A Charles County Sheriff's Officer participating in a recent seatbelt and child safety seat checkpoint found more than a seatbelt violation. Officer D. Walker joined members of the Traffic Operations Unit on April 27 at about 2 p.m. for a checkpoint they were conducting as part of Chiefs' Challenge, a statewide seatbelt and child safety seat enforcement campaign. The checkpoint was being conducted in the 70 block of Industrial Park Drive in Waldorf and as an 18-wheeler passed through, Officer Walker jumped on to make sure the driver and his passenger were buckled in. The driver was not buckled up but something else was amiss; Officer Walker smelled marijuana.
After pulling to the side of the road, the driver and the passenger exited the truck, which was hauling damaged cars. A search revealed the driver was in possession of an unlabeled pill bottle that contained powder cocaine in a plastic bag, methamphetamine wrapped in cellophane and a plastic tube. The driver was identified as Roy Danny Humphries, 53, of Snow Camp, N.C., and was placed under arrest.
During the investigation, a K9 officer responded and his dog detected the presence of drugs inside the truck. A search revealed rolling papers and a homemade cigarette containing marijuana in the pocket of a pair of jeans in the truck that belonged to the passenger. Officers subsequently placed the passenger under arrest. He was identified as Charles Clay Estep, 32, of Marian, Va.
Humphries was charged with possession of cocaine, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia and failure to wear a seatbelt. Estep was charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. They are being held at the Charles County Detention Center pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.