Ocean City Police suspect couple intended to sell meth

Police said Schluter was stopped for an equipment violation and when asked for his license, registration, and insurance, he could only provide his license.

After running a check on the car, police determined the registration expired nearly a year ago, and because the car was parked on the street, it needed to be towed.

When officers searched the vehicle, they found a digital scale in a black bag on the floorboard of the rear passenger side seat, a wallet with more than 8 grams of suspected methamphetamine, and $103, leading police to believe the methamphetamine was for distribution. When Fincham was searched, she was found to be in possession of Psilocybin mushrooms and one Tramadol pill.

Schluter told officers there was a handgun in the vehicle under the driver’s seat, and officers were able to locate the loaded 9mm handgun. Schluter also told police he had a Maryland concealed carry permit, though police discovered it was expired and not valid.

Police also found a clear bag with methamphetamine in the driver’s door pocket.

Schluter agreed to speak to officers without a lawyer and said he collects rocks and the dust in the bag was from rocks he collects.

A further search of the vehicle produced a black fixed-blade knife, a mini ax, a digital scale, a stun gun, wooden ax handle, bullet-resistant body armor, a straw with suspected methamphetamine residue on it, and a baseball bat with bolts screwed into the barrel.

Schluter and Fincham were charged with possession of drugs other than marijuana with distribution intent. Schluter also picked up charges of possession of a loaded handgun in a vehicle, concealing a deadly weapon, use of a handgun in a felonious or violent crime, possession of a fighting knife, operating an unregistered vehicle, and several other registration-related charges.

This story appears in the Sept. 23, 2022 print edition of the OC Today.