267 Grams Of Marijuana Found In Disabled Jarrettsville Vehicle: Police

BEL AIR, MD — State troopers called about a disabled vehicle in the road on Jarrettsville Pike over the weekend said they found more than 267 grams of marijuana inside an Acura.

Thomas Gerald Morton Jr., 28, of the 1400 block of East Madison Street in Baltimore, was charged with four criminal offenses and given six traffic citations as a result, according to court records.

Police said at 5:25 a.m. on Sunday, April 3, they were called to Jarrettsville Pike south of Schuster Road for a report of a disabled vehicle and found a car with the engine running and its tire totally separated from the axle in the northbound lane.

Troopers said they smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle, noticed the driver's eyes were bloodshot and saw containers of marijuana on the floorboard under the driver's seat.

"Morton appeared to be falling asleep while thumbing through his cell phone," police said in a statement of probable cause obtained by Patch. One officer ordered him to get out of the vehicle but said the driver ignored the comment and "continued using his cell phone" until two officers issued the command, one of whom grabbed his arm to help him get out.

After Morton declined to answer three times whether he would submit to a field sobriety test, police said they arrested him at 5:53 a.m. and conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle.

Here is what police said they found inside the Acura:

• Near the driver's seat, 11 clear plastic containers with suspected marijuana and one clear plastic baggie containing suspected marijuana.
• In the back passenger seat, a blue backpack containing 166 plastic capsules in a plastic baggie, a BB gun, a package containing buprenorphine and naloxone sublingual film, 52 glass cylindrical containers in a plastic baggie and 61 green plastic lids in a plastic baggie.
• In the glove compartment, a plastic bag labeled "Grenadine" with suspected marijuana.
• In the center console, a green iPhone, black Alcatel flip phone and black AT&T flip phone.

The total weight of the suspected marijuana was 267.9 grams, according to police, who then took Morton to the Bel Air Barrack for processing. (Drugs are referred to as "suspected marijuana" prior to testing.)

"Morton's head nodded continuously and he appeared to fall asleep multiple times during the drive," police said.

After being advised at 6:41 a.m. of his rights — that if he declined a test to measure the alcohol in his system, he could have his license suspended — police said Morton agreed to an intoximeter test, which measures alcohol.

He had .00 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath, based on the test administered at 7:21 a.m., officials reported.

Morton agreed to submit to an evaluation by a drug recognition expert; however, police said there was not a drug recognition expert available at the time.

Once Morton was read his Miranda rights at 7:40 a.m., police said that he did not answer any questions.

He was charged with the following criminal offenses:

• Drug possession with intent to distribute
• Possession of more than 10 grams of marijuana
• Possession of drugs other than marijuana (Suboxone, which is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone)
• Possession of paraphernalia

Morton was also issued traffic citations for the following:

• Attempting to drive a vehicle so far impaired by drugs that he was unable to drive safely
• Driving a vehicle while impaired by a controlled dangerous substance
• Negligent driving of a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, endangering property, life and person
• Reckless driving in wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons and property
• Driving a vehicle on a highway without required license and authorization
• Displaying expired registration

Court records show Morton was denied bail Monday, April 4. He is being held at the Harford County Detention Center.