Austin Cameron Darling, 31, of Leonardtown
Austin Cameron Darling, 31, of Leonardtown, faces two counts of possessing a controlled substance other than cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia, drug-impaired driving and several traffic citations following a July 3, 2026, arrest in Hollywood. He also faces a separate misdemeanor theft charge stemming from an alleged June 17, 2026, incident at a Charlotte Hall grocery store.
The latest arrest began shortly before midnight July 2, 2026, near Clarke’s Landing Road and Mervell Dean Road. A St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office deputy reported seeing a silver Ford Explorer traveling south in the northbound lane before initiating a traffic stop.
The deputy said Darling was sweating heavily, appeared to have dilated pupils and was yawning during the encounter. A torn plastic bag and pieces of copper scouring material were allegedly visible on the driver’s floorboard. The deputy also reported seeing a small container of pink liquid in the glove compartment that he believed was associated with liquid methadone.
Darling told the deputy that he had prescriptions for Wellbutrin, Seroquel and gabapentin, had last taken his medication at about 9 p.m. and took it as prescribed. He also disclosed that he had metal rods in his pelvis and femur. When asked whether he could walk and balance normally, Darling replied, “Half way.”
According to the allegations, Darling missed heel-to-toe contact on several steps during a walk-and-turn exercise, stopped during his turn and used his arms for balance. During a one-leg stand, the deputy said Darling put his foot down, swayed, hopped and used his arms to balance. He was arrested shortly after midnight on suspicion of driving while impaired by a controlled substance.
A search of the Explorer allegedly uncovered a glass smoking device with suspected cocaine residue in the driver’s door, a small white rock believed to be crack cocaine in the center console, and a blue plastic straw with suspected cocaine residue beneath the front passenger seat.
The deputy also reported finding three bottles containing 100 milligrams of liquid methadone and a second glass smoking device with suspected cocaine residue. The bottles were allegedly prescribed to another person, not Darling. The formal charges identify the substances as cocaine and methadone.
Darling provided a breath sample showing a .000 alcohol concentration after he was taken to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, according to the deputy. The deputy alleged that Darling repeatedly fell asleep and was difficult to awaken.
A drug recognition expert from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to evaluate Darling, but the evaluation was not completed because Darling allegedly could not remain awake or answer questions. Authorities treated the incomplete evaluation as a refusal.
In addition to the three misdemeanor drug charges, Darling received citations alleging driving while impaired by a controlled substance, driving while so impaired by drugs or a combination of drugs and alcohol that he could not drive safely, failure to drive right of center, failure to obey a traffic-control device, unsafe lane changing, reckless driving and negligent driving.
Darling was released July 4, 2026, after posting a $3,000 unsecured personal bond. His release conditions require him to appear in court, avoid criminal activity and abstain from alcohol and the unauthorized use or possession of controlled substances.
The July arrest came weeks after Darling was accused of stealing frozen seafood from a Charlotte Hall grocery store. A St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office deputy alleged that surveillance video showed Darling placing two boxes of frozen lobster between his legs and leaving without paying on June 17, 2026.
Investigators said two bags of frozen shrimp and three boxes of frozen lobster had initially been placed in a shopping cart. Darling allegedly removed two lobster boxes from the cart, concealed them and walked past the registers. The total value of the merchandise was listed as $37.98. He is charged with misdemeanor theft of less than $100 and was summoned to appear for a preliminary inquiry on July 31, 2026.
Darling also has an appealed 2025 case arising from an incident at a Hollywood gas station. A Maryland State Police trooper reported finding him unconscious or asleep in the driver’s seat after witnesses had been unable to wake him.
Darling allegedly said he had left a nearby boat dock, was driving home and stopped to take a nap. When asked about drinking, he reportedly said he had consumed “one or two shots” at about 6 a.m. He later attributed the smell of alcohol to a drink that had been spilled on the vehicle’s floor.
After Darling declined field sobriety exercises by saying “No,” the trooper attempted to arrest him. Police alleged that Darling pulled his arms away, resisted being handcuffed and continued kicking and moving after emergency medical personnel attempted to evaluate him.
A search uncovered miniature bottles of Jack Daniel’s, a glass smoking device and containers holding powder residue. Darling later pleaded guilty to resisting or interfering with an arrest. He received a four-month jail sentence with all but one day suspended and three years of unsupervised probation. He filed an appeal in May 2026.
In a separate December 2024 case, deputies found Darling in the driver’s seat of a vehicle outside a Lexington Park convenience store after a concerned person reported that a man was passed out behind the wheel. Deputies alleged that two white rock-like substances were visible inside a container on the floor.
When a deputy asked about the container, Darling picked it up and said, “That looks like drugs.” Authorities identified the substance as crack cocaine and reported finding a glass smoking device containing a mesh filter.
Darling pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance other than cannabis. He received a 180-day suspended jail sentence and 18 months of supervised probation. A related paraphernalia charge was placed on hold indefinitely.
