Maryland Natural Resources Police Arrest Three For Operating Under The Influence And Assault

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ANNAPOLIS— On Friday, June 29, the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) arrested a Towson couple and a Sherwood Forest woman east of the Route 450 Bridge on the Severn River for operating a vessel while intoxicated, resisting arrest, and assault on a police officer.

U. S. Coast Guard (USCG) officers originally stopped the 40-foot motorboat at 11:14 p.m. and boarded the vessel. Carl Peter Smith, 65, of Towson was operating the vessel. His wife, Judith Hook Smith, 63, also of Towson accompanied him along with Neville Hook Gardner, 56, of Sherwood Forest and many other passengers. USCG contacted NRP and requested assistance for a possible intoxicated operator. After Mr. Smith took field sobriety tests, officers determined that he was intoxicated and placed him under arrest. Smith refused to comply with officers’ orders and had to be forcefully restrained. While the officers attempted to arrest Smith, Judith Smith and Neville Gardner verbally and physically assaulted them. As a result, Mrs. Smith and Gardner were also placed under arrest.

Carl Smith was charged with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of second degree to intentionally cause physical injury to a law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of his duties, and resisting arrest.

Judith Smith was charged with two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of second degree to intentionally cause physical injury to a law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of his duties, and interfering with a lawful arrest.

Neville Gardner was charged with two counts of second-degree assault and interfering with a lawful arrest.

All three individuals were taken before the Anne Arundel County District Court Commissioner, where they were released on personal recognizance.

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July 6, 2007

The Maryland Natural Resources Police is the enforcement arm of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). With an authorized strength of 280 officers and a dedicated staff of civilian and volunteer personnel, the NRP provide a variety of services in addition to conservation and boating law enforcement duties throughout the State of Maryland. These services include homeland security, search and rescue, emergency medical services, education, information and communications services on a round the clock basis. NRP is the only police force aside from the Maryland State Police that has statewide jurisdiction.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov.