WCSO Press Releases

Incident: Possession of Marijuana

Date of Incident: 25 March 2011

Location: S/B Rt. 13 at Ocean Gateway, Salisbury, MD

Suspects: Ryan D. Waltrip, 30, Chesapeake, VA

Narrative: On 25 March 2011 at 5:27 PM, Sheriff Mike Lewis stopped a Virginia registered Honda Civic for exceeding the speed limit. Upon approach to the vehicle, Sheriff Lewis observed that the driver, Ryan Waltrip, appeared overly nervous with having the Sheriff present at his door. Also while standing there; the Sheriff detected the odor of marijuana emanating from within Waltrip’s vehicle. During the encounter, Waltrip admitted to having both marijuana and a smoking pipe in his possession.

Waltrip was arrested and transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner released Waltrip on Personal Recognizance.

Charges: Possession of Marijuana

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Incident: Possession of Cocaine / DUI

Date of Incident: 26 March 2011

Location: E/B Rt. 50, Salisbury, MD

Suspects: Phillip W. Era, 24, Hurlock, MD

Narrative: On 26 March 2011 at 2:25 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a vehicle stopped in the travel portion of the Rt. 50 Bypass in the area of the Jersey Road overpass. Upon the deputy’s arrival, he located a red pick-up truck in the travel lane whose operator was slumped over the steering wheel. The deputy observed that the engine was running, the headlights illuminated and the driver’s foot was on the brake pedal. After the deputy placed the vehicle into park and turned off the engine, the deputy managed to wake up the driver, identified as Phillip Era of Hurlock. The deputy detected an overwhelming odor of alcohol emanating from Era along with several empty beer cans. When Era exited his vehicle, he had problems walking and even standing without falling over. When the deputy requested for Era to conduct some field sobriety testing, Era declined, telling the deputy he had too much to drink.

The deputy placed Era under arrest for DUI and subsequently located a baggie in Era’s pants pocket that held what the deputy recognized as cocaine.

The deputy transported Era to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Era was released by the Commissioner on Personal Recognizance.

Charges: Possession of Cocaine

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

Driving While Impaired by Alcohol

Driving While Impaired by Drugs