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Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter
Allegany County – On Friday, Jan. 25, at 6:30 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged two Cumberland men with illegal deer hunting on private property off of Old Valley Road.Leonard E. Dicken, 47, and Edward R. Plummer Jr., 34, both of Cumberland were charged with hunting deer with a firearm during closed season on Shrivers Ridge after NRP responded to the area to investigate a hunting complaint. Officers maintained surveillance of the area after locating two ATVs parked in the woods. Dicken and Plummer returned to the vehicles sometime later with a .22 magnum rifle and a .22 magnum/20 gauge over/under shotgun in their possession. NRP seized as evidence the two firearms and two knives.
Cecil County – On Friday, Feb. 1, at 6:50 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police and the Maryland Park Service (MPS) investigated a hit and run accident on Gallaher Road in the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area.
Eric Garmendez, 40, of Los Angeles, Calif. was operating a Freightliner tractor-trailer on Gallaher Road when he allegedly struck an overhead bridge causing the structure to collapse in the roadway. A short time later, Garmendez and his truck were located by MPS personnel, parked at the Petro Truck Stop on Route 279 near Elkton.
NRP issued Garmendez a citation for failure to remain at the scene of an accident. Members of the Maryland State Police (MSP) Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section were also called to the scene and conducted an inspection on the truck. MSP issued Garmendez one citation and three warnings for equipment violations.
Charles County – On Thursday, Jan. 24, at 10:12 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police arrested a LaPlata man for driving while intoxicated on Route 301 near Chapel Point Road.
NRP initiated a traffic stop on Larry Matthew Swope, 31, of LaPlata for allegedly driving erratically. During the course of the traffic stop, Swope was arrested and transported to the Maryland State Police LaPlata Barrack for processing. He was charged for 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, unsafe lane change and negligent driving. He was released on his signature to family members.
Garrett County – On Thursday, Jan. 24, at 1:30 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged a Swanton man with hunting violations in the 3000 block of Swanton Road.
NRP charged Troy D. Liller, 41, of Swanton with failure to wear orange and hunting on private property without written permission. NRP responded to the area after receiving a report from a concerned citizen of an individual entering a wooded area dressed in camouflage and carrying a rifle. A court date of April 24 has been scheduled for Liller in Garrett County District Court.
Talbot County – On Friday, Jan. 25, at 2 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Mark H. Christ, 29, of Denton with hunting violations near Trappe.
NRP was called to the area after the Maryland State Police trooper who stopped Christ for a traffic violation, noticed a deer head in the back of Christ’s truck. NRP issued Christ citations for possession of untagged deer parts and removing the head and or hide of deer before check in.
Washington County – On Saturday, Jan. 26, at 1:56 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police arrested a Hagerstown man for driving while intoxicated and drug violations on Route 40 near Greenbrier State Park.
NRP initiated a traffic stop on Timothy E. Gordon, 52, of Hagerstown for speeding. During the course of the traffic stop Gordon was arrested for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. During a search incident to arrest, NRP recovered marijuana and a smoking pipe from Gordon. He was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), schedule II, marijuana; possession of CDS paraphernalia, driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and driving a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol.
Gordon was transported to the Maryland State Police Hagerstown Barrack for processing and taken before a District Court Commissioner. He was later incarcerated in the Washington County Detention Center on a $3,000 bond.
February 1, 2008 Contact: Sgt. Ken Turner
410-260-8003 office I 443-534-5598 cell
kturner@dnr.state.md.usThe 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