CHESAPEAKE BEACH, Md. — On April 2, 2025, at approximately 10:38 a.m., deputies from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office responded to a traffic complaint near Beach Elementary School on Old Bayside Road in Chesapeake Beach. The incident led to the arrest of Derek James Ward, 39, of Friendship, Maryland, on multiple drug-related charges.
According to official documents, a witness reported that a red and white 1999 Ford F350, identified as Ward’s vehicle, had repeatedly struck a curb while entering the school’s parking lot. The driver, who was seen using a cell phone while driving, left the area, following the witness closely. The witness later stopped their vehicle on Old Bayside Road, where Ward approached them and explained that his use of the phone caused him to strike the curb.
Deputies, including Lieutenant G. Hollinger and Deputy J. Norton, located the vehicles less than 1,000 feet from Beach Elementary School. Upon initial contact with Ward, they noticed drug paraphernalia—a glass pipe with visible burn marks consistent with crack cocaine use—in plain sight inside the vehicle.
When deputies instructed Ward to exit the vehicle, he resisted by reaching around inside, leading them to suspect he was trying to conceal contraband. Deputy Norton physically removed Ward from the vehicle after he locked his arm and refused to comply with commands. Ward continued resisting arrest, prompting deputies to take him to the ground for containment.
A subsequent search revealed another glass smoking device and a plastic bag containing alprazolam (Xanax) pills that Ward allegedly possessed without a prescription. Further inspection of the vehicle uncovered a third glass pipe, copper filtering materials used in crack cocaine consumption, suspected crack cocaine, additional Xanax pills, and $1,500 in cash.
The recovered Xanax pills were marked “XANEX” with an estimated street value of $5 per pill, totaling nearly $210. Authorities believed the quantity of alprazolam and cash indicated intent to distribute, especially given the proximity to the school, which heightened the severity of the charges under Maryland law.
Ward also admitted ownership of two cellular phones found in the vehicle, one of which he described as a “burner phone,” commonly used in illegal drug transactions. Both phones were seized by deputies pending search warrants.
Following his arrest, Ward was transported to the Calvert County Detention Center and is currently being held without bond. He faces charges including two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS)—not cannabis, possession of CDS paraphernalia, one felony count of possession with intent to distribute, and one felony count of possession with intent to distribute within a school zone.
Ward appeared before Judge Michelle R. Saunders for a bail review hearing on April 4, 2025, where his hold without bond was upheld. His preliminary hearing is set for May 2, 2025, in Calvert District Court.
All seized drugs, paraphernalia, and cash have been placed into evidence at the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, with further laboratory analysis pending. The case remains active as Ward awaits court proceedings.
