and a 1-year-old infant. During the traffic stop, officers observed in plain view a small amount of suspected marijuana in a front seat cup holder and a passenger in the rear seat attempting to roll a suspected marijuana cigarette.

The occupants were removed from the vehicle as the officers searched for additional contraband. Located in the back seat area was a soda can with a false compartment, which was empty. A search of the occupants revealed two bags of heroin on Jamil Lee Mills, 21, of Wilmington, Del. OCPD officers continued to search the vehicle and found in the trunk a backpack containing four bundles of small clear plastic bags including 53 individual bags of suspected heroin.

Also found in the backpack was a loaded Jennings .32 caliber handgun that had its serial number scratched off. OCPD officers also seized $600 in cash, cell phones and a commercially-made “stash can,” or soda can with false compartment. The owner of the backpack was arrested and identified as Marcus Lamont Neal, 19, of New Castle, Del. A front-seat passenger identified as Raheem Shalir Cephas, 22, of Wilmington, was arrested after police recovered a bag of suspected marijuana concealed in his sock.

Neal was charged with possession of heroin and marijuana, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a handgun with an obliterated serial number, possession of a handgun while involved in a drug trafficking crime and the use of a handgun while engaged in a drug-trafficking crime. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was ordered held on a $25,000 bond.

Mills was charged with possession of marijuana and heroin and possession of heroin with intent to distribute and was ordered held on a $15,000 bond. Cephas was charged with two counts of possession of marijuana and was released on his own recognizance.

Meanwhile, officers remind citizens this week they will continue to strictly enforce Maryland seat belt laws.