Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter

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Garrett County – On Saturday, August 9, at 3:50 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) investigated a hiking accident at Swallow Falls State Park.

Elizabeth B. Michael, 20, of Oakland and Michael D. Brown, 19, of Winchester, Va. were hiking along Muddy Creek near the top of the falls. Michael Brown lost his footing when he stepped in an area of standing water. He fell and slid towards the edge of Muddy Creek Falls. Elizabeth Michael reached out to prevent Michael Brown from going over the edge of the falls and lost her balance as well. Both individuals fell approximately 50 feet over the falls.

Elizabeth Michael was flown to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va. in serious condition. Michael Brown was transported to Garrett County Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injures.

Southern Garrett County Rescue Squad, Maryland State Park Service and Maryland State Police assisted NRP with the incident.

Garrett County – On Saturday, August 9, at 6:20 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Michael Ridilla, 45, of Greensburg, Pa. with operating a personal watercraft (PWC) while under the influence of alcohol on Deep Creek Lake near the Route 219 Bridge.

NRP stopped Ridilla for allegedly operating a personal watercraft at greater than six knots within 100 foot of a dock. Ridilla 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 operating a personal watercraft at greater than six knots within 100 foot of a dock. He was released on his signature.

NRP reminds persons operating personal watercraft within 100 feet of the shore, wharfs, piers, pilings, jetties, bridge structures or abutments, individual or individuals in the water and other vessels may not exceed a speed of 6 knots at anytime.

Worcester County – On Saturday, August 9, at 12:05 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged four individuals with alcohol violations in the Shad Landing area campground of Pocomoke River State Park. NRP entered the campsite to investigate a quiet hour noise violation.

The following individuals were charged with possession of an alcoholic beverage by a person under 21 years of age: Charles Williams, 20, Kurt Linderer, 20 and Kyle Manakyan, 19, all of Salisbury and Eric Fenner, 19, of Cookeville, Tenn.,

Worcester County – On Saturday, August 9, at 8:15 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged George T. Henderson, 50, of Annapolis with operating a personal watercraft (PWC) while under the influence of alcohol in Assawoman Bay near the Route 90 Bridge.

NRP stopped Henderson for allegedly operating a personal watercraft after sunset and at greater than six knots within 100 foot of the bridge. Henderson was 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, operating a personal watercraft at greater than six knots within 100 foot of a bridge structure or abutment and operating a vessel between the hours of sunset and sunrise without proper navigation lights. He was released on his signature.

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August 12, 2008

Contact: Sgt. Ken Turner 410-260-8003 office kturner@dnr.state.md.us

The 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