PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — A Virginia man was arrested early Sunday morning after a traffic stop in Prince Frederick led to the discovery of a loaded handgun inside his vehicle, according to court documents.
Qui Mirr Tajee Heyward, 28, of Richmond, Virginia, was charged following the March 15, 2026 incident in the area of North Solomons Island Road and Armory Square.
According to the statement of probable cause, a deputy observed a white Toyota Camry traveling northbound with a registration light violation. The vehicle, bearing Virginia tags, was stopped after the deputy activated emergency equipment when the driver failed to pull over and continued through multiple intersections and parking lots.
Investigators reported the driver, later identified as Heyward, made movements toward the passenger-side floorboard and glove compartment while the vehicle was still in motion, behavior the deputy recognized as consistent with attempts to conceal contraband.
Heyward eventually stopped in a parking lot, where he was removed from the vehicle and searched. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, deputies located a handgun inside the glove compartment.
Authorities recovered a Sig Sauer P365 handgun with a loaded magazine containing 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition. A second magazine, also loaded with 10 rounds, was found nearby.
Heyward told deputies he had a Virginia carry permit; however, authorities confirmed Maryland does not recognize Virginia handgun permits. Further investigation revealed Heyward did not possess a valid Maryland handgun permit, and his Maryland driver’s license was suspended.
Heyward was taken into custody and transported to the Calvert County Detention Center for processing.
He is charged with handgun in a vehicle and loaded handgun in a vehicle.
A hearing is set for April 15, 2026 in Calvert District Court.
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Looks like a fine upstanding young man.
The 2nd amendment doesn’t end at state lines. This is bs
Unfortunately, Maryland like some other states doesn’t believe in The United States Constitution.
Clearly a violation of his Second Amendment rights. Release him.
Virginia does not require a permit to carry a handgun on your person or in your vehicle. I wouldn’t have known Maryland does. Glad I stay out of that state.
SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED
Im not excusing this guy’s behavior. But this is exactly why we need nationwide reciprocity for concealed carry. Concealed carry is exercising our rights under the 2nd amendment to theConstitution, the same as free speech and all the other rights given by the Constitution. The Constitution is NATIONAL rights. Then we have a patchwork of states and even local jurisdictions within those states that have all kinds of restrictions impeding those rights. Lord help someone if they so much as stop for gas in states like New Jersey or New York. Even if both the firearm and ammo are in the trunk, if they get the chance, they will arrest you. California, Maryland, also known as California of the east are draconian. And Virginia is about to get there. All the while they increase and raise taxes on any and everything.
Even though he’s an idiot for not stopping, this is why we need nationwide reciprocity.
Why on earth did he consent to a search of the vehicle?