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Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter
Anne Arundel County – On Saturday, March 29 at 4:30 p.m., two Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) Reserve Officers rescued a Silver Spring man from the waters of the Chesapeake Bay near Greenbury Point.
The two NRP reserve officers were moving a vessel from Sandy Point State Park to the Annapolis Harbor when they heard a mayday call for help over the VHF marine radio. The caller stated that a passenger on his vessel had fallen overboard and that the skipper was able to pull the victim back on board. The wet passenger, shivering violently after spending at least 15 minutes in the water, requested assistance to take him ashore quickly.
The officers, using the latitude and longitude readings sent out by the skipper, determined the location of the distressed boater to be only one and one half miles directly in front of them. The two officers located the vessel and brought the victim Richard W. Egger, 60, of Silver Spring onto their boat. They removed his outer wet clothing; wrapped him in wool blankets; called for medical assistance to meet them at Sandy Point; and rapidly headed for shore.
Anne Arundel EMS met the officers at the dock and transported Egger to Anne Arundel Medical Center where he was treated for what was believed to be non-life threatening injuries.
Maryland Natural Resources Police Reserve Officers are specially trained volunteers who have dedicated themselves to inspire people to enjoy and live in harmony with their environment and to protect what makes Maryland unique -- our treasured Chesapeake Bay, diverse landscape, and natural resources. Reserve Officers are committed to performing non-law enforcement duties that would otherwise have been performed by commissioned police officers.
Anne Arundel County – On Saturday, March 22, the Maryland Natural Resources Police arrested a 16-year old Millersville male and a 16-year old Severna Park male for multiple theft charges in Crownsville.
NRP responded to the area after receiving a report from a concerned citizen of two suspicious individuals in the woods at the Severn Run Natural Environment Area near Arden on the Severn. Officers located the juveniles along a trail carrying a briefcase. A consent search conducted on the briefcase revealed five stereo face plates, six cell phones and other electronic items. A search of the juveniles uncovered 48 additional suspected stolen items.
The two juveniles were arrested and transported to the NRP Area 3 City Dock office for possessing. Both individuals were referred to the Department of Juvenile Services with seven counts each of rogue and vagabond and theft of property valued under $500. The Severna Park juvenile was also charged with possession of controlled dangerous substance (CDS) paraphernalia and possession of tobacco products by someone less than 18 years of age.
Anne Arundel County – On Friday, March 14, NRP Major Michael G. Sewell along with 280 law enforcement officers graduated from the FBI National Academy Program at Quantico, Va. Major Sewell currently serves as the Assistant Commander of the Support Services Bureau for the Maryland Natural Resources Police and resides in Hanover, Md.
The 232nd Session of the National Academy included men and women from 48 states, the District of Columbia, 21 international countries, four military organizations, and three federal civilian organizations. Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy Program offers 10 weeks of advanced investigative, management, and fitness training for selected officers having proven records as professionals within their agencies.
Baltimore County – On Friday, March 28, at 5 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged two men with multiple hunting violations in the 500 block of Wingate Road near Timonium.
Robert A. Wheeler, 25, of Fort Howard and William B. Howard III, 21, of Baltimore were each charged with casting rays of artificial light on fields or woodland while having a weapon in possession capable of killing deer, hunting deer during closed season, hunting from a vehicle, hunting within a safety zone, hunting without a license and failure to attach field tag.
NRP was called to the scene after an officer from the Baltimore County Police Department stopped the two for allegedly shining a spotlight into a wooded and field area. The Baltimore County officer was in the area responding to a 911 call reporting possible illegal hunting activity. NRP seized as evidence two compound bows, arrows, two flashlights, a handheld spotlight, a cooler containing over forty pounds of freshly butcher venison meat and one deer carcass. The incident is still under investigation.
The Maryland Natural Resources Police encourages citizens to report illegal hunting activities by calling the Catch-a-Poacher 24-Hour Hotline at 1-800-635-6124. The anonymity of the caller is guaranteed.
Cecil County – On Thursday, March 20, the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged two individuals with wildlife violations after conducting game husbandry inspections near Elkton.
Herbert G. Frazer, 58, of Elkton was charged with failing to obtain permit for release of captive wildlife. Frazer originally possessed eight eastern wild turkeys. During the inspection officers discovered Frazer had allegedly released four of the birds into the wild without prior approval from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). State regulations require a person or corporation to first obtain a permit from DNR before importing or possessing any live wildlife for release into the wild.
Donna R. Young, 53, of Elkton was charged with possession of captive wildlife without a permit. Young was in possession of eastern wild turkeys and bobwhite quail without a current permit. Maryland law requires any person desiring to possess, import, export, breed, raise, protect, rehabilitate, hunt, kill, trap, capture, purchase, or sell any wildlife, native to Maryland, shall first obtain a permit or license from the Department.
Cecil County – On Friday, March 21, Joshua D. Gray, 21, of Perryville pleaded guilty in Cecil County District Court for operating an off-road vehicle (ORV) on private property without permission. NRP charged Gray on Feb. 2, after observing him operating his ATV on private property near Elk Neck State Forest.
Gray received a fine of $350 with court cost, sentenced to 42 days of incarceration that was suspended and 18 months probation from the presiding district court judge.
NRP reminds ORV riders that except when traveling on a clearly designated private driveway, a person may not use a vehicle or off-road vehicle on private property unless they possess written permission of the owner or tenant of the private property.
Cecil County – On Saturday, March 30, the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Stanley H. Ray, 45, of North East with failing to harvest two antlerless deer before harvesting a second antlered deer.
NRP charged Ray after investigating information obtained from the 2007-2008 Maryland Big Game Harvest Record. The violation allegedly occurred on Dec. 8, 2007 on private property located off of Rt. 213 near Fair Hill. Maryland white-tailed deer firearms season regulations for Region B requires a hunter to take two antlerless deer before taking a second antlered deer. A hunter must also acquirer a Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp before taking a second antlered deer.
A court date of May 23 has been scheduled for Ray in Cecil County District Court.
Garrett County – On Friday, March 28, at 2 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged an Eldersburg man with drug and fishing violations in the delayed harvest trout fishing area on the Casselman River.
John P. Bicking, 22, of Eldersburg was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), marijuana, possession of CDS paraphernalia and possessing illegal gear in a delayed harvest trout fishing area during prohibited times. Officers were conducting foot patrols along the river checking fisherman when they discovered Bicking possessing marijuana and a jar of Power Bait.
NRP seized as evidence a small quantity of marijuana and a glass smoking pipe.
Bicking was transported to the Garrett County Detention Center where he was held until he was brought before a District Court Commissioner.
Talbot County – On Monday March 31, at 9:15 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged John A. Haddaway Jr., 71, of Tilghman with taking oysters from an area closed by the Maryland Department of the Environment.
NRP observed Haddaway harvesting oysters in the closed area located on the San Domingo Creek off of Broad Creek near St. Michaels. A court date of May 15 has been scheduled for Haddaway in Talbot County District Court.
April 2, 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