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Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter
Anne Arundel County – On Saturday, March 15, at 3 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) arrested three individuals on drug charges in the 6100 block of Medora Road in Linthicum Heights.
Ellis H. Stamegna, 18, James W. Coberly, 18 and Zachary R. Delong, 19, all of Linthicum were each charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), marijuana, possession of CDS, marijuan with intent to distribute and possession of CDS paraphernalia. Coberly was also charged with possession of CDS paraphernalia with intent to distribute.
The incident started when NRP observed Stamegna carrying a bong in his hand, approach a vehicle parked along Medora Road. The vehicle was occupied by Coberly and Delong. Stamegna entered the vehicle and the officer initiated a traffic stop. During the course of the stop NRP seized as evidence a variety of large and small glassine bags containing various amounts of marijuana, a bong, a glass smoking pipe and $370 in U.S. currency.
All three individuals were transported to the Anne Arundel County Northern District Police station for processing. The three were later released by an Anne Arundel County District Court Commissioner on their own personal recognizance.
Anne Arundel County Police Department assisted NRP with the incident.
Cecil County – On Friday, March 14, the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Joshua C. Kellum, 19, of Elkton for operating an all terrain vehicle (ATV) on public property without permission in Elk Neck State Forest.
And on Saturday, March 15, NRP charged Michael L. Monack II, 27, and Joseph D. Cairo, 19, both of Chesapeake City for operating all terrain vehicles on public property without permission in Elk Neck State Forest.
All three individuals were each issued citations after NRP stopped the men for operating their ATV’s through the forest. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provides trails for off-road vehicles, or ORV’s, in Garrett, Potomac, Green Ridge, Savage River and Pocomoke State Forests.
Off-road vehicles utilizing these trails must be registered annually with DNR and display a registration sticker. Registration stickers are available from any DNR regional service center. Stickers and trail maps are also available at the five state forests where ORV use is permitted. It is recommended that you call the State Forest and Park Office you will be visiting before using the trails to be advised of current trail closures or hazards.
Cecil County – On Sunday, March 9, at 4:10 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged three Delaware men for operating their four-wheel drive trucks on C&D Canal property north of Chesapeake City.
NRP charged Michael P. Higham, 18, of Smyrna, Del., Andrew D. Marker, 19, of Newark, Del., and Christopher S. King, 20, of Bear, Del. with operating an off-road vehicle on any state or political sub-division property after observing the men maneuvering off-road on the north side of the C&D Canal properties which is prohibited.
A court date of May 23 has been scheduled for the three men in Cecil County District Court. Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife assisted NRP with the incident.
Kent County – On Saturday, March 15, the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Samuel D. Joiner, 29, of Chestertown with four counts of possession of yellow perch during closed season.
The charges stem from an investigation by NRP alleging Joiner caught yellow perch on four different occasions before the commercial season opened on March 15. NRP seized as evidence 680 pounds of yellow perch and charged Joiner with four counts of possession of yellow perch during closed season, one count of possession of oversized yellow perch and operating a vessel between the hours of sunset and sunrise without proper navigation lights.
A court date of May 13 has been scheduled for Joiner in Kent County District Court.
St. Mary’s County – On Thursday, March 13, the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged James O. Dickens Jr., 68, of St. Inigoes with harvesting oysters in an area closed by the Department of the Environment due to pollution and violating the noncommercial daily catch limit of oysters. Dickens was observed harvesting oysters in Molls Cove off of St. Inigoes Creek with two and three-quarter bushels of oysters in his possession. He was released on his signature.
A Maryland resident may take up to one bushel of oysters from October 1 through March 31, Monday through Friday from sunrise until 3 p.m. and Saturday from sunrise until 12 p.m. without obtaining a license, if the oysters are for his own use and consumption, and not for sale or marketing. A Maryland resident may catch oysters for noncommercial purposes only by hand, rake, shaft tong, or diving with or without scuba equipment.
St. Mary’s County – On Friday, March 14, the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Edward D. Hayden Jr., 42, of Secretary with possession of undersized oysters.
Hayden was harvesting oysters commercially in St. Inigoes Creek when NRP stopped and checked his catch. One bushel of oysters containing 7 percent undersized oysters was discovered onboard.
State law requires that after culling and placing oysters in the hold or bottom of a boat, a person's possession of oysters may not include a combined total of more than 5 percent of oysters which measure less than 3 inches from hinge to bill, and cultch consisting of shells, stones, gravel, and slag.
Talbot County – On Sunday, March 9, the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Joseph Bruce Janda Jr., 22, of Wittman with 11 counts of possession of undersized oysters.
The charges stem from an incident on Feb. 21, at 5:10 a.m. when NRP observed Janda’s vessel returning to Wittman Landing without navigational lights. The officer made contact with Janda and performed an inspection on the vessel to check safety equipment required by State and Federal law. During this inspection NRP entered the cabin of the vessel and found a locked door blocking access to the bow or trunk cabin area of the vessel.
When Janda refused to unlock the door, NRP secured a search and seizure warrant for the vessel. The warrant was served and 12 and one half bushels of oysters were discovered in the trunk cabin area. Eleven of those bushels contained anywhere between 10 to 30 percent of undersized oysters.
Janda was charged with 11 counts of possession of undersized oysters, possession of oysters during prohibited time, operating a vessel between the hours of sunset and sunrise without proper navigation lights and expired visual distress signals. A court date of May 15 has been scheduled for Janda in Talbot County District Court.
Washington County – On Monday, March 17, at 10:10 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged a Boonsboro man with drug violations in the Dam 4 area on the C&O Canal Trail near Downsville.
NRP charged Austin G. Russell, 23, of Boonsboro with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), marijuana, and possession of CDS paraphernalia. NRP discovered Russell and four female individuals along the canal while patrolling the area. NRP seized as evidence a glass smoking pipe and a small quantity of marijuana from Russell.
March 20, 2008The 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.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly one-half million 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