Police: Drug Charges Filed after Port Deposit Chase

Cecil County Sheriff’s deputies filed drug charges this week following a traffic stop that police say resulted in a chase in Port Deposit.

At 11:50 a.m. on April 30, an officer was patrolling Bainbridge Road when he noticed a suspicious vehicle stopped in the middle of Red Barn Way, according to a statement from the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office.

The officer stopped the vehicle on the 400 block of Cokesbury Road, the statement continued. Upon making contact with the driver—Tony Alexander Griffin, 28, of Inn Keeper Court in Elkton—who was the only occupant of the Dodge, the officer “detected the odor of fresh marijuana emanating from the vehicle,” according to the report. 

The officer asked whether there was marijuana in the vehicle and Griffin said “no,” according to police. 

When the officer went to his patrol vehicle to run a routine background check on Griffin, the driver allegedly drove off.

As the deputy followed in his vehicle, he saw Griffin throw a clear bag and other items into the road, police said. Then Griffin stopped his vehicle on the 400 block of Cokesbury Road and fled on foot, according to police.

With support from additional officers, deputies arrested the suspect without incident, according to the statement.

Police said they found a plastic bag containing what they suspected was marijuana, after searching near the vehicle; traces of marijuana in the driver’s seat and door; drug packaging materials inside the vehicle, and $1,875 on Griffin's person.

Griffin was charged with possession of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute. He was released after posting $10,000 bond. He has a preliminary hearing May 24 in Cecil County District Court.