TRAFFIC STOP IN SALISBURY LEADS TO ARREST OF VIRGINIA MAN CLAIMING TO BE SOVEREIGN CITIZEN
Wicomico County, MD - On Christmas Eve 2024, a routine traffic stop in Salisbury, Maryland, turned into a unique encounter. During the morning hours, a deputy on patrol pulled over a 2011 Mazda 6 on Walston Switch Road and Campus Drive, near Wor-Wic Community College, due to speeding and vehicle registration violations.
The driver, who identified himself as a "traveler" and referenced "sovereign citizenship," refused to comply with lawful orders to provide his insurance and registration paperwork. He also declined to give any form of identification and did not cooperate with attempts to identify him.
To manage the escalating situation, a supervisor was summoned to the scene. After several unsuccessful attempts to elicit a response to lawful commands, deputies had to remove the driver from the car and place him under arrest.
Following his arrest, a search revealed a Virginia driver's license identifying him as 42-year-old Troy Jerrell Smiley from Aldie, Virginia.
Smiley faces multiple charges, including failure to obey lawful orders, obstructing and hindering justice, and resisting arrest.
Additionally, he is charged with various traffic violations, such as providing false identification, failing to display a registration card and license, showcasing an expired registration, and exceeding the posted speed limit.
Smiley was taken to the District Court Commissioner, where he was issued a $10,000 unsecured personal bond.
An unsecured personal bond allows a defendant to be released without the need for collateral. This means there's no tangible security needed for their release and very similar to being released on a personal recognizance.
Disclaimer: This article contains content regarding an individual formally charged with a crime. It is important to underline that every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The details mentioned in this article reflect the current stage of the legal proceedings and are not meant to imply or conclude guilt or innocence.
