Police Drug Lab Head Charged with Multiple Narcotics Offenses

The woman who heads the Anne Arundel County Police drug lab is accused of stealing dangerous drugs; federal authorities will investigate.

December 21, 2016

MILLERSVILLE, MD — Potent and potentially addictive prescription narcotics, including Hydrocodone and Tramadol, were apparently taken by the manager of the Anne Arundel County Police Department drug lab from one of the drug drop-off boxes used by the public to dispose of unwanted medications, authorities said.

Annette A. Box, 48, of Pasadena, was arrested Wednesday and charged with multiple counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Investigators believe that Box, the civilian manager for the department's drug lab, took several controlled medications left in a drop box at one of the police department's district stations, which is a violation of police department policy.

The alleged theft came to light Tuesday night when Box was involved in a minor traffic accident at Forest Drive and Mountain Road in Pasadena. During the crash investigation, officers found several controlled narcotics in her vehicle; the drugs were not prescribed to Box, police say.

Box has been criminally charged with possession of the following prescription drugs:

• One pill Hydrocodone 1.5 mg
• One pill Alprazolam .25 mg
• 50 pills Hydromorphone
• 29 pills Tramadol 50 mg
• 31 pills Diazepam 5 mg
• 29 pills Diphenoxylate-Atropine

Anne Arundel County Police Chief Timothy Altomare has suspended the department's drug laboratory activities and asked the United States Drug Enforcement Agency to help the department complete an inventory and audit of the controlled dangerous substances overseen by the drug lab.

Investigators searched Box's home, where they reportedly found more controlled prescription medication not prescribed to her, and additional charges are possible. The Anne Arundel County State's Attorney's Office is working with police department criminal investigators in the investigation.

Box is a non-sworn civilian employee of the Anne Arundel County Police Department and serves as a supervisor in the police department's drug lab. She has been suspended from duty while the agency completes both the criminal and internal investigations.

Officials say Box has worked for the Anne Arundel County Police Department since 2004 and has been a supervisor since 2012. She was taken to the District Court Commissioner's Office Wednesday evening for her initial appearance.