LEONARDTOWN, Md. (Feb. 01, 2010) - Maryland State Police arrested two individuals Friday after responding to the scene of a fatal motor vehicle crash in St. Mary's County.
The arrestees are identified as John Edward Butler Jr., 34 of the 40000 block of Kavanagh Road in Mechanicsville and Derrick Hamilton Ashton, 39, of the 600 Block of Brighton Moran Dr. in Essex. Butler and Ashton were charged with the possession of a controlled dangerous substance.
Butler arrived at the scene of the crash shortly after it occurred on Friday, January 29. Butler was allegedly checking on the welfare of his brother, whom he had learned was operating the vehicle. Butler acted in a disorderly manner and would not follow the direction of troopers on the scene. He was subsequently placed under arrest for disorderly conduct and operating a motor vehicle on a suspended license. Troopers discovered that Butler and his passenger, Ashton, were in possession of cocaine that was located in the vehicle.
A subsequent search of Butler revealed he was in possession of $2,004.00 cash. The money was seized by troopers after a drug sniffing K9 alerted to the presence of drugs on the money.
On Friday, January 29, troopers from the Leonardtown Barrack became involved in a pursuit with a vehicle that was originally stopped for speeding on Mervell Dean Road in Hollywood. The driver, identified as Tyrone D. Butler, 39, of the 23000-block of Sugar Maple Court in California, Maryland, lost control of his vehicle along Vista Road approximately 2.5 miles into the chase. The passenger, Francis X. Chase, Jr., 33, of the 43000-block of Palamino Drive in Hollywood, Maryland, died at the scene of the collision.
Troopers and Deputies from the St. Mary's County Bureau of Investigation as well as the Maryland State Police CRASH Team are continuing their investigation of the pursuit and fatal motor vehicle collision.
Source: Maryland State Police, Leonardtown Barrack
RELATED INFORMATION:
Passenger Dead after Police Pursue Fleeing Vehicle, January 29, 2010
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