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Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter
Allegany County – On Sunday, Nov. 2, at 4:30 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) detained two Westernport youths for hunting violations in a wooded area north of River Road Drive and Church Street in Westernport.NRP approached the two 14-year-old males after hearing gunshots coming from the area. NRP seized as evidence one loaded .22 caliber revolver and ammunition. The two youths were referred to the Department of Juvenile Services.
Talbot County – On Thursday, Oct. 30, the Maryland Natural Resources Police conducted a nighttime poaching enforcement patrol throughout the county. The goal of this patrol is to stop the illegal nighttime hunting of deer and to preserve public safety.
The patrol utilized NRP aircraft and vehicles strategically placed throughout the county. The NRP helicopter flew overhead locating individuals hunting at night and directed officers to the violators.
“Attempting to take a deer at nighttime by use of a spotlight is not only illegal and unethical, it is also unsafe,” said Col. George F. Johnson IV, Superintendent of the NRP. ”A person discharging a firearm at nighttime with total disregard to what is beyond their target creates the potential for serious injury or death. This will not be tolerated.”
At 8:45 p.m. NRP charged Clay W. Stevens, 49, of Cordova with casting rays of artificial light on fields or woodland at the intersection of Cordova Road and Three Bridge Branch Road. During the course of the stop, NRP located and seized as evidence a hand held spotlight.
At 9:34 p.m., NRP charged Anthony J. Sturgill, 30, of Cordova, and Charles W. Draper, 30, of Greensboro with casting rays of artificial light on fields or woodland while having a weapon in possession capable of killing deer along Miles River Road. During the course of the stop, NRP located and seized as evidence one .243 caliber rifle and one 7mm rifle.
At 10:27 p.m., NRP charged Ryan E. Stacey, 24, and Robert I. Stacey, 32, both of Easton with casting rays of artificial light on fields or woodland while having a weapon in possession capable of killing deer near the intersection of Sharps Road and Pickering Creek Road. During the course of the stop, NRP located and seized as evidence one .222 caliber rifle, a hunting knife, and a flashlight.
The Maryland Natural Resources Police encourage citizens to report illegal hunting activities by calling the Catch-a-Poacher 24-Hour Hotline at 1-800-635-6124. The anonymity of the caller is guaranteed.
Washington County – On Thursday, Oct. 30, at 9:55 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police arrested a Sharpsburg man for driving while intoxicated on Chestnut Grove Road near Sharpsburg.
NRP initiated a traffic stop on Nicholas W. Johansen, 23, of Sharpsburg for allegedly driving left of the center line. During the course of the traffic stop, Johansen was arrested and transported to the Maryland State Police Hagerstown Barrack for processing. He was charged with driving a vehicle while 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.
Worcester County – On Thursday, Oct. 30, at 9:55 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged three individuals with failing to mark commercial crab pots. These charges are the result of the investigation that ensued after officers seized 172 illegal commercial crab pots from the inland bays north of the Route 50 Bridge in Ocean City.
Ellis M. Barton, 37, of Westover and Vernon E. Smith Jr., 39, of Parsonsburg were each issued a citation for failure to display commercial waterman's identification number on crab pot buoys. The two men were allegedly fishing 149 unmarked commercial crab pots in the waters of Isle of Wight Bay and Assawoman Bay. A court date of Nov. 21 has been scheduled for the two individuals in Worcester County District Court.
Edwin D. Horner III, 40, of Berlin was issued a citation for failure to display commercial waterman's identification number on crab pot buoys. Horner was allegedly fishing 23 unmarked commercial crab pots in the waters of Isle of Wight Bay and Assawoman Bay. A court date of Dec. 12 has been scheduled for Horner in Worcester County District Court.
November 13, 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