Two MD men arrested by DSP following traffic stop in Laurel

Laurel, DE – Delaware State Police arrested Joel E. Vaughn, 25, of Salisbury, MD, and Dajahn Z. Griffin, 32, of Fruitland, MD, on multiple charges following a traffic stop Wednesday afternoon.

On July 14, 2021, at approximately 12:38 p.m., a trooper conducting proactive patrol in the area of Sussex Highway and Laurel Road, Laurel, observed a black Lincoln Town Car operating on the roadway with an expired Maryland registration plate. A traffic stop was initiated on the vehicle, and contact was made with the driver, Dajahn Z. Griffin, and the front right passenger, Joel Vaughn. In the backseat was Griffin’s 3-year-old niece, not in a child car seat and completely unrestrained.

A computer search was conducted on the occupants, and it was discovered Vaughn was wanted by Delaware State Police Troop 3 for Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony, Aggravated Menacing, Terroristic Threatening, and Criminal Mischief. These charges were from an incident that occurred on February 27, 2021, in Kent County. Vaughn was taken into custody, and a search incident to arrest revealed a white wax bag found on his person. A probable cause search of the Lincoln Town Car was conducted, and located inside were the following items:

Approximately 6.7 grams of Crack Cocaine
Approximately 39.64 grams of Marijuana
Drug Paraphernalia
$325.00 in suspected drug proceeds
Two bags of THC gummies

Both males were taken into custody without incident and transported to Delaware State Police Troop 5.

Dajahn Z. Griffin was charged with the following crimes: Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony); Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony); Conspiracy Second Degree (Felony); Endangering the Welfare of a Child; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Operation of an Unregistered Motor Vehicle; Child Under 8 must be in Child Restraint and Failure to Signal.  Griffin was arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court #2 and released after posting a $14,703.00 secured bond.

Joel E. Vaughn was charged with the following crimes: Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony); Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony); Conspiracy Second Degree (Felony) and two counts of  Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court #2 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $14,400.00 secured bond. A $45,600.00 cash bond was issued for the charges stemming from the February 27, 2021 incident.

Source: DE State Police Newsroom