A car owned by a city police officer is being seized after it was impounded during a drug bust involving the officer?s husband, The Examiner has learned.
Officer Renee Carr, who works for the Communications Unit, which manages the city?s drug tips hot line, is named in a civil lawsuit filed by the City State?s Attorney?s office under Maryland?s Drug Forfeiture Law.
Carr, who co-owns the vehicle with her husband, Tashin Carr, is a nine-year veteran of the city police force. The 2000 Toyota Corolla was impounded by the Police Department after a drug bust in March involving Tashin Carr. Renee Carr also was recently identified by The Examiner as being under investigation for possessing a stolen gun.
Charging documents state that on March 30, Baltimore police officers spotted the automobile belonging to Renee Carr in the 1600 block of Maryland Avenue with the window down. Officers stopped to investigate and allegedly discovered Tashin Carr “discarding” empty “sandwich bags.” Upon searching the car, officers found 14 bags of “suspected” rock cocaine, two digital scales, three cell phones, several bags of pharmaceuticals including Oxocodone, a synthetic opiate, and close to $1,000 in cash, the documents state. Officers placed Tashin Carr under arrest, charging him with two counts of possession of cocaine, one count of possession to distribute, three counts of possession of paraphernalia and one count of attempt to practice a pharmacy without a license.
State?s Attorney?s Office spokesman Joseph Sviatko said Tashin Carr?s bail was set at $100,000 and bail was “made the same day.” Tashin Carr will be arraigned in Maryland Circuit Court on June 8.
The Communications Unit staffs the city?s 311 line, as well as the drug tips hot line. Renee Carr works in an administrative position in Information and Retrieval, a department that is responsible for archiving and accessing all 911, 311 and recorded messages from the drug tips hot line.
Officer Nicole Monroe, spokeswoman for the Baltimore City Police Department, said Renee Carr did not have access to the tapes, nor was she involved in handling requests for recordings of calls. “That part is handled by civilians,” she said.
Monroe said the department?s inquiry is continuing. “The investigation is ongoing; we cannot bring a case to close until the state?s attorney finishes their investigation as well,” she said.
