On Aug. 4 at 7:11 p.m., Cpl. D. Garino and Cpl. S. Potter of the Charles County Sheriff's Department conducted a traffic stop at Barrington Drive and Rivermont Drive in Waldorf. The vehicle was operated by Charles Lydell Herbert, 28, of Mechanicsville. The investigation revealed Herbert’s driver’s license was suspended and he was subsequently arrested.
In a search of Herbert’s vehicle subsequent to his arrest, officers located crack cocaine on the floorboard, driver’s seat and the center console. Officers also located a chewed baggie containing crack cocaine residue inside the vehicle. Officers interviewed Herbert to determine if he swallowed crack cocaine and offered him medical care. Herbert denied swallowing any crack cocaine and declined medical assistance. He was transported to the Charles County Detention Center without incident.
At approximately 9:08 p.m., Herbert collapsed at the Detention Center and was transported to Civista Medical Center, where he died at 2:27 a.m. Further investigation has shown he ingested a quantity of crack cocaine along with other narcotics during the traffic stop. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner performed an autopsy, which indicated Herbert ingested cocaine; the amount he ingested will not be known until a toxicology report is completed.
Det. J. Elliott is investigating.