On May 29 at approximately 1:35 p.m., Cpl. M. Fluharty of the Maryland State Police was patrolling southbound Route 301, south of Mt. Air Road, in 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. Fluharty also observed the suspect vehicle make two lane changes without using his signal. Fluharty then activated his emergency equipment to conduct a traffic stop.
Fluharty made contact with the driver, Thomas Loring Curtin, 22, of Charlotte, N.C., and the right front seat passenger, Katherine Leah Curtin, 18, of Fort Mill, S.C. While Fluharty was speaking with Thomas Curtin, he observed Curtin’s eyes to be bloodshot, and he was visibly nervous.
Trooper A. Davies arrived on the scene with his drug dog Ty. Davies and Ty conducted a scan of the vehicle. Ty alerted to the odor of drugs in the vehicle passenger door.
After the scan was conducted, Trooper S. Murphy arrived on the scene. 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 possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
This activity report was provided by a Southern Maryland law enforcement agency as a public service to the community. It is not a complete account of events, and all suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in court.