At 12:05 am, on Jan. 12, Officer C. Clevenger and Cpl. J. Martin were patrolling Livingston Road in Indian Head when a 1989 Chevrolet sedan traveling in the opposite direction veered into their lane and nearly struck the police cruiser they were in head-on.
Officer Clevenger swerved to avoid the Chevrolet, which continued to weave in both lanes. The officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle near Hawthorne Road and discovered the driver and the passengers were under the influence of alcohol and an illegal narcotic, possibly PCP.
One of the passengers, a 34-year-old Nanjemoy man, had severe facial injuries and was losing consciousness. Emergency medical services personnel responded to the scene and the injured man was flown by a Maryland State Police helicopter to Suburban Hospital in Bethesda.
The driver, Harry Melvin Tibbs, Jr., 28, of Nanjemoy, was found to be in possession of cocaine, marijuana and PCP and was charged with possession of those narcotics and driving while intoxicated.
A third passenger, a 26-year-old Nanjemoy man, was not charged.
The injured man’s injuries appeared to be the result of a fight but no one would advise how the injuries occurred.
Tibbs is being held at the Charles County Detention Center pending an appearance before a district court commissioner. Officer Clevenger investigated.