Lexington Park, MD— On April 29, Maryland State Police Cpl. Nicholas Gresko was traveling on Great Mills Road at Forest Run Drive in Lexington Park when he observed a silver motor vehicle.
The operator of the motor vehicle was talking on his cell phone. Gresko activated his emergency equipment and conducted a traffic stop. Gresko approached the driver’s side of the vehicle and made contact with the driver.
While Gresko was at the driver’s side window, he advised, “the operator attempted to hide a clear plastic bag in between the middle console and the driver’s seat of the vehicle,” according to charging documents.
Gresko immediately requested that additional police units respond to his location and ordered the operator to place both hands on the steering wheel. The operator of the vehicle stated that he did not have any ID on him and identified himself as, Jarrell A. Caudle, 23 of no fixed address.
While Gresko was speaking with the driver of the vehicle, he detected an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. When additional units arrived on the scene, the driver was identified as Jawaan Montell Carroll, 31 of Mechanicsville.
Carroll was positively identified by St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Corcoran, who advised, “he was familiar with the operator and Caudle, was not his name,” according to charging documents.
An MVA computer revealed Carroll’s Maryland Driver’s License was suspended; Gresko advised Carroll he was under arrest for driving while having a suspended driver’s license.
A search incident to Carroll’s arrest revealed a black digital scale, containing suspected cocaine. A probable cause search of the motor vehicle revealed two clear plastic bags containing suspected CDS cocaine between the middle console and the driver’s seat.
Carroll was read his Miranda Rights and elected to speak with Gresko. Carroll stated, “he did not know anything about the CDS in the vehicle,” according to charging documents. Carroll was transported to St. Mary’s Detention Center, where he was charged with CDS possession not marijuana, CDS distribution of narcotics, CDS possession of paraphernalia, false statement to an officer and numerous motor vehicle violations.
Carroll at this time does not have a scheduled court date. Carroll faces a maximum jail sentence of 24 years and six months and/or a maximum fine of $51,083.
Contact Charles Seifert at c.seifert@thebaynet.com