State Police Arrest Two Convicted Felons for Possession of Drugs, Guns in Carroll County

Maryland State Police Troopers arrested two convicted felons Friday night for possession of handguns and marijuana after they were stopped for speeding on Route 97 in Westminster, according to a press release. 

On Friday, Dec. 9 just before midnight, troopers stopped a Toyota SUV on Rt. 97 near Old Hanover Pike just north of Westminster for exceeding the speed limit.  Troopers were suspicious that the vehicle contained illegal drugs and summonsed Senior Trooper Jeff Partridge and his K9 "Prime" to conduct a scan, said police.

The dog alerted to a presence of illegal drugs and during a search of the vehicle, troopers located a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, according to the release.

In addition, Troopers located two handguns with serial numbers scratched off. One handgun was a Springfield semiautomatic 9 mm and the other was a Springfield semiautomatic .45 caliber. Both were loaded when troopers located them inside the vehicle. Troopers also located ski masks, stockings and black jackets leading them to believe the two men were involved in other criminal activity, according to the release.

Donell Jermaine Nettles, 40, of the 4200 block of Kenton Circle, Dumfries, Va. and Jamal Everett, 32, of the 3800 block of New Hampshire Ave, NW Wash., D.C., both convicted felons, were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, possession of CDS paraphernalia, concealing dangerous weapons, having a handgun on their person, being a felon in possession of a handgun, and removing a handgun identification number, according to the release. 

Maryland state law prohibits convicted felons from from owning or possessing a weapon or ammunition.

Both men are currently being held at the Carroll County Detention Center on $500,000 bond, according to police. 

Troopers with the Maryland State Police Gun Task Force and members of the Criminal Investigations Section of the Westminster Barrack are currently working to identify the origin of the two weapons. Investigators have also sent out a bulletin to all police agencies describing the incident to determine if the two men were involved in any other crimes, according to the release.