On May 8, 2006 at approximately 0130 hours, Dfc. Elizabeth Trossbach observed a vehicle fail to stop and yield when entering a roadway from a private drive. Dfc. Trossbach activated emergency equipment to stop the vehicle but the vehicle refused to stop. The vehicle drove to the rear of the Farmer's Market in Charlotte Hall and finally stopped. The driver, identified as Bryan William Downs age 31 of Mechanicsville exited the vehicle. The vehicle was a Pontiac, but the tags were registered to a Ford.
Mr. Downs had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath. His license was restricted for alcohol and he was required to operate a vehicle with an interlock device. The vehicle he operated did not have the device. He submitted to field sobriety tests which he failed. He was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. A search incident to arrest revealed an amount of suspected cocaine, an amount of suspected marijuana and related paraphernalia.
Mr. Downs was taken to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with: Failure to Stop Before Entering a Highway from a Private Road, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol; Driving While Impaired by Alcohol; Violation of License Restriction; Displaying Registration Plates Issued to Another; Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance, Marijuana; Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance, Cocaine; and Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance Paraphernalia.