(March 2, 2017) Jeremy Douglas, 24, of Pocomoke City was found guilty of disorderly conduct on Tuesday after becoming irate with police after they conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle that yielded two written warnings and a K9 scan that ended up finding nothing.
On Jan. 27 at around 10 a.m. Deputy Michael Newcomb observed Douglas’ vehicle parked improperly near Second Street and Railroad Avenue, forcing passing traffic to go around the vehicle.
Newcomb testified Douglas had been stopped for less than two minutes.
After the vehicle began moving again and traveled to the stop sign located at Second and Fourth Streets, Newcomb testified Douglas’ vehicle had overshot the painted line on the pavement, causing the front two wheels of the automobile to encroach on the intersection.
Newcomb said he then initiated a traffic stop based on these alleged infractions and pulled Douglas over at the intersection of Fourth and Oxford Streets.
After Newcomb exited his cruiser, but before he reached Douglas’ vehicle — a distance he testified was about 25 feet — he heard Douglas loudly protesting the traffic stop.
Reaching the vehicle, Newcomb testified he noticed some items in the car that could have been drug paraphernalia and called in a K9 unit for backup.
He also then removed Douglas and a passenger from the vehicle, seated them on the curb and had the dog scan the car.
Douglas was issued written warnings for the infractions that led to the stop.
The K9 unit scanned the car and found nothing.
Douglas’ mood did not improve. No testimony was offered as to how long Douglas was required to wait during the inspection.
According to Newcomb, it was Douglas’ annoyance at the process – and not the two police cars, at least one with the lights engaged, searching a car with a dog along the side of the road on a Friday morning – that attracted the attention of area residents and one motorist.
Newcomb arrested Douglas for disorderly conduct.
Judge Milton Jews agreed with Newcomb’s take on the situation and ordered Douglas to pay $250 and court costs for the incident.
On Jan. 27 at around 10 a.m. Deputy Michael Newcomb observed Douglas’ vehicle parked improperly near Second Street and Railroad Avenue, forcing passing traffic to go around the vehicle.
Newcomb testified Douglas had been stopped for less than two minutes.
After the vehicle began moving again and traveled to the stop sign located at Second and Fourth Streets, Newcomb testified Douglas’ vehicle had overshot the painted line on the pavement, causing the front two wheels of the automobile to encroach on the intersection.
Newcomb said he then initiated a traffic stop based on these alleged infractions and pulled Douglas over at the intersection of Fourth and Oxford Streets.
After Newcomb exited his cruiser, but before he reached Douglas’ vehicle — a distance he testified was about 25 feet — he heard Douglas loudly protesting the traffic stop.
Reaching the vehicle, Newcomb testified he noticed some items in the car that could have been drug paraphernalia and called in a K9 unit for backup.
He also then removed Douglas and a passenger from the vehicle, seated them on the curb and had the dog scan the car.
Douglas was issued written warnings for the infractions that led to the stop.
The K9 unit scanned the car and found nothing.
Douglas’ mood did not improve. No testimony was offered as to how long Douglas was required to wait during the inspection.
According to Newcomb, it was Douglas’ annoyance at the process – and not the two police cars, at least one with the lights engaged, searching a car with a dog along the side of the road on a Friday morning – that attracted the attention of area residents and one motorist.
Newcomb arrested Douglas for disorderly conduct.
Judge Milton Jews agreed with Newcomb’s take on the situation and ordered Douglas to pay $250 and court costs for the incident.