LA PLATA, Md. - The La Plata Barrack of the Maryland State Police (MSP) today released the following incident and arrest reports.
DWI-RELATED ACCIDENT: On May 4, 2007, at approximately 8:00 p.m., Tpr. K. Clark was dispatched to northbound Route 301, north of Route 234, Glasva, Charles County, for an accident that involved an intoxicated driver. Upon Tpr. Clark’s arrival he observed a black Ford truck, bearing Florida registration, into the guard rail. Tpr. Clark made contact with the driver, Claude William Peterman Jr., 52 years, of Port Tobacco, Md., who was identified by his Florida ID Card. Peterman was sitting in the driver’s seat with the keys in the ignition and the engine warm. While Tpr. Clark was speaking with Peterman, he observed his eyes were very glassy and bloodshot. Tpr. Clark also detected a strong odor of alcohol emitting from his breath and the vehicle. Peterman’s speech was also very slurred.
Tpr. Clark conducted the standardized field sobriety test, which he failed. Peterson was placed under arrest for driving under the influence. When Peterman was placed in the police car he refused to move his leg from the door sill. He became very aggressive and argumentative towards Tpr. Clark. Peterman was transported to the Maryland State Police Barrack for processing and then transported toe the Charles County Detection Center.
Peterson was charged with the following: driving under the influence of alcohol; driving while impaired by alcohol; driving on revoked license; negligent driving; driving while impaired by Drug(s) or Drug(s) and Alcohol; and driving while impaired by Controlled Dangerous substance.
CDS, DUI ARREST: On May 4, 2007, at approximately 11:18 p.m., Tpr. J. Wilson observed a vehicle traveling southbound on Crain Highway, north of shining Willow Way. The vehicle was a silver Ford Explorer with a Maryland temporary tag. The vehicle was traveling in lane #1, then drifted into lane #2, causing the vehicle beside it to be forced off the roadway. The Ford Explorer came within two feet from striking the vehicle in lane #2. Tpr.
Wilson activated his emergency equipment and initiated a traffic stop on the Ford Explorer. Tpr. Wilson made contact with the driver, Sean James Harsha, 25 years, of Indian Head, Md., and immediately detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from Harsha’s breath, his eyes were red and watery, and his speech was slurred. Tpr. Wilson had Harsha perform the standard field sobriety test, which he failed.
Harsha was placed under arrest for driving under the influence. A search incident to arrest revealed a plastic baggie with marijuana, a piece of aluminum foil with marijuana and a brown wooded box or a smoking device with marijuana inside was found in the driver’s side door. Harsha was transported to the Maryland State Police Barrack for processing and then was transported to the Charles County Detention Center for a bond review.
Harsha was charged with the following: driving under the influence, driving under the influence per se; driving while intoxicated; unsafe lane change; fail to obey a traffic device; did possess a controlled dangerous substance of schedule I, to wit: marijuana and did (use/possess with intent to use) drug paraphernalia, to wit: Wooden smoking device, used to (store/contain/conceal/inject/ingest/inhale/introduce into the human body by inhalation) a controlled dangerous substance of Schedule I, to wit: marijuana.