SRO seizes drugs, pellet gun, real ammunition from car outside school

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    FREDERICK, Maryland (WBAL) — A school resource officer in Frederick County uncovered drugs, a pellet gun and real ammunition while investigating a man who was found asleep in a car on campus, the sheriff’s office said.

The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office said Deputy 1st Class Dustin Turner, the SRO at Governor Thomas Johnson High School, found the items in a car on campus.

The sheriff’s office said school staff alerted the deputy Tuesday afternoon to a running car that was stopped in front of the school.

The sheriff’s office said Turner found a man sleeping in the front seat. The deputy tapped on the door and the man woke up and opened his window, at which time, authorities said the deputy detected a strong order of marijuana coming from the car.

The deputy searched the car and found more than 26 grams of marijuana, an Umarex XBG pellet handgun, an empty 16-round 9mm Smith and Wesson handgun magazine and a box of NovX Engagement Extreme Self-Defense 9mm Luger +P 65 grain ammunition with 17 rounds. The sheriff’s office said the pellet handgun closely resembles a semiautomatic handgun.

The sheriff’s office said the suspect is a known gang member and a convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing ammunition. Charges are pending.

“This is a prime example of how the SRO program worked for the safety and security of everyone,” Lt. Jason Deater, of the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, said in a statement. “Our deputy was already at the school and swiftly handled the situation. The GTJHS students and staff were kept safe by his quick actions and goes to show the importance of this program.”

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