Carroll County deputies say a routine traffic stop in Finksburg turned into a drug and gun bust when they pulled over a Baltimore County driver on Baltimore Boulevard.
On Jan. 26, deputies stopped a Lincoln LS for a traffic violation in the 1800 block of Baltimore Boulevard, where they reported finding about 32.9 grams of suspected cocaine and a .22 caliber pistol near the driver. The driver was identified as Billie Jo Ashe of Baltimore County. She was taken to central booking at the Carroll County Detention Center in Westminster and later released on a $1,000 unsecured bond after an initial court appearance, according to public records.
Traffic Stop Spurs Drug And Gun Charges
Members of the Pro-Active Community Enforcement (PACE) Team were out doing traffic enforcement when they spotted the Lincoln commit a violation and initiated the stop, according to FOX45 News. That observation led deputies to conduct a probable-cause search of the vehicle, where they say they located the suspected cocaine and the .22 caliber pistol. Both items were seized as evidence.
Authorities say Ashe was arrested at the scene and charged with multiple counts tied to possession of a controlled dangerous substance and firearm violations, according to FOX45 News.
Carroll Deputies Lean On Traffic Enforcement
The Carroll County Sheriff's Office regularly touts traffic enforcement as a key piece of its public safety strategy, encouraging residents to flag problem spots on local roads so deputies can zero in on repeat issues. Those targeted patrols are meant to curb unsafe driving, but often end up uncovering other alleged crimes along the way.
The Carroll County Sheriff's Office also operates the county detention center in Westminster, which handles central booking and inmate processing for cases like Ashe's.
Charges And First Court Appearance
Prosecutors in Carroll County are expected to review the charges linked to the seizure. FOX45 News reports that Ashe was booked at the county's central booking facility on multiple controlled dangerous substance and firearm counts.
Court records show she was released on a $1,000 unsecured bond after an initial appearance. No additional court dates or filings were listed in public reporting at the time of publication.
What Comes Next
The case will move through Carroll County District Court and could generate additional filings as investigators and prosecutors sort through the evidence. The Carroll County Sheriff's Office asks anyone with information to call its tip line at 410-386-2920 or submit a report through the agency's online services.
