PORT REPUBLIC, Md. — A Calvert County man was arrested on drug-related charges after deputies responded to a trespassing complaint and discovered suspected fentanyl and drug paraphernalia inside a vehicle.
On Feb. 21, 2025, deputies from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office responded to a property on Broomes Island Road following a report of an unfamiliar vehicle parked on private property. Upon arrival, authorities located a gray Toyota Corolla occupied by Charles Edgar Thomas III, 41.
According to law enforcement, when deputies approached the vehicle, Thomas initially occupied the driver’s seat but quickly switched places with his female passenger, allegedly due to not having a valid driver’s license. Officers observed both individuals behaving erratically and contacted a K-9 unit, which alerted them to the presence of controlled dangerous substances in the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a clear plastic bag containing a white powdery substance, later suspected to be fentanyl. Deputies also found metal hollow tubes with white residue, commonly used for drug ingestion, along with a St. Mary’s County Health Department bottle containing tissues and drug paraphernalia. A prescription bottle for Gabapentin, a medication commonly used to treat nerve pain and seizures, was also located inside the vehicle.
After being read his Miranda rights, Thomas admitted that the substance found in the bottle was a mixture of fentanyl and Gabapentin.
Thomas was taken into custody and transported to the Calvert County Detention Center, where he was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance other than cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia. If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison and a fine of $25,500.
Court records indicate that Thomas was granted a $1,500 unsecured personal bond following his arrest. His next scheduled court appearance is on April 9, 2025, at the Calvert County District Court.
Authorities sent the suspected fentanyl to the Maryland State Police lab for further testing. The case remains under investigation.
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