On March 8, 2006 at approximately 0258 hours Dep. Christopher Byrd stopped a 2006 Dodge for a traffic violation on Route 5 in Mechanicsville. The driver, Joshua Conrad Austin, had no driver's license or identification. The driver was discovered to also be driving in violation of the vehicle rental agreement. Joshua Austin was arrested for the traffic violation.
The passenger, Douglas Omar Dawkins, was asked to exit the vehicle. He reached to the floorboard and would not exit the vehicle or unlock the passenger door. He continued to reach to the side floorboard and finally unlocked the door and exited the vehicle. On exiting, the inside door floor molding flipped up and a small baggie of a green leafy substance fell to the vehicle floor. Douglas Dawkins was taken into custody for possession of marijuana.
The driver, Joshua Conrad Austin, was charged with exceeding the posted speed limit, driving without a license, driving in violation of a rental agreement and possession of Marijuana. Douglas Omar Dawkins was charged with possession of Marijuana. Both were taken to the St. Mary's County Detention Center, arraigned before a District Court Commissioner and released on Personal Bond.