Two men were arrested by Montgomery County police in downtown Silver Spring on Tuesday night following a drug bust that allegedly resulted in one suspect ramming his car into a police cruiser while attempting to flee, according to county police and District 3 Commander Jason Cokinos.
According to Cokinos, who posted details about the incident on social media, plainclothes officers working in downtown Silver Spring at about 10 p.m. “observed a suspected drug deal and proceeded to stop the parties involved.”
The incident occurred in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 1100 block of East West Highway, police said in a press release Wednesday afternoon. The location is near Georgia Avenue and the Maryland border with Washington, D.C.
The men arrested were Kendel Tramel Young, 32, of Capitol Heights in Prince George’s County, and Gerardo Lovo, 21, of Lovettsville, Virginia, police said.
Young was believed to be the dealer while Lovo was believed to be the buyer during the alleged transaction, according to police.
Young faces charges of first-degree assault and multiple firearm and drugs-related charges, including distribution of controlled dangerous substances with a firearm, controlled dangerous substances distribution of narcotics, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm after conviction of a felony crime.
Lovo faces charges of possession of a controlled dangerous substance that is not cannabis and of possession of a controlled dangerous substance (cocaine) with the intent to distribute.
Both men were transported to the county’s Central Processing Unit in Rockville where they are being held without bond. The two await bond review hearings on Thursday afternoon, according to digital court records.
No attorney information for either man was available in digital court records as of Wednesday morning.
According to the release, officers stopped the vehicle driven by Lovo and recovered drugs in his possession as well as powder and crack cocaine in his vehicle. When officers tried to stop the vehicle driven by Young, he allegedly rammed his vehicle into a police cruiser in an attempt to flee.
In Young’s car, officers allegedly found more than 2 pounds of marijuana and a loaded handgun, according to Cokinos. Police said the handgun was reported stolen in Prince Georges County.
In addition, Cokinos noted in his post that Young was a convicted felon who previously had been convicted on handgun charges.
According to digital court records, in 2018 Young was convicted in Prince Georges County of manufacturing, distributing, possessing with intent to distribute or dispensing a controlled dangerous substance, a felony charge, and illegal possession of a firearm, which is a misdemeanor. Digital court records indicate he took a plea deal in the case and was sentenced to five years in prison.
Lovo was allegedly in possession of marijuana, cocaine and prescription pills upon his arrest, according to Cokinos. The suspect allegedly admitted to officers that he purchased the pills from Young, Cokinos said.
