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Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter
BODY OF MISSING BOATER RECOVERED
DUNDALK, Md. — Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) continue to investigate the death of a Nottingham man after his body was recovered from Bear Creek near Cove Road.
The body of Martin A. Needer, 53, of Nottingham was located by NRP’s side scan sonar unit and recovered by members of the Baltimore County Police Underwater Recovery Team Wednesday night, Sept. 3, at 7:22 p.m. Needer’s body was transported to Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy.
The search for Needer started shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 2, after his unmanned vessel was discovered circling on Bear Creek. Needer had launched his 15-foot 10-inch motor vessel from the Merritt Point Park boat ramp earlier that day and was crabbing alone. He was not wearing a life jacket.
Baltimore County Police Department, Baltimore County Fire Department, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Maryland State Police and the U.S. Coast Guard assisted NRP with the incident.
Cecil County – On Sunday, Aug. 31, at 12:20 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police arrested Ryan W. Mullis, 25, of Mohnton, Pa. for disorderly conduct in the campground of Elk Neck State Park.
Officers had stopped at his campsite earlier that evening to investigate a complaint of intoxicated and disorderly individuals. The group was told to quiet down and remain in their campsite until morning.
At 12:20 a.m. officers returned to the area and found Ryan Mullis and Nathan W. Mullis, 23, also of Mohnton, Pa. in the area of the campground restrooms. Ryan was arrested and charged with failure to obey a reasonable and lawful order of a police officer, disorderly conduct and possessing an intoxicating beverage in a non-designated area. He was taken before a Cecil County District Court Commissioner and released on his own personal recognizance.
Nathan Mullis was issued a citation for failure to obey a reasonable and lawful order of a police officer. He was released on his signature.
Cecil County – On Tuesday, Sept. 2, the Maryland Natural Resources Police investigated a personal watercraft (PWC) accident that sent an Ohio man to the hospital.
George J. Jefferson, 42, of Bellbrook, Ohio, was operating his PWC in the area of Hollywood Beach on the Elk River when he struck a wave from another vessel causing him to be thrown from his PWC. Jefferson was flown to Christiana Hospital by Maryland State Police helicopter.
Garrett County – On Saturday, Aug. 30, at 10:00 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Jan W. Leonard, 62, of Salt Lake City, Utah with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol on Deep Creek Lake.
NRP stopped Leonard for allegedly not displaying proper navigational lights on his vessel. Leonard 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.
Garrett County – On Monday, Sept. 1, at 8:05 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Anthony J. Lagratta, 51, of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol on Deep Creek Lake.
NRP stopped Lagratta for allegedly not displaying proper navigational lights on his vessel. Lagratta 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.
Garrett County – On Sunday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Thomas A. Walsh, 46, of Walkersville with operating a personal watercraft while under the influence of alcohol on Deep Creek Lake.
NRP stopped Walsh for allegedly towing individuals on a tube within 100 feet of a dock. Walsh 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 towing a person within 100 feet of a dock. He was released on his signature.
NRP reminds persons operating vessels while towing a person on water skis, aquaplane, or similar device must keep 100 feet from wharfs, piers, pilings, jetties, bridge structures or abutments, individual or individuals in the water, and other vessels.
Garrett County – On Saturday, Aug. 30, at 7:45 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Jonathan C. Voelker, 24, of Bethel Park, Pa. with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol on Deep Creek Lake.
NRP stopped Voelker for allegedly operating his vessel in a negligent manner. Voelker was arrested and transported to the Maryland State Police McHenry Barrack 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.
Garrett County – On Friday, Aug. 29, at 8 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged August D. Savio, 55, of Oakmont, Pa. with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol on Deep Creek Lake.
NRP stopped and checked Savio and his passenger while they were fishing. Savio was arrested and transported to the Maryland State Police McHenry Barrack 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. He was released on his signature.
St. Mary’s County – On Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 11:10 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police arrested a Virginia woman for numerous violations including assault and driving while intoxicated on Route 5 at Point Lookout State Park near Scotland.
The incident started when an NRP officer traveling northbound was force off the roadway by an oncoming southbound vehicle. The officer initiated a traffic stop on that vehicle that was being operated by Tina Yi Oliveto, 50, of Herndon, Va.
Oliveto stopped her car and started to exit the vehicle while her car was in reverse gear. She was dragged approximately 100-feet along the roadway until her car came to rest in the ditch. The officer immediately called for medical assistance and tried to render first aid to Oliveto until EMS arrived. She refused all medical treatment.
During the course of the incident Oliveto was placed under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. Oliveto allegedly resisted as the officer attempted to handcuff her. Oliveto was transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center where she was charged with resisting arrest, second degree assault, driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, driving a vehicle while impaired by alcohol, driving a vehicle while impaired by alcohol and or drugs and failure to drive right of center.
Worcester County – On Friday, August 29, at 10:50 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police arrested a Delaware man for possession of marijuana on Ocean Drive at Assateague State Park.
NRP initiated a traffic stop on Jared A. Mast, 19, of Dover, Del. for a vehicle equipment violation. During the course of the traffic stop, Mast was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant issued in Worcester County. A plastic bag containing suspected marijuana was discovered during a search incident to arrest.
Mast was taken before a Worcester County District Court Commissioner and later posted bond for the outstanding warrant and was released on his own personal recognizance on the drug charge.
September 4, 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