LUSBY, Md. — A Prince Frederick man is facing a drug possession charge after a Calvert County deputy allegedly found an oxycodone pill during a vehicle search following a traffic stop.
Ernest Clayton Groves, 73, of Prince Frederick, was charged in Calvert County District Court with possession of a controlled dangerous substance other than cannabis.
According to charging documents, a Calvert County sheriff’s deputy was conducting stationary radar enforcement on June 21 along Maryland Route 260 near Wards Chapel Road when he observed a silver Honda Civic with significant front-end damage pass his patrol vehicle.
The vehicle later turned onto Boyds Turn Road and entered the parking lot of Sneade’s Ace Home Center, which the deputy noted was closed on Sundays. According to the application for statement of charges, the driver appeared to notice the marked patrol vehicle and backed into a parking space.
Deputy Connolly wrote that he later drove through the parking lot and parked in an adjacent area. After several minutes, the Honda drove toward the deputy and stopped near the patrol vehicle. The driver allegedly told Connolly, “If you’re going to pull me over, just pull me over already.”
The deputy said he did not initially have a reason to stop the vehicle, but the driver then stated the vehicle’s registration was expired. Connolly reported confirming the registration had expired and conducted a traffic stop.
The driver was identified as Groves.
Connolly requested a K-9 unit during the stop. Court documents state the K-9 allegedly alerted to the odor of controlled dangerous substances.
Deputies then searched the vehicle and allegedly found a small green pill bearing the imprint “K 8,” with a score mark through the center, beneath the front passenger-side floor mat. The deputy wrote that, based on his training and experience, the pill was consistent with oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance.
The remainder of the vehicle search produced no additional contraband, according to charging documents.
The pill was collected and submitted to the Maryland State Police Crime Laboratory for analysis.
A summons was issued on June 22.
A preliminary inquiry hearing is scheduled for Aug. 10 in Calvert County District Court.
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Jesus man, Guy is 75 years old . One pill? Was the search really necessary in this case. Probably from an old prescription he had and he dropped it years ago. Had no freaking idea it was there but leave it to ccso to create themselves a little excitement for the day by ruining somebody else’s.