On April 2, 2019, Tyrell Peaker, age 20, of Pocomoke City, Maryland, was convicted of handgun on person and resisting arrest by the Honorable Stephen J. Baker, retired Judge of the District Court for Cecil County, sitting in Worcester County District Court. Judge Baker ordered the handgun forfeited to the Pocomoke City Police Department and sentenced Peaker to serve a 3 year jail sentence, with 2 years and 9 months suspended for the handgun charge. Peaker was sentenced to an additional 3 years of incarceration for the resisting arrest charge, to be served concurrently, and placed on 18 months of supervised probation upon release.
The charges stem from an incident which occurred on February 14, 2019 when Pocomoke City Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the area of Ninth Street and identified Tyrell Peaker as the front seat passenger. During the course of the stop, officers smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and Peaker admitted to having marijuana on his person. As officers went to place him under arrest, Peaker pushed Sgt. Brown to the ground and ran, dropping a silver Accu-Tek semi-automatic .380 handgun and a baggie of marijuana in the process. Officers gave chase and were able to eventually take Peaker into custody after struggling with him on the ground for several minutes. Officers sustained scratches and cuts to their faces and hands as a result of Peaker resisting arrest. Search incident to arrest revealed Peaker was also in possession of a .380 caliber magazine with two live rounds, recovered from his waist band.
Worcester County State’s Attorney Kris Heiser commended Pocomoke City Police Department for their proactive policing efforts, and thanked Assistant State’s Attorney Dempsey Stewart who prosecuted the case.
