Updated: Nov. 30, 9.p.m.–Andrew Grieb, 31, of Chestertown has been charged with two counts of driving under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance.
Grieb was observed on Oct. 23 at around 9:30 a.m. driving over the centerline on Rt. 213 near Browntown Road. Cpl. Sean M. Maloney of the Kent County Sheriff’s Department made the arrest.
Lt. Dennis Hickman of the Kent County Sheriff’s Office said he could not provide any more information while the case was pending prosecution.
Grieb was the driver who struck and killed Terence Armstrong of Chestertown in September of 2013 on Pomona Road. Grieb was later found guilty of “failure to control vehicle speed on highway to avoid collision” and “negligently driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, endangering property life and person.”
The Spy confirmed in September of 2013 that Grieb was never tested for drugs or alcohol at the scene of Armstrong’s death.
Grieb’s attorney, Mitchell G. Mowell, confirmed today that Grieb had settled out-of-court with Armstrong’s family for an undisclosed amount.
Mowell said he was scheduled to meet with Grieb this week.
Grieb’s traffic history
Not two months after Armstrong’s death, Grieb was found guilty of “failure to stop at a stop sign line” and received probation before judgment.
Grieb’s traffic history prior to Armstrong’s death included two counts of driving while impaired by alcohol in 2010. He had been stopped near the Washington Square Shopping Center. One count was thrown out and the other was put on Stet docket.
As Stet docket is where a “not guilty” “no guilty verdict is entered” but the case can be re-opened by the court.
In May of 2013, four months prior to Armstrong’s death, Grieb was found guilty of throwing refuse on a highway, a moving violation.
In 2007 Grieb was charged with failure to stop after an “unintended property damage accident” and failure to “locate and notify owner of unintended property damage.” Both cases were thrown out.
Also in 2007 Grieb was charged with drug possession. This case too was thrown out.
Correction: An “Andrew Grieb” was charged with four counts of drug possession was not the same Andrew Grieb in this story Grieb was identified as having received a probation before judgement for possession of paraphernalia in 2012. This was incorrect, the paraphernalia charge was actually from 2007 and this too was never prosecuted. The author and the Spy regrets the error.
Karen Willis says
It seems like it is time for Grieb’s charges to no longer be thrown out.
Faith Wilson says
What an awful tale. For most people, killing someone (with their car) would be a wake-up call to in the least, be a more careful driver, and at most, recognize a bottom that may point to a problem with drugs and alcohol. The total number of times this “kid” has gotten off the hook for bad, dangerous, illegal behavior is really shocking. The courts have done Andy a huge disservice by repeatedly slapping him on the wrists for his bad behavior. If maybe, just maybe, he had been treated a little more harshly from 2007 until just a few months before he killed someone, maybe that death could’ve been diverted. This is an example where priviledge is really NO priviledge. It is really sickening. The courts have as much to answer for as Andy does.
Lori Armstrong says
Grieb killed my husband and the father of my 12 year old son with his vehicle. Who’s life will be taken next?
Gretchen Hathaway says
Terry was my brother. The pain of his death is still so horrific for my family. We are broken. Robert Strong was the states attorney during that time. He refused to subpoena Griebs cell phone records because “He has already suffered enough.” I sent an email to Strong, naturally wanting answers to this travesty of justice, which he completely ignored.
Strong was interviewed by a staffer with Myeasternshoremd.com on July 23, 2014. He was quoted with the following statement; “There was nothing that brought this to a higher level than negligent omission…” and “There was no evidence of alcohol or drugs that affected his ability to operate the vehicle. We couldn’t prove that there was any cell phone use…there was no reckless conduct.”
There was NO EVIDENCE of drug, alcohol or cell phone use because EVERYONE who should’ve tested Grieb for drug, alcohol and cell phone use DID NOT. If there is anyone out here who can help us with this blatant and despicable disregard for justice I beg of you to please come forward.
faith Wilson says
It really is hard to believe when there is an accident that involves a fatality, that checking the driver for drug/alcohol isn’t the FIRST thing that happens. The police force/EMTs and the judicial system have so much to answer for. It’s heartbreaking.
Chuck Reeser says
I’ve had problems in my past to which I have taken full responsibility and have changed my ways. It really comes down to who you know and your connections. I wouldn’t have believed this if I hadn’t witnessed on more than one occasion of people getting off and what’s deemed professional courtesy.
I met Mr.Armstrong’s son last summer helping a friend take some kids water skiing. He was a very polite young man who’s been through a lot a pain. People connected with influence count on lady justice to peek out from her blind fold.
carol cameron says
Spy, your description of a case placed on stet is incorrect, and you should publish a correction.
When a case is placed on the stet docket there is no finding of “not guilty” as you put it. Quite the contrary, there is no verdict of any kind entered as the case is not heard for disposition. When a criminal case in Maryland is placed on the stet docket it means it is being put aside for one year. During that one year period it may be brought back up at the discretion of the prosecutor. At the end of the 12-month period the case is then closed (dismissed). There is no “verdict” entered since the case was never tried.
Aside from that, it is quite clear to any observer that a gross miscarriage of justice has been done here to the victim and his family.
Gretchen Hathaway says
Grieb had 2 traffic citations on 2/12/10 as follows: driving or attempting to drive vehicle while impaired by alcohol, placed on STET and driving or attempting to drive vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, Nolle Prosequi. It is my understanding that when a charge is placed on STET, some sort of community service, AA/NA meetings, anger management etc. would be required as part of restitution. I’m sure it did not apply to Grieb. Nothing seems to. Also want to mention the “out of court with Armstrongs family (specifically my nephew) for an undisclosed amount” settlement was simply standard legal procedure with Griebs insurance company.
joe diamond says
Everything stated here screams for revenge!
There is a principle that it is better to let a guilty person go free that force excess scrutiny on the population. This concept migrates to probable cause for an investigation. From there a court and a dispassionate judge makes a decision based upon previous cases and available evidence. OK so far?
The aggrieved parties are way too close to the event to be objective. Everyone else are observers without facts or reading in law. But what can be said for justice, protection of the community, fairness to all? What should be done with this guy? How will people using roads be protected from him?
So far all officials; the cops, the EMTs, the prosecutor, the courts, have been accused of letting this monster out of the cage. And now he has done it again!
What other course can be considered? How about take all his possessions…throw him in jail until he dies? Execute him for being an out of control idiot? What?
Then apply that logic to any other person……………someone you know. Is there not one out of control person worth saving or are they all the enemies?
Any ideas out there beside revenge?
Joe