Jerry Carlos Bannister, 54, of Indian Head
Jerry Carlos Bannister, 54, of Indian Head, is facing seven drug-related charges after the Charles County Sheriff’s Office said investigators found crack cocaine, cocaine, methamphetamine, Suboxone strips, cash, packaging materials and hidden compartments during a June 3, 2026, search at his home on Stump Neck Road in Indian Head.
Bannister is charged with possession of narcotics production equipment, three counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance that was not cannabis, and three counts of possession with intent to distribute narcotics. The possession counts are tied in the filings to cocaine, crack cocaine and methamphetamine. The distribution-related counts are tied to cocaine, crack cocaine and methamphetamine.
According to the allegations, a Charles County Circuit Court judge signed a search warrant on May 26, 2026, authorizing the search of Bannister, a blue 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche, and his Stump Neck Road residence as part of an ongoing controlled dangerous substances investigation. On June 3, 2026, members of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Team, assisted by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Team, carried out the warrant. Investigators said Bannister was found in the laundry room in the basement, while four other occupants were located elsewhere on the property.
Investigators reported finding a safe hidden inside a wall in the basement laundry room. Inside, they said they recovered about 30.7 grams of crack cocaine, about 12 grams of cocaine, about 0.4 grams of methamphetamine, $3,270 in cash, twelve green glassine baggies and a glass smoking device with trace amounts of methamphetamine.
Additional items were reported in Bannister’s bedroom, including about 5.3 grams of crack cocaine in a tied plastic bag, about 4.9 grams of cocaine found in a closet inside a hidden electrical socket, fourteen Buprenorphine and Naloxone strips, $380 in cash, eight glassine baggies and plastic packaging material. In total, investigators said they recovered about 36 grams of crack cocaine, 16.9 grams of cocaine, 0.4 grams of methamphetamine, fourteen Suboxone strips and $3,650 in cash. The estimated street value of the drugs was listed at about $10,870.
The filings say investigators used a Thermo Scientific TruNarc Analyzer to field test samples of the suspected cocaine, crack cocaine and methamphetamine, and the substances tested positive. Investigators also noted that the Suboxone strips were in manufacturing packaging identifying them as Buprenorphine and Naloxone.
During an interview after being advised of his rights, Bannister allegedly agreed to answer questions from investigators. When told that surveillance had shown people at the residence throughout the day, Bannister said people came there for different reasons, including “to talk or get their cars fixed,” and added, “all of them ain’t drug related.”
Investigators said they asked Bannister about a hidden trap inside his closet. Bannister allegedly replied, “huh,” then said, “I thought you were talking about the damn one in the laundry room.” When asked where he got the hidden outlet in the closet, he allegedly said, “I believe it was given to me.” Asked whether the two hidden locations were the only hidden places in the residence, Bannister allegedly answered, “yeah, that’s it.” When asked whether he was still using controlled dangerous substances, he allegedly said, “a little bit.”
Authorities also pointed to two earlier open Charles County Circuit Court indictments involving Bannister. One indictment, filed in March 2025, accused him of possessing cocaine with intent to distribute, possessing cocaine, and possessing equipment described as scales, baggies, baking soda, a razor blade, a plate and a measuring cup in connection with an alleged July 26, 2024, incident.
A separate indictment filed in March 2026 accused Bannister of possessing cocaine with intent to distribute, possessing cocaine, possessing methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and possessing equipment described as scales, a cutting tray, a razor blade, gloves, baking soda and shot glasses in connection with an alleged August 12, 2025, incident.
After his initial appearance in the new case, Bannister was initially ordered held without bond on June 4, 2026. A bail review was held the next day, and he was released on recognizance. The docket also shows private home detention paperwork was filed on June 8, 2026, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 1, 2026, in Charles District Court.
