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Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter
NRP reminds boaters to exercise common sense and courtesy while on the water at all times. Boaters can be safe by:
- Always wear an approved and properly fitted Personal Flotation Device (PFD) when in a boat. Nationwide, two-thirds of all fatal boating accident victims drowned. Almost 90 percent of the victims were not wearing PFDs.
- Remaining sober and alert remember the use of alcohol contributes to accidents on the water.
- Knowing and obeying navigation rules, operating at a safe speed and maintaining a proper lookout
- Staying in control of your vessel and respecting the right of others enjoying the waterways
- Never overload your boat.
- Leave a float plan with someone at home, describing where you are going, whom you are with and when you expect to return.
Anne Arundel County On Friday, June 20, at 9:35 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police arrested Mark P. Cook, 49, of Linthicum for operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol at the mouth of Rock Creek on the Patapsco River.
NRP stopped Cook for allegedly not displaying proper navigational lights on his vessel. Cook was transported to the Anne Arundel County Police, Eastern District station for processing and charged with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol and operating a vessel between the hours of sunset and sunrise without proper navigation lights. He was released on his signature.
Anne Arundel County On Saturday, June 21, at 4:45 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police arrested Robert R. Harp, 48, of Pasadena for operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol on Stoney Creek near the Patapsco River.
NRP stopped Harp for allegedly exceeding the posted 6 knot speed limit. Harp was transported to the Anne Arundel County Police, Northern District station for processing and charged with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol and exceeding the posted 6 knot speed limit. He was released on his signature.
Harps 29-foot motor vessel was seized as evidence for further investigation of a possible boat accident. NRP discovered damage to the front starboard side of his boat that was not present earlier Friday evening when Harp was stopped by the same officer for allegedly exceeding the posted 6 knot speed limit underneath the Fort Smallwood Road Bridge.
State law requires the operator of a vessel involved in a collision, accident, or other casualty to render all practical and necessary assistance to persons affected by the collision, accident, or casualty to the extent the operator can do so without serious danger to the operator's own vessel, or persons aboard. The operator also shall also give the operator's name, address, and the identification of the operator's vessel to any person injured and to the owner of any property damaged.
Anne Arundel County On Tuesday, June 24, the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Juan W. Labrador, 47, of Crownsville with abandoning a vessel on the Severn River.
Labrador had allegedly abandoned his 24-foot sail boat by tying it to a mooring buoy in the Round Bay area of the Severn River. As time passed, the vessel sunk to the bottom of the river. NRP Underwater Operation Unit members were utilized to obtain identifying characteristics from the vessel that determined Labrador as the owner.
Maryland law mandates that a person may not abandon any vessel upon any waters of the State. A person who is found guilty of this misdemeanor is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or both.
A court date of Sept. 10 has been scheduled for Labrador in Anne Arundel County District Court.
Worcester County On Monday, June 23, at 4 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged six individuals with disorderly conduct in the campground area of Assateague State Park. NRP responded to the area after receiving reports from other campers of a group of extremely intoxicated individuals.
The following individuals were charged with disorderly conduct and evicted from the park: Vataline Sinstvev, 21, of Gaithersburg, Artem Kozhemyakov, 22, of Gaithersburg, Vitalijs Balsevics, 25, of Rockville, Sanita Zegele, 27, of Laurel, Timurs Sergunins, 30, of College Park and Vladislavs Orlovs, 32, of College Park.
June 27, 2008 Contact: Sgt. Ken Turner
410-260-8003 office
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.
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