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Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter
Allegany County – On Friday, July, 4, at 1:56 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged a Westernport man with driving while intoxicated on Stony Run Road.
NRP initiated a traffic stop on Dana E. Morris, 25, of Westernport for allegedly speeding. During the course of the traffic stop, Morris was arrested and transported to the Maryland State Police Cumberland Barrack for processing. Morris was charged with driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol per se, driving a vehicle while impaired by alcohol and speed greater than reasonable. He was released on his signature.
Anne Arundel County – On Friday, July 4, at 6:40 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police investigated a personal watercraft (PWC) accident near Brewer Point on the South River.
The incident occurred when two individuals, a 7-year-old girl and a 38-year-old man, both of Silver Spring were boarding the vessel. The girl was placed on the vessel first and as the man boarded the vessel the girl inadvertently grab the throttle. The man was thrown from the vessel and the vessel continued forward striking a dock. The girl was transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital with non-life threatening injures. Police are not releasing the names of the victims.
NRP wants to remind boaters of the following Personal Watercraft Safety Regulations.
You must:
- Be at least 16 years of age to operate.
- Wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket.
- Carry a certificate of boater safety education if born on or after July 1, 1972.
- Maintain 6 knots or slower within 100 feet of another PWC, vessel, shore, pier, piling, bridge structure, abutment or people in the water.
- Have PWC equipped with an operating self-circling device or kill switch.
You may not:
- Operate above idle speed in water less than 18 inches in depth.
- Operate between sunset and sunrise.
- Jump, or attempt jumping, the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of that vessel.
- Disturb waterfowl and wildlife.
- Operate in a reckless and/or negligent manner.
Anne Arundel County – On Friday, July 4, at 3 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police responded to a boat explosion on the South River near the mouth of Selby Bay.
Guy D. DeStefano, 40, of Alexandra, Va. was operating his 30-foot vessel with one passenger, Elizabeth K. Spencer, 31, of Alexandra, Va., onboard. DeStefano began experiencing mechanical difficulties from the vessel’s engines. As he attempted to stop the vessel, an explosion occurred sending Spencer into the water. DeStefano jumped from the vessel in an attempt to aid Spencer. A passing boater pulled the two from the water and transported them to shore.
Spencer was transported to Anne Arundel Medical Center with non-life threatening injures. Anne Arundel Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard assisted NRP with the incident. The incident is still under investigation.
Garrett County – On Tuesday, July 1, at 9 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged William H. Fredlock IV, 43, of Swanton with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol on Deep Creek Lake.
NRP stopped Fredlock for allegedly not displaying proper navigational lights on his vessel. Fredlock was transported to the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office for processing and charged with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol and or drugs, negligent operation and operating a vessel between the hours of sunset and sunrise without proper navigation lights. He was released on his signature.
Garrett County – On Wednesday, July 2, at 10:30 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Steven W. Hughes, 23, of Accident with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol on Deep Creek Lake.
NRP stopped Hughes after being warned earlier that evening not to operate his vessel because of suspected alcohol consumption. The officer had checked Hughes and another individual as they fished from the anchored vessel near the dam. NRP left the area and approximately 15 minutes later, NRP observed Hughes operating his vessel on the lake.
Hughes was arrested and transported to the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office for processing and charged with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol and or drugs and negligent operation. He was released on his signature.
Worcester County – On Thursday, July, 3, at 2 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged a Severna Park man with driving while intoxicated on Coastal Highway in Ocean City.
NRP initiated a traffic stop on Michael B. McGurk, 42, of Severna Park for allegedly driving erratically. During the course of the traffic stop, McGurk was arrested and transported to the Ocean City Police Department for processing. McGurk was charged with driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, driving a vehicle while impaired by alcohol, driving a motor vehicle with alcohol in blood in violation of a court order and unsafe lane change. He was released on his signature.
July 4, 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