A routine traffic stop on Ocean Gateway in Talbot County turned chaotic when two people from Cambridge allegedly bailed out of their vehicle and tried to outrun deputies, authorities said.
According to the Talbot County Sheriff's Office, deputies pulled over a vehicle near Ocean Gateway on May 22 for a registration issue. Once the car stopped, both the driver and the passenger reportedly jumped out and ran. Deputies chased the pair and, after what officials described as a brief struggle, managed to detain both of them.
Eastern Shore Undercover identified the driver as 37-year-old Pamela Marie Nicholson and the passenger as 48-year-old Ellsworth Spence Nicholson, both of Cambridge. The outlet reports that Pamela Nicholson was charged with fleeing and eluding, obstructing and hindering police, resisting arrest, and registration offenses. Ellsworth Nicholson faces charges of fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest, assault on law enforcement, and possession of a controlled substance.
Charges and potential penalties
Maryland law spells out a range of possible penalties tied to the charges the Nicholsons are facing. Fleeing or eluding is covered under Md. Transp. §21-904. For a first offense, a conviction can mean up to one year behind bars and a fine of up to $1,000, with tougher consequences for repeat violations or if someone is hurt or killed during the attempt to flee.
Resisting arrest and similar interference with law enforcement fall under Md. Crim. Law §9-408. That misdemeanor can carry a maximum of three years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 if there is a conviction.
Booking and next steps
Both suspects were taken to Talbot County Central Booking for processing and scheduled for an initial appearance before a district court commissioner, according to Eastern Shore Undercover. They remain in custody while the case moves forward and prosecutors weigh formal filings and further court action.
The May 22 stop was first reported publicly on May 30. Additional information is expected to surface in public court records as the case proceeds through the District Court in Easton.
