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Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter
Two Maryland Men Pleaded Guilty In Colorado Elk Poaching Investigation
The August 6 forfeiture of a 6x6 bull elk shoulder mount brings to a close the joint investigation by the Maryland Natural Resources Police, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
The investigation began in April of 2007 when Maryland Natural Resources Police received information that Dennis A. Reid Jr., 33, of Vienna, killed a bull elk on the Fooks’ ranch near Gunnison, Colo. without obtaining a Colorado elk permit. The investigation revealed that Daniel J. Mastronardi Sr., 45, of Preston allegedly used his Colorado elk hunting permit to tag an elk shot by Reid, who did not possess an elk permit.
Elk permits for this specific Game Management Unit in Colorado are secured by a lottery type drawing and can take years to obtain.
Reid and Mastronardi were charged by the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the Gunnison District Attorney's Office subsequently reached a plea agreement with both defendants.
Reid entered a guilty plea for the illegal possession of wildlife and was sentenced to pay $1,396 in fine and court cost, as well as donate $3,500 to the Colorado Division of Wildlife Feeding Fund.
Mastronardi entered a guilty plea for the unlawful transfer of a hunting license and was sentenced to pay a $300 fine along with making a donation of $1,500 to Colorado’s Operation Game Thief. In addition, suspension points were assessed against their privileges to hunt in Colorado and 28 other states including Maryland. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement transferred the elk mount to NRP for an educational display.
Baltimore County – A Baltimore City man who was wanted for theft from vehicle fled when a Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) officer tried to stop him and minutes later was involved in a crash at Mount Vista Road and Old Landing Road.
On Thursday, August 14, at about 1:40 p.m., Eric Joseph Dwayne Jenson, 32, of Baltimore City was observed by NRP allegedly breaking into a pickup truck located in the parking lot of the Gunpowder Falls State Park on Belair Road next to the Big Gunpowder River. NRP had increased patrols in the area in response to numerous vehicle break-ins and thefts that have occurred in the last two weeks.
As the officer approached, Jenson ran to his vehicle and sped from the parking lot. The officer activated his emergency lights and siren and attempted to stop the vehicle, but Jenson refused.
Jenson accelerated and a pursuit ensued north on Belair Road. Jenson turned east onto Mount Vista Road and crashed his vehicle as he attempted to negotiate the turn at Mount Vista Road and Old Landing Road. Jenson then exited his crashed vehicle and attempted to flee from the officer but was apprehended by the officer after a brief foot pursuit.
Jenson was transported, treated and released at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center for minor injuries. Jenson has been charged with one count of felony theft, along with five other criminal charges and 13 traffic violations. He is being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on $100,000 bond for the current charges and $30,000 bond for an active arrest warrant from Howard County on similar theft charges.
Later that night, at 10 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police Special Operations Division executed a search and seizure warrant on a residence where Jenson has been living, in the 1200 block of Linworth Avenue in Baltimore City. Several items were seized. This incident is still under investigation.
Baltimore County Police Department and Baltimore City Police Department assisted NRP with the incident.
Kent County – On Wednesday, August 13, at 11:13 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police referred two 17-year-old Rock Hall males to the Department of Juvenile Services for multiple hunting violations.
NRP and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office responded to McKinleyville Road near Rock Hall for a report of shots fired from a vehicle. Once on the scene a deputy stopped a truck matching the description of the complaint. During the course of the stop, NRP and the deputy located one lever action .22 caliber rifle, two 12 gauge shotguns, one .223 caliber handgun, one SKS-type 7.62x39 caliber semi-auto rifle, numerous rounds of ammunition and a recently killed rabbit.
One youth was referred for casting rays of artificial light on fields or woodland while having a weapon in possession capable of killing deer, two counts of possession of a loaded weapon in a vehicle, two counts of hunting from a vehicle, trespassing, hunting at nighttime, hunting deer during the closed season and hunting rabbit during the closed season.
The other youth was referred for casting rays of artificial light on fields or woodland while having a weapon in possession capable of killing deer and possession of a loaded weapon in a vehicle. Both were released to their parents.
Worcester County – On Tuesday, August 12, at 11:55 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged four individuals with alcohol violations in the campground of Assateague State Park. NRP entered the area 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: Marinso T. Zandri, 18, of Cohoes, N.Y., Elizabeth A. Bray, 18, of Fairfax, Va., Anthony B. Cupalbo, 18, of Schuylerville, N.Y. and Dustin M. Hale, 19, of Amenia, N.Y. .
August 16, 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