Reacting to complaints from neighbors, Howard County detectives arrested seven people Wednesday and early yesterday in Ellicott City. The drug raids took place at three homes:
* About 12:45 a.m. yesterday, drug detectives and members of the Tactical Section raided a home in the 8700 block of Town and Country Blvd. Once inside, officers confiscated two small bags of marijuana, partially smoked marijuana cigarettes, drug pipes with cocaine residue, a loaded .357-caliber Magnum and $238 in cash, police said.
Officers arrested Christopher Karl Johnson, 19, a Baltimore man who had been out on bond for a drug distribution charge in Howard County. He was being held on $28,000 bail yesterday, a District Court commissioner said.
Police also charged Barbara Lee Smith, 37, and Natalie Suzanne Titus, 20, both of the raided address; and Morgan Maurice Washington, 38, of Ellicott City.
* At 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, officers searched a home in the 3400 block of Oak West Drive. Small amounts of marijuana, cocaine and drug paraphernalia were recovered, police said. Police arrested Jason Wesley Cugle, 18, who was later released on personal recognizance, a commissioner said.
* Police arrested two 16-year-old boys in the 3300 block of Oak West Drive after officers found 3 grams of marijuana and other drug items during their 8:45 p.m. search, police said. Police also charged one of the boys with carrying cigarettes, based on a new state law preventing anyone under 18 from possessing tobacco.
The boys were released into their parents' custody, police said.
POLICE LOG
* Elkridge: 5400 block of Landing Road: Eight shotguns, a computer and jewelry were reported stolen after someone broke a home's front window and entered Wednesday, police said.
* Ellicott City: 3200 block of Normandy Woods Drive: A blue 1987 Ford Econoline van with Maryland tags 755768 was stolen Wednesday morning. Police said the van had "Carter's Carpet and Flooring" written on its sides.