Grand Jury Indicts Two Mountain Lake Park Residents on Drug Charges
A Garrett County grand jury has handed down indictments against two Mountain Lake Park residents following a three-month investigation into the distribution of controlled dangerous substances.
Oakland, Md. — A Garrett County grand jury has handed down indictments against two Mountain Lake Park residents following a three-month investigation into the distribution of controlled dangerous substances.
According to officials, William James Zimmerman and Nicholas Alan DeWitt were taken into custody after investigators alleged their involvement in the distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Both men were booked into the Garrett County Detention Center, where they remain held pending further proceedings.
Charges and Investigation
The indictments stem from a coordinated investigation conducted by local law enforcement, which focused on drug trafficking activity in the Mountain Lake Park area. Authorities said the inquiry lasted approximately three months before culminating in the arrests.
Zimmerman and DeWitt now face charges that include:
- Distribution of methamphetamine
- Distribution of fentanyl
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid many times more powerful than heroin, has been linked to a rising number of overdose deaths nationwide and in Western Maryland. Methamphetamine continues to be one of the most commonly trafficked and abused stimulants in rural counties, according to state and federal drug enforcement reports.
Local officials have repeatedly highlighted the dangers fentanyl and methamphetamine pose to Garrett County. “These substances are devastating families and communities,” one county official told Garrett County News. “We will continue to pursue investigations to remove these drugs and the people who distribute them from our streets.”
Both Zimmerman and DeWitt are expected to appear in Garrett County Circuit Court for arraignment in the coming weeks. If convicted, they could face significant prison time under Maryland law.
This case comes as Garrett County law enforcement continues efforts to combat the spread of opioids and stimulants in the region. The Garrett County Health Department has urged residents to remain vigilant, citing the increased presence of fentanyl in Western Maryland’s drug supply
Charges are allegations. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
