Crisscrossing Great Mills Road Leads To Drug Charges, DUI Citations For Lexington Park Woman

LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — A Lexington Park woman is facing drug possession charges and multiple impaired-driving citations after a Maryland State Police traffic stop in which a trooper said she repeatedly crossed lane markings before suspected crack cocaine and paraphernalia were found in the vehicle.

Chanta Ajaya Middleton, 44, was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance other than cannabis and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

She was also issued multiple traffic citations related to impaired driving, including allegations of driving while impaired by alcohol, driving while so impaired by drugs or a combination of drugs and alcohol that she could not drive safely, and driving while impaired by a controlled dangerous substance.

According to charging documents, a Maryland State Police trooper was traveling southbound on Great Mills Road in Lexington Park on Aug. 6 when he observed a vehicle traveling northbound cross over the double yellow centerline into the opposing lane before returning to its lane.

The trooper said he continued watching as the vehicle drifted across the dashed white lane divider and later crossed the double yellow centerline again near Great Mills Road and South Shangri-La Drive.

After the vehicle turned onto South Shangri-La Drive and then Willows Road, the trooper said it crossed over the solid white line, prompting a traffic stop.

Middleton was identified as the driver.

Court documents state Middleton told the trooper she had consumed an alcoholic beverage at approximately 9:30 p.m. the previous evening.

When asked to step from the vehicle, Middleton allegedly used the driver’s door for balance. The trooper also reported seeing an open glass beer bottle in the driver’s door compartment.

Middleton agreed to perform standardized field sobriety tests, according to the charging documents.

A preliminary breath test later showed a breath alcohol concentration of .017, according to the court filing.

Based on the trooper’s observations, Middleton was placed under arrest for suspected impaired driving.

During a search of the area within Middleton’s reach inside the vehicle, the trooper reported finding suspected controlled dangerous substances and drug paraphernalia in the driver’s footwell.

After being advised of her rights, Middleton allegedly told the trooper the recovered substance was crack cocaine and said she had smoked crack cocaine with marijuana before driving.

The trooper wrote that Middleton’s driving behavior, performance on field sobriety tests, the suspected drugs and paraphernalia, and her alleged statements led him to believe she had operated the vehicle while impaired by a controlled dangerous substance or a combination of drugs and alcohol.

Middleton was released on her own recognizance following her arrest.

A trial is set for Sept. 22 in St. Mary’s District Court.

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