Drug
arrest may have gang connection
By James Rada, Jr.
Thurmont Dispatch News Editor
THURMONT.
Md. – A Feb. 1 traffic stop in Thurmont resulted in two
drug-related arrests, and also showed Thurmont police there
may be gang-related drug activity in town.
On Wednesday,
Feb. 1 about 10:06 p.m., Deputy Jeffrey Eyler with the Frederick
County Sheriff’s Office stopped a car on North Church
Street near Altamont Avenue for a window tinting violation
and a partially covered license plate.
Because
five people were in the car, Eyler called for back up. Additional
units responded including Sergeant Shawn Tyler with the Thurmont
Police.
Eyler
issued the driver a citation, but he also smelled the strong
scent of perfume when he contacted the driver.
“It
was a strong smell like it had just been sprayed,” said
Corporal Jennifer Bailey with the Sheriff’s Office.
She said
a strong odor like that can be used to cover up other odors.
It made Eyler suspicious, according to Bailey, and he asked
to search the car after he issued the citation.
The driver
consented. The five occupants exited the vehicle and Eyler
searched it. According to Bailey, he could smell burnt marijuana
while conducting his search.
Kenneth
S. Call and Joseph L. Kline, both 19 and residents of Frederick,
fled during the search. Both were apprehended a short distance
away.
“But
the one subject (Call) that the sheriff’s office was
chasing was actually reaching for a weapon. Well, he was actually
reaching into his waist,” Thurmont Police Chief Gregory
Eyler told the town commissioners recently. “He stumbled
and when they got on top of him and apprehended him, it was
actually a loaded handgun. Speculation is he was going to
use that weapon.”
The handgun
was a .45-caliber revolver.
Kline
was seen throwing a bag suspected of containing marijuana
onto the ground, which was recovered by officers.
“The
one subject claimed he was with an E-6 crew, not gang, E-6
crew out of Frederick,” Eyler said.
According
to Frederick Police Chief Kim Dine, E-6 is a local group who
consider themselves a gang, but does not have an international
or national reputation.
While
Frederick’s gang issues have received more press in
recent months, Dine said, “The whole region has a lot
more gang issues than it had in the past.”
Call
and Kline were charged with possession of marijuana; wearing,
carrying and transporting a weapon; and resisting arrest.
