Maryland Man Faces Criminal Charges for Illegal Drugs & Eluding Police
The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office arrested and charged a Maryland man for several criminal and traffic offenses after an extended police chase, according to an article by 47ABC.
This incident occurred at approximately 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 4th. That is when deputies observed that the 43-year-old Maryland man was driving on a suspended license. When the deputies attempted to execute a traffic stop, however, the man sped off through the town of Delmar.
Throughout the chase, this man appeared to jettison objects from his vehicle. Deputies later discovered that the man was throwing packets of crack cocaine out of his vehicle. After the man crashed near the end of East Street, he attempted to run away on foot. But the sheriff’s deputies closed in quickly and made the arrest.
As a result of this incident, the Maryland man faces criminal charges for possession with intent to distribute and fleeing or eluding police, among other traffic offenses. While this man awaits further legal proceedings, it seems pertinent to review several applicable laws and penalties under Maryland state law.
Possession with Intent to Distribute
Outside of certain medical exceptions, Maryland Code of Criminal Law Section 5-602 makes it unlawful to distribute illegal drugs. Under this section, it is also unlawful to possess illegal drugs in such quantities that would reasonably indicate distribution. This is referred to as possession with intent to distribute and carries the same penalty as actual distribution.
The penalties for this offense appear under Maryland Code of Criminal Law Section 5-608. Any person who possesses illegal drugs with the intent to distribute generally faces the penalty structure below:
- First or Second Offense — A 20-year prison sentence and $15,000 in criminal fines;
- Third Offense — A 25-year prison sentence and $25,000 in criminal fines; or
- Fourth Offense — A 40-year prison sentence and $25,000 in criminal fines.
Fleeing or Eluding Police
Maryland Code of Transportation Section 21-904 prohibits any person from attempting to flee or elude police under certain circumstances. When a police officers visually or audibly signals for a person to stop — whether by hand, voice, light, or siren — then the driver must obey. In these circumstances, it is illegal for that person to:
- Intentionally disregard the signal to stop;
- Attempt to flee on foot; or
- Try to elude police by any other means.
The penalty structure for fleeing or eluding police also appears under Section 21-904. Any person who violates this section generally faces either of the penalties below:
- First Offense — A 12-month prison sentence and $1,000 in criminal fines; or
- Second or Subsequent Offense — A 24-month prison sentence and $1,000 in criminal fines.
Let Us Help You with Your Case
If you have legal questions about criminal or traffic offenses in Maryland, it can be highly productive to speak with a dependable Baltimore criminal attorney. The attorneys at Iamele & Iamele, LLP in Baltimore, Maryland, have proven experience in the field of criminal defense, including various criminal and traffic offenses. If you need legal help, contact us today for a free initial consultation.
Resource:
wmdt.com/2019/04/salisbury-man-arrested-following-police-chase/
