In an incident which sparked international media coverage, Albert Gore III ’05 and two other Harvard students were arrested over winter break for possession of marijuana.

On Dec. 19, Gore, the son of former Vice President Al Gore ’69, Yann V. Kumin ’04 and Marc G. Hordon ’05 were arrested in downtown Bethesda, Md.

An officer stopped Gore, who was driving, at around 11:30 p.m. after noticing that his headlights were off, according to Joyce M. Utter, Montgomery County Police spokersperson.

Utter said the officer saw the passenger in the back seat “making movements to conceal something.”

“As he approached the vehicle he detected an odor of marijuana coming from inside,” Utter said.

The officer also noticed that the sunroof and windows were open.

This was “another indication that something was wrong,” Utter said.

The officer asked Gore, Kumin and Hordon to exit the vehicle. Gore gave consent for a vehicle search, during which the officer found a marijuana cigarette, Utter said.

The officer also found a box with “a green leafy substance” which field tested positive for marijuana, according to Utter.

The three were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor.

They were released pending their trials, which Utter said will be held on Feb. 4.

The maximum punishment for possession of marijuana is a fine of up to $1000 and a year in the county correctional facility, according to Utter.

It is unclear whether Hordon, a baseball player for Harvard, will be punished by the athletic department.

He was out last season due to a shoulder injury.

Harvard Coach Joe Walsh said he has not yet talked to Hordon and could not comment on any potential punishments.