LEONARDTOWN, MD—On April 30, 2024, 57-year-old Michael Joseph Brooks of Great Mills, MD, was arrested following a routine traffic stop which revealed drugs in his vehicle. The incident took place in Great Mills, highlighting ongoing efforts by local law enforcement to combat drug offenses in the area.
Deputy First Class Travis Wimberly of the local sheriff’s department was performing proactive traffic enforcement when he noticed a 2003 Dodge Caravan. The vehicle, interestingly registered as a “historic motor vehicle,” caught his attention due to a potential violation of Maryland Traffic Law. This prompted DFC Wimberly to initiate the stop that would lead to the discovery of illegal substances.
Upon approaching the vehicle, DFC Wimberly identified Brooks as the driver and observed what appeared to be cocaine on the driver’s side floorboard. This observation led to a probable cause search of the vehicle. During the search, law enforcement officers discovered suspected crack cocaine as well as drug-related paraphernalia.
Following the discovery, Brooks was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown. He is expected to await a bond hearing there, facing charges including two counts of CDS: Possession Not Marijuana and two counts of CDS: Possession of Paraphernalia.
This arrest is part of a broader push by the sheriff’s department to address drug-related offenses within the community. By targeting vehicles and conducting searches where probable cause is established, local authorities aim to deter the possession and distribution of controlled substances.