LEONARDTOWN, MD (June 18, 2026) – On Tuesday, June 16, while conducting traffic enforcement at the intersection of Lawrence Avenue and Barthelme Street in Leonardtown, a patrol deputy initiated a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Trailblazer for failure to stop at a stop sign.

When the patrol deputy exited his vehicle to initiate contact with the driver, the vehicle fled the area. The vehicle subsequently stopped in a parking lot in the 41000 block of Fenwick Street, fled a second time, and ultimately stopped at the intersection of Pope Street and Church Street, where the deputy made contact with the driver.

As part of the ensuing investigation, the deputy returned to the Fenwick Street parking lot and located three bags containing controlled dangerous substances (CDS), totaling 57 grams of suspected cocaine and six grams of suspected crack cocaine. The deputy also located evidence in the Trailblazer consistent with that of the discarded bags of suspected CDS.

The driver, identified as Joseph Valentino Thomas, 37, of Avenue, Maryland, was taken into custody, transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown, and charged with possession with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and multiple traffic citations. Thomas remains incarcerated on a no-bond status.