Four people were arrested on trespassing and drug-related charges after Takoma Park Police discovered them inside a shed attached to a church property earlier this week.
According to Takoma Park Police Chief Antonio DeVaul on Thursday, officers responded at approximately 8:17am on June 9 to Grace United Methodist Church in the 7000 block of New Hampshire Avenue following a request to investigate suspicious activity on the property.
Upon arrival, officers searched the grounds and located four individuals inside a shed dwelling attached to the church. The church pastor responded to the scene and told officers that none of the individuals were members of the church and that they did not have permission to be on the property or inside the structure.
The individuals were identified as Edwin Quinteros, 24, of Takoma Park; Byron Parker, 58, of Washington, D.C.; Johana Contreras, 26, of Silver Spring; and Rebeca Lopez, 21, of Washington, D.C.
Police said all four individuals were taken into custody. During searches conducted incident to arrest, officers recovered suspected controlled dangerous substances believed to be crack cocaine from multiple individuals. Investigators also recovered suspected drug paraphernalia and items consistent with the distribution of controlled dangerous substances, including scales and a crack pipe.
All four suspects were transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit and charged with trespassing and various CDS-related offenses.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Takoma Park Police Department at 301-270-1100.
