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Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter
Anne Arundel County – On Sunday, August 17, at about 1:30 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) investigated a boating accident near Tolly Point on the Chesapeake Bay.Robert J. Doub, 73, of Baltimore was operating his 40-foot cabin cruiser when he allegedly struck a 14-foot vessel in the stern. Doub’s vessel continued over the stern and exited the port side of the 14-foot vessel.
The passenger in the 14-foot vessel, Jesse L. Rhode, 45, of Upper Marlboro was flown to R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore with non-life threatening injuries. Neither the operator of the 14-foot vessel nor Doub and his passengers sustained injuries.
NRP charged Doub with negligent operation of a vessel, failure to maintain a proper look-out and failure to properly overtake another vessel. As per U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Rules, every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing and any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken. A court date of Nov. 4 has been scheduled for Doub in Anne Arundel County District Court.
The U.S. Coast Guard and the Maryland State Police assisted NRP with the incident.
Charles County – The Maryland Natural Resources Police continue their investigation of a Saturday evening, August 16, boating accident that occurred around 6:45 p.m., on the Potomac River near Fairview Beach, Va.
Peter A. Mitchell, 49, of Stafford, Va. was operating a 21-foot twin hulled motor vessel with one passenger, Kay A. Pangburn, 49, of Stafford, Va., onboard when he became separated from the vessel and ended up in the river. He was not wearing a life jacket. Pangburn remained in the vessel and sustained injuries when she made contact with the interior of the vessel. Pangburn was transported to Prince George’s Hospital Center with non-life threatening injuries. Mitchell was treated and released at Civista Medical Center.
The incident remains under investigation. King George Fire Department and the Maryland State Police assisted NRP with the incident.
Garrett County – On Friday, August 15, at 6:38 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged a Cumberland man with driving while intoxicated in the Savage River State Forest.
NRP initiated a traffic stop on Travis D. Dawson, 23, of Cumberland after observing him driving on Savage River Road. NRP had checked Dawson at a campsite minutes before the stop. Dawson allegedly showed signs of intoxication and the officer advised him not to drive a vehicle. As the officer continued onto the next campsite, Dawson entered his vehicle and proceeded to drive out of the campsite and onto Savage River Road.
During the course of the traffic stop, Dawson was arrested and transported to the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office for processing. Dawson was charged with driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol per se and driving a vehicle while impaired by alcohol. He was released on his signature.
Garrett County – On Sunday, August 17, at 12:11 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged three individuals with alcohol violations in the campground area of Big Run 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: Bryant P. Michael, 20, of Middle River, Ryan T. White, 18, of Baltimore, and Benjamin G. Kottraba, 20, of Baltimore.
Garrett County – On Sunday, August 17, at 12:48 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged a McHenry man with driving while intoxicated in the Savage River State Forest.
NRP initiated a traffic stop on Marcus H. Wilson, 36, of McHenry for allegedly driving erratically on Savage River Road. During the course of the traffic stop, Wilson was arrested and transported to the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office for processing. Wilson 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 failure to drive right of center. He was released on his signature.
Garrett County – On Saturday, August 16, at 11:45 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Joseph Rongaus, 48, of Pittsburgh, Pa. with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol in the North Glade Cove area of Deep Creek Lake.
NRP stopped Rongaus for allegedly not displaying proper navigational lights on his vessel. Rongaus 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 vessel between the hours of sunset and sunrise without proper navigation lights. He was released on his signature.
A court date of Oct. 22 has been scheduled for Rongaus in Garrett County District Court.
Kent County – On Thursday, August 14, the Maryland Natural Resources Police conducted a striped bass enforcement saturation patrol at the mouth of the Chester River and the Chesapeake Bay between Love Point and Rock Hall.
NRP charged Robert H. Newberry, 49, of Crumpton at 11:30 a.m. for failure to have commercial tidal fish license available for inspection, possession of striped bass greater than 36 inches in length, participating in commercial hook and line fishery without a license and failure to tag striped bass. A court date of Oct. 16 has been scheduled for Newberry in Kent County District Court.
At 4 p.m., NRP charged James M. Thompson, 40, of Rock Hall with exceeding the daily recreational striped bass summer season limit. Thompson was in possession of 13 striped bass, 11 over the daily limit. A court date of Sept. 25 has been scheduled for Thompson in Kent County District Court.
Worcester County – On Wednesday, August 13, at 8:37 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Antonino Curro, 68, of Ocean Pines with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol in the Isle of Wight Bay.
NRP stopped Curro for allegedly not displaying proper navigational lights on his vessel. Curro was arrested 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 vessel between the hours of sunset and sunrise without proper navigation lights. He was released on his signature.
Worcester County – On Sunday, August 17, at 9:20 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged four individuals with alcohol violations in the campground area of Assateague State Park. NRP entered the area to investigate a speeding violation.
The following individuals were charged with possession of an alcoholic beverage by a person under 21 years of age: Kerry A. Allen, 20, of Centreville, Va., Thomas A. Clark, 20, of Chantilly, Va., Elizabeth A. Novak, 18, of Chantilly, Va. and Alexandra K. Renaud, 18, of Fairfax, Va.
August 19, 2008 Contact: Sgt. Ken Turner
410-260-8003 office I 443-534-5598 cell
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