Ernest Clayton Groves, 73, of Prince Frederick (2014 Booking Photo)
Ernest Clayton Groves, 73, of Prince Frederick, is facing misdemeanor drug charges after two separate traffic stops in Calvert County in June 2026, according to filings in District Court. Groves is charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance other than cannabis in both incidents, along with two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia stemming from one of the stops.
The first stop happened on June 18, 2026, near Plum Point Road in Huntingtown. A deputy with the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office reported seeing a silver passenger car with a Maryland registration traveling south on Route 4 before it abruptly turned onto Plum Point Road without using the proper turn lane or a turn signal. The deputy wrote that the vehicle briefly accelerated and was then stopped just off Route 4.
The driver was identified as Groves. The deputy reported that the vehicle’s registration had expired in December 2025. While speaking with Groves, the deputy said Groves appeared nervous, had recently lit a cigarette and acknowledged that he knew the registration was expired. When asked whether there was anything illegal in the vehicle, Groves allegedly replied, “No you can check if you want.” The deputy also wrote that when asked whether he had ever been arrested before, Groves replied, “no.”
A K-9 unit from the Maryland State Police responded, and the K-9 alerted to the vehicle, according to the filing. During a search, authorities reported finding a small metal push rod in the center console and two cut plastic baggies with white residue inside on the rear floorboard. The deputy wrote that the push rod is commonly used with smoking pipes associated with cocaine, and the baggies were believed to contain cocaine residue.
As a result of that incident, Groves was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance other than cannabis, identified in the filing as cocaine, and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. The paraphernalia charges refer to the metal push rod and the two cut plastic baggies.
The second incident happened three days later, on June 21, 2026, near Prosper Lane in Owings. A deputy with the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office reported conducting stationary radar enforcement on Maryland Route 260 near Wards Chapel Road when he saw a silver Honda Civic with significant front-end damage pass his location. The deputy followed as the vehicle turned onto Boyds Turn Road and entered the Sneade’s Ace Home Center parking lot, which the deputy noted was closed on Sundays.
According to the filing, the driver appeared to notice the marked patrol vehicle and backed into a parking space. After several minutes, the Honda drove toward the deputy’s patrol vehicle and stopped nearby. The deputy wrote that Groves motioned as if he wanted to speak and said, “If you’re going to pull me over, just pull me over already.” The deputy reported telling Groves that he did not currently have a reason to stop him, then asked whether there was a reason he should. Groves allegedly replied that his vehicle registration was expired.
The deputy then confirmed the same Maryland registration, 8GW9526, had expired in December 2025 and conducted a traffic stop. A K-9 unit from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office later responded, and the K-9 alerted to the odor of controlled dangerous substances, according to the filing. During a search of the vehicle, deputies reported finding a small green pill with the imprint “K 8” under rags on the front passenger seat. The deputy wrote that, based on training and experience, the pill was consistent with oxycodone.
No additional contraband was reported during the vehicle search. The pill was collected and submitted to the Maryland State Police for laboratory analysis, according to the filing. Groves was charged in that incident with possession of a controlled dangerous substance other than cannabis, identified as oxycodone.
Groves was issued criminal summonses in both matters. A preliminary inquiry for the charges is scheduled for August 10, 2026, at Calvert District Court in Prince Frederick.
