LEONARDTOWN — A St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputy recovered three bags of suspected controlled dangerous substances totaling 63 grams after a traffic stop in Leonardtown on June 16 that escalated when the vehicle fled the scene twice.
The driver, Joseph Valentino Thomas, 37, of Avenue, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and multiple traffic citations. He remains incarcerated at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center on no-bond status.
While conducting traffic enforcement at the intersection of Lawrence Avenue and Barthelme Street, the deputy initiated a stop on a Chevrolet Trailblazer for failure to stop at a stop sign. When the deputy exited his vehicle to make contact, the Trailblazer fled the area. The vehicle later stopped in a parking lot in the 41000 block of Fenwick Street before fleeing a second time and finally stopping at the intersection of Pope Street and Church Street, where the deputy made contact with the driver.
During the investigation, the deputy returned to the Fenwick Street parking lot and located three bags containing controlled dangerous substances. The bags held 57 grams of suspected cocaine and six grams of suspected crack cocaine. Evidence found inside the Trailblazer was consistent with the discarded bags of suspected CDS.
The incident underscores the role of routine traffic enforcement in identifying potential drug activity in St. Mary’s County communities. Leonardtown residents and visitors benefit from deputies’ proactive patrols that can lead to the removal of illegal substances from local streets.
Anyone with information about drug activity in St. Mary’s County is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office or submit tips through appropriate channels. Safe driving practices, including obeying stop signs and traffic signals, help maintain community safety and reduce the risk of escalation during enforcement stops.
