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Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter
The following two cases were recently adjudicated in U.S. federal court. These cases are the result of joint investigations by the Maryland Natural Resources Police and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Caroline County – Robert N. Patrick Jr., 51, of Preston paid a $1,275 fine in response to a Federal Violation Notice issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for the unlawful poisoning of a bald eagle. The charge was the result of an investigation begun by the Maryland Natural Resources Police and the USFWS Office of Law Enforcement after hunters reported finding a sick bald eagle in the area of Poplar Neck Road on January 5, of this year.
The eagle later died and was examined by the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory. Lab results indicated that the eagle had consumed a portion of a fox carcass that had ingested a restricted-use pesticide. Subsequent interviews by law enforcement revealed that Patrick had unlawfully used this restricted-use pesticide not in accordance with the pesticide label. Patrick used the pesticide in attempt to control fox and raccoon that were preying on his show poultry. Patrick's cooperation with law enforcement resulted in agreement for the relatively low fine.
St. Mary’s County – Francis Gary Long Jr., 31, of Bushwood pleaded guilty in federal court for violating the Bald Eagle Protection Act. The charge was the result of an investigation begun by the Maryland Natural Resources Police and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. The investigation started after NRP received a report from a concerned citizen of a bald eagle shot in the 22,000 block of Colton Point Road area of Bushwood on March 21 of this year.
Officers and agents set up surveillance in the area and learned that Long allegedly shot in addition to the bald eagle, turkey vultures, skunk and woodchuck from the back porch of his apartment. Long was fined $2,500, placed on one-year probation and his hunting privilege revoked for one year.
Charles County – On Saturday, August 18, at 9:52 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged two Virginia men with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) on the Potomac River in the area of the Quantico Marine Base.
Officers stopped a vessel operated by Joseph Barkley Baer, 21, of Stafford, Va. at 9:50 for operating after sunset without displaying proper navigational lights. Upon stopping the vessel, officers observed in plain view, a clear plastic bag of suspected marijuana on the console of the vessel. Baer and his passenger, Justin Edward Hardy, 21, of Stafford, Va. were placed under arrest, and a subsequent search found another bag of suspected marijuana on the deck of the vessel as well as a pipe containing suspected marijuana in Hardy's pants pocket.
Both men were transported to the Charles County Detention Center where a Charles County District Court Commissioner released them on their own personal recognizance. Baer was also charged for operating a vessel without proper navigational lights.
Charles County – On Sunday, August 19, at 9:56 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Edward Lew Miller, 39, of Alexandria, Va. with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol on the Potomac River off of Leesylvania State Park.
Miller was stopped for operating his vessel after sunset without displaying proper navigational lights. Miller displayed signs of intoxication and after failing several field sobriety tests, was placed under arrest and transported to the Maryland State Police La Plata Barrack. Miller took a breath test, which showed a blood alcohol concentration of .11 percent. He was charged with operating a motor vessel while under the influence of alcohol, operating a motor vessel while impaired by alcohol, operating a motor vessel while under the influence of alcohol per se, negligent operation, and operating a vessel without proper navigational lights. Miller was released on his signature to a friend.
Garrett County – On Friday, August 17, at 7 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Gail Ann Hershman, 46, of Westernport with driving while intoxicated on Savage River Road. NRP was in the area near the Allegany Bridge patrolling the trophy trout fishing area.
After taking field sobriety tests, Hershman was placed under arrest and transported to the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office. There she was charged with driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and driving a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, and released on her signature.
Garrett County – On Saturday, August 18, at 11:17 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged a Pennsylvania man with driving while intoxicated on State Park Road.
NRP stopped Benjamin Jon Licht, 45, of South Park, Pa. after observing his vehicle parked partially over an embankment along Deep Creek Lake. A passenger from the vehicle had exited the vehicle and was relieving himself along the roadway.
After taking field sobriety tests, Licht was placed under arrest and transported to the Maryland State Police McHenry Barrack. Licht took a breath test, which showed a blood alcohol concentration of .19 percent. He was charged with driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol per se, driving a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, and consuming an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle. He was released on his signature.
Queen Anne’s County – On Saturday, August 18, at 9 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Michael Karlis Murphy, 23, of Stevensville with driving while intoxicated on Dominion Road. NRP stopped Murphy for allegedly driving 71 mph in a 40 mph posted speed zone.
Murphy displayed signs of intoxication and after failing field sobriety tests, was placed under arrest and transported to the Maryland State Police Centreville Barrack. Murphy took a breath test, which showed a blood alcohol concentration of .18 percent. He was charged with driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol per se, driving a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, exceeding the posted speed limit, and failure to be restrained by seat belt. He was released on his signature.
Queen Anne’s County – On Saturday, August 18, at 11:55 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged a 17-year old Stevensville boy with driving while intoxicated on Rt. 8 near Bay City. NRP stopped the youth for allegedly driving 54 mph in a 40 mph posted speed zone.
The youth displayed signs of intoxication and after failing field sobriety tests, was placed under arrest. He refused a breath test and was charged with driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, driving a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, and exceeding the posted speed limit. He was released to the custody of his parents.
Worcester County – On Saturday, August 18, at 6 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Thomas A. Chapman, 33, and Anthony J. Marchiano, 27, both of Ocean City, with disorderly conduct in the campground of Assateague State Park.
NRP responded to the campsite for a report of two highly intoxicated men. Witnesses advised NRP that Chapman was attempting to ride the wild ponies and tackle sika deer. He was also observed running around the campsite nude. When officers made contact with Chapman, he continued to yell profanities until he was placed under arrest.
Chapman was charged with disorderly conduct and attempting to feed, touch, tease, frighten, or intentionally disturb wildlife in a state park. He was taken before a Worcester County District Court Commissioner and released on an unsecured bond. Marchiano was issued a citation for disorderly conduct and released on his signature.
August 21, 2007The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) 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