LA PLATA, Md. — A 31-year-old Indian Head man is facing handgun charges after a Maryland State Police trooper alleged he found him asleep behind the wheel of a running vehicle in La Plata and a loaded handgun was later recovered during a DUI investigation.
Mark Antwaune Majors Jr., 31, of Indian Head, was arrested Aug. 22 and charged in the District Court for Charles County with carrying a handgun in a vehicle and carrying a handgun on his person, both misdemeanors.
Majors also received traffic citations for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while impaired by alcohol, reckless driving and negligent driving, according to the court’s charge summary.
According to a statement of probable cause filed by Maryland State Police, a trooper was dispatched at approximately 5:06 a.m. Aug. 22 to Marshall Hall Road near Hawthorne Road in La Plata for a report of a driver asleep behind the wheel.
When the trooper arrived, he found a black Chevrolet Traverse bearing a Maryland temporary registration, according to the charging document.
Police alleged Majors was asleep behind the wheel while the vehicle was running.
The trooper also reported seeing a bottle of tequila on the passenger seat.
After Majors woke up, the trooper asked where he was coming from. Police said Majors’ speech was slurred and difficult to understand.
As Majors spoke, the trooper reported detecting a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. The trooper then asked Majors to step out of the vehicle.
According to the probable cause statement, the trooper alleged Majors became combative about getting out of the Chevrolet.
Once outside the vehicle, the trooper asked whether Majors would participate in standardized field sobriety testing.
Police said Majors initially indicated he was willing to comply. However, the trooper alleged Majors became combative again while being asked preliminary questions before the testing could begin.
The trooper then placed Majors under arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the charging document.
After Majors was placed under arrest, the trooper began searching him incident to the arrest.
According to the probable cause statement, Majors then told the trooper that he had a handgun.
A Charles County sheriff’s officer assisted and allegedly recovered a loaded handgun from Majors’ hip.
Investigators then identified Majors through his Maryland driver’s license.
According to the report, police alleged Majors did not have a permit to carry a handgun on his person.
The trooper placed Majors in the patrol vehicle and transported him to the Maryland State Police La Plata Barrack for further processing.
Majors was formally charged with carrying a handgun in a vehicle and carrying a handgun on his person.
Court records show Majors was released on his own recognizance Aug. 22, meaning he was not required to post monetary bail.
Majors is scheduled for trial Oct. 6, 2026, in Charles County District Court.
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