What started as a quiet Monday night traffic stop in Millersville turned into a foot chase and weapons bust, after Anne Arundel County officers say a driver bolted from his car when a K9 alerted to possible drugs.
Police say they pulled over a Honda Accord around Old Mill Road and Veterans Highway for a registration violation. According to FOX45, officers called in a Controlled Dangerous Substance K9 around 11:20 p.m., then searched the vehicle after the dog gave a positive alert. That is when, officers report, the driver took off on foot.
He did not get far. Police say he was caught nearby and later identified as a 20-year-old Catonsville resident.
Anne Arundel traffic stops have led to similar discoveries lately, with officers recovering drugs and guns during follow-up searches. Local coverage has documented a string of such cases in the county; for one example, see another Edgewater drug and weapons bust.
What Police Say They Recovered
From Monday night's stop, officers listed an inventory that reads like a small evidence-room shelf. According to the police account, they recovered 40.91 grams of suspected psilocybin mushrooms, five pills of suspected Adderall, and 1 pound and 14.95 ounces of suspected marijuana.
Investigators also reported finding an unserialized P80 9mm handgun loaded with 16 rounds, along with an empty 30-round extended magazine. The items were logged as evidence from the scene, and police say the driver now faces charges tied to what was found in the vehicle, as reported by FOX45.
Legal Implications For An Unserialized Firearm
That handgun could carry extra legal weight. Maryland has tightened its laws on so-called ghost guns in recent years, and state rules now target unserialized or privately made firearms more aggressively than before. Legal summaries note that reforms passed in 2022, and rolled out in the months that followed, broadened restrictions on unmarked weapons and related parts. Background on those changes is available from Giffords and in coverage of the bill becoming law from WTOP.
Where The Case Goes From Here
Police identified the suspect as Jayden Derrell Smith, 20, of Catonsville, and say he faces charges stemming from the stop and the items allegedly recovered. For residents following local cases or looking to share tips, contact information for the department and court resources can be found through the Anne Arundel County Police.
Prosecutors are expected to review the investigation and decide on formal charges based on the evidence turned over by police. Anyone with information about the stop or related activity is encouraged to reach out to law enforcement through the usual county channels.
