Brandon Dexter Williams, 40, of La Plata
Brandon Dexter Williams, 40, of La Plata, faces nine criminal charges and four traffic citations after a July 4, 2026, traffic stop in Waldorf led officers to recover a handgun, ammunition, several suspected controlled substances, drug-packaging equipment and $1,738 in cash.
Williams is charged with possessing or transporting a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled substance other than cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying a handgun in a vehicle, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, carrying a handgun on his person and possession of a firearm following a disqualifying criminal conviction.
He was also cited for operating a vehicle with unauthorized window tint, driving without wearing a seat belt, improperly equipped or positioned headlights and driving a vehicle without required safety glass equipment.
A Charles County Sheriff’s Office officer was patrolling near St. Charles Parkway and St. Ignatius Drive at about 4:28 p.m. when the officer saw a white Chevrolet Impala turn onto St. Ignatius Drive. The officer reported that the vehicle had dark tint on all of its windows, including the windshield, and that a crack extended across the windshield.
The officer stopped the Impala near St. Ignatius Drive and High Street. Williams was identified as the driver, and another adult man was seated in the front passenger seat.
The officer reported seeing signs that the passenger may have been impaired, including slow movement, delayed speech and difficulty searching the glove compartment for the vehicle registration. Neither occupant was able to locate the registration, according to the officer’s account.
When the officer asked for the registration again, Williams allegedly reached between the driver’s seat and door. The officer said Williams was known from a previous traffic stop to keep pocketknives in the driver’s-door storage area. Believing Williams could be reaching for a weapon, the officer restrained his arms and opened the door.
Several knives were reportedly found in the open door compartment. The officer also saw loose, round pink pills in an adjacent compartment and detained Williams while beginning a drug investigation.
During a search of a black cross-body bag that had been resting on Williams’ lap, the officer found an unloaded Springfield 911 .380-caliber handgun. One round of ammunition was reportedly stored separately inside the bag.
The bag also contained a tied plastic bag holding a hard substance suspected to be crack cocaine, a functioning digital scale and a razor blade. The scale and razor blade reportedly had white powder residue on them.
Police said another compartment contained $1,738 in assorted bills. The money had been separated by denomination and folded in a way the officer described as consistent with cash handling during illegal drug transactions.
A search of the driver’s door allegedly produced 20 loose pink pills identified through a pill database as 10-milligram oxycodone hydrochloride tablets. Police estimated their street value at approximately $200.
Officers also reported finding a clear tied plastic bag containing an off-white powder with larger rock-like pieces and a plastic container holding white rock-like substances. Field testing allegedly identified cocaine base in several samples. One sample also tested positive for cyclohexyl fentanyl, according to the officer’s report.
The officer said the combination of multiple quantities of suspected drugs, loose oxycodone tablets, a digital scale, a razor blade with residue, organized cash and an accessible firearm was consistent with possession of drugs for distribution rather than personal use.
The Maryland Gun Center reportedly confirmed that Williams was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. At the scene, Williams said he “did not wish to speak with investigating officers,” according to the report. He was transported to the Charles County Detention Center without further incident.
Williams appeared before a judicial officer on July 5, 2026, with a court-appointed attorney participating remotely. He was ordered held without bond after the judicial officer found a reasonable likelihood that he posed a danger to another person or the community and that he might not appear for future proceedings.
A bail review was held July 6, 2026, and Williams remained held without bond. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for August 4, 2026, in Charles County District Court.
