Pot Packing Courier with Five Pounds of Dope was Too Dopey to Replace Burned-Out Tail-lights
(Westover, MD) Maryland State Police report that on October 22, 2015, at approximately 8:52 pm, S/Tpr. P. Zimmerman of the Maryland State Police, Princess Anne Barrack was monitoring traffic in the area of Route 13 and Revels Neck Road., Westover, Somerset County, MD. S/Tpr. P. Zimmerman observed a Silver Ford Escape displaying VA registration VHG9347 to have broken tail lamps.
A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle to which the operator was contacted and identified by his Virginia driver’s license as Andrew Dwight Smith, 42, of 3325 Bangor Crescent, Chesapeake, VA.
Upon contacting Smith and during the traffic stop, S/Tpr. P. Zimmerman detected a strong odor of marijuana emanating from within the vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted subsequently yielding 5.2 pounds of marijuana. Smith was arrested for CDS Possession of Marijuana, CDS Possession with intent to distribute, and transported to the Princess Anne Barrack for processing.
Smith was then taken before the Somerset County District Court Commissioner for his initial appearance, whereas he was held on $15,000.00 secured bond.
Smith had no trouble posting the low bond required by the Maryland District Court Commissioner in spite of being from out of state and accused of distribution of more than five pounds of pot, clearly more than personal use. Another Maryland Memory of the incredibly inept Judicial system.
On a traffic stop on Aug. 20, 2012, also while driving on U. S. 13 northbound, if Smith was carrying any pounds of pot, the officer, Trooper J. Monk, of the Princess Anne Barrack, didn’t notice it or find reason to search the Accura. The speeding charge was dropped by Somerset County States Attorney Dan Powell on Nov. 8, 2012. A common reason for a simple speeding ticket being dropped often is either the failure of the States Attorney to give notice to the Trooper to appear in court or a failure of the officer to appear.
Smith had no trouble posting the low bond required by the Maryland District Court Commissioner in spite of being from out of state and accused of distribution of more than five pounds of pot, clearly more than personal use.
