On July 30, 2006 at 0049 hours, Trooper First Class J. Edelen of the Maryland State Police was on routine patrol traveling northbound on U.S. Route 301 in the area of Sub Station Road. He observed a white Buick bearing MD registration cross the dotted white line on three occasions. TFC Edelen activated his emergency equipment to make a traffic stop. The Trooper made contact with the driver, John Eric Lawrence, 42 years of Waldorf.
While speaking with Lawrence, TFC Edelen detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath. Lawrence was asked to perform field sobriety tests, which he performed poorly, and was placed under arrest for driving under the influence. A search incident to arrest revealed a plastic baggie containing 7.5 grams of marijuana in the glove box of the vehicle.
Lawrence was charged with the following: possession of marijuana; possession of paraphernalia; driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while impaired by alcohol and negligent driving. Lawrence was incarcerated in the Charles County Detention Center pending a bond review.