LA PLATA, Md. - The La Plata Barrack of the Maryland State Police (MSP) today released the following incident and arrest reports.
On May 30, 2007, at approximately 1312 hours, Tpr. J. Wiersma was on routine patrol when he observed a gold 1995 Chrysler New Yorker traveling northbound U.S. Route 301, south of Route 234, with tinted windows. Tpr. Wiersma initiated his emergency equipment to conduct a traffic stop. Tpr. Wiersma made contact with the driver, Cyrus Norvell Elder, 31 years, of Newburg, MD, who was very talkative, nervous, and his hands were shaking slightly. Elder made a spontaneous statement that he was on his way to work. Tpr. Wiersma also observed the passenger appeared nervous as well. She sat straight in her seat and looked forward the entire time. She was identified as Ingram Laverne Wright, 40 years, of Baltimore, MD. Tpr. Wiersma observed a brownish green leafy substance all over the floorboard. Tpr. Wiersma requested a K-9 scan, and TFC M. Laney arrived on the scene with his dog Siko. Siko gave a positive alert inside the vehicle near the floor board. A probable cause search of the vehicle revealed a plastic in construction cigar holder, found inside the purse of the passenger, containing four small partially burnt marijuana blunts and one full marijuana blunt. Elder and Wright were placed under arrest. A search of the driver and the passenger incident to arrest revealed one brown leather bag containing trace amounts of CDS marijuana, which was found in the vest pocket of Elder. Both suspects were transported to the Charles County Detention Center for processing. They were charged with the following: did possess a controlled dangerous substance of schedule I, to wit: marijuana; and did possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia, to wit: (1) plastic in construction cigar holder, used to contain a controlled dangerous substance of schedule 1, to wit: marijuana.
On May 30, 2007, at approximately7 1907 hours, Tpr. R. Garrett was monitoring traffic heading eastbound Maryland Route 228, west of Maryland Route 229, for occupants not restrained by seat belts. Tpr. Garrett observed a gray Mercury Grand Marquis, with two occupants who were not restrained by seat belts. He activated his emergency equipment to initiate a traffic stop. Tpr. Garrett approached the vehicle and advised the driver, as well as the now belted passenger, of the reason for the stop. Tpr. Garrett immediately detected a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. The driver was identified as Alvin Wendell Thompson, 46 years of Waldorf, MD was asked to turn off the engine and place his hands on the steering wheel as Tpr. Garrett waited for backup. Thompson arbitrarily advised Tpr. Garrett that he had just smoked a small amount of marijuana, then handed Tpr. Garrett a small piece of aluminum foil from the center ashtray, which contained trace amounts of partially burnt marijuana. Thompson also claimed ownership of the marijuana, and advised a small amount could also be located in a black leather bag in the rear seat. A search incident to arrest of Thompson’s person also revealed two additional baggies containing suspected marijuana. Thompson was transported to the Charles County Detention Center for processing. Thompson was charged with the following: did possess a controlled dangerous substance of schedule I, to wit: marijuana; did [use/possess with intent to use] drug paraphernalia, to wit: plastic baggies used to pack/repack/store by use of carrying controlled dangerous substance of schedule I, to wit: three plastic baggies of marijuana. He was also charged with a traffic citation for failure to wear a seat belt.
On May 29, 2007, at approximately 1335 hours, Cpl. M. Fluharty of the Maryland State Police was patrolling southbound U.S. Route 301, south of Mt. Air Road, Bel Alton when he observed a white Honda Prelude exceeding the posted speed limit. He conducted a pace on the vehicle, which revealed the vehicle was traveling at 64 mph in a 55 mph zone. Cpl. Fluharty also observed the suspect vehicle make two lane changes without using his signal. Cpl. Fluharty then activated his emergency equipment to conduct a traffic stop. Cpl. Fluharty made contact with the driver, Thomas Loring Curtin, 22 years, of Charlotte, NC, and the right front seat passenger, Katherine Leah Curtin, 18 years, of Fort Mill, SC. While Cpl. Fluharty was speaking with Thomas Curtin, he observed his eyes to be bloodshot, and he was visibly nervous. TFC A. Davies arrived on the scene with his CDS canine Ty. TFC Davies and Ty conducted a K-9 scan of the vehicle. Ty alerted to the odor of BDS in the vehicle passenger door. After the scan was conducted, TFC S. Murphy arrived on the scene. TFC Murphy then completed a probable cause search of the vehicle. The search revealed one large smoking device containing marijuana residue under the front passenger seat. The search also revealed two clear plastic baggies containing marijuana and a small smoking device in the vehicle’s center console. Both subjects were placed under arrest and taken to the Charles County Detention Center for processing. Both subjects were charged with the following: did possess a controlled dangerous substance of schedule I, to wit: marijuana; and did [use/possess with intent to use] drug paraphernalia, to wit: multi-colored glass smoking device, used to inhale/introduce into the human body by smoking a controlled dangerous substance of schedule I, to wit: marijuana.
On June 1, 2007, at approximately 1300 hours, Tpr. R. Wilt was dispatched to southbound Maryland Route 301, north of St. Mary’s Avenue where Tpr. A. Davies was detaining a subject for suspected CDS. Tpr. Davies advised Tpr. Wilt that during a routine traffic stop of a minor traffic violation that he detected the odor of burnt marijuana emitting from the vehicle interior. The suspect was identified as Robert Wayne Raby Jr., 20 years, of Accokeek, Maryland, admitted the marijuana as his personal use product. Raby was placed under arrest. A search incident to arrest revealed there was no contraband in the passenger compartment. Raby was placed in Tpr. Wilt’s police vehicle. When they arrived at the barrack and Raby was removed from the passenger seat, a small baggie containing marijuana was found in the seat. Raby was transported to the Charles County Detention Center for processing. Raby was charged with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.