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Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter
Cecil County – On Sunday, Nov. 9, at 5 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged Clarence B. Smith Jr., 41, of Elkton with multiple hunting violations on private property off of Wards Hill Road near Cecilton. NRP responded to the area after receiving a report of shots fired.
Smith was charged with hunting wildlife on Sunday; hunting on private property without written permission; failure of hunter to wear safety orange; and hunting deer during closed season. During the course of the incident, NRP located one .22 caliber rifle and one spike buck white-tailed deer.
A court date of Jan. 12, 2009 has been scheduled for Smith in Cecil County District Court.
Dorchester County – On Saturday, Nov. 15, at 12:35 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Rudolph J. Robbins Sr., 79, of Fishing Creek with setting crab pots in a restricted area. Robbins was allegedly fishing 10 crab pots in the Blackwater River near Shorters Wharf. Officers seized as evidence seven bushels of blue crabs which were returned to the waters of the State. A court date of Jan. 12, 2009 has been scheduled for Robbins in Dorchester County District Court.
Dorchester County – On Thursday, Nov. 13, the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Christopher M. Weber, 31, of Cambridge with setting crab pots in a restricted area. Weber was allegedly fishing 45 crab pots in the Choptank River near Todds Point. A court date of Jan. 14, 2009 has been scheduled for Weber in Dorchester County District Court.
With the exception of Worcester County, the Maryland blue crab season runs through Dec. 15. The harvesting of female crabs is prohibited. More information on crabbing laws, regulations and requirements can be found at www.dnr.maryland.govNRP remind commercial and recreational users of the state’s waters to familiarize themselves with laws and regulations pertaining to an activity before they engage in that activity.
Dorchester County – On Sunday, Nov. 9, at 1:40 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Benjamin H. Cosden Jr., 35, of Cordova, Martin A. Ewing Jr., 41, of Denton, Donna M. Kawalek, 36, of Cordova and Millie R. Mayo, 34, of Greensboro with casting rays of artificial light on fields or woodland while having a weapon in possession capable of killing deer, near Vienna.
NRP initiated a traffic stop after observing a light being shined from the minivan the four occupied into a field and wooded area. During the course of the stop, NRP located and seized as evidence one .22 magnum caliber rifle, a knife and a flashlight.
A court date of Jan. 15, 2009 has been scheduled for the four individuals in Dorchester County District Court.
St. Mary’s County – On Thursday, Nov. 6, at 9:15 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged three men with harvesting oysters illegally on the Wicomico River near Indiantown.
Robert L. Copsey, 39, John S. Evens, 44, and James P. Nelson, 32, all of Mechanicsville were charged after NRP observed the three power dredging oysters just north of Chaptico Bay in a restricted area reserved for hand tonging. Officers seized as evidence 17 bushels of oysters which were returned to the waters of the State.
A court date of Jan. 16, 2009 has been scheduled for the three individuals in St. Mary’s County District Court.
The commercial oyster season for power dredge runs through March 31 in designated areas of Calvert, Dorchester, Somerset, St. Mary's and Talbot counties, Monday through Friday from sunrise to 3 p.m., with a limit of 12 bushels per licensee and not to exceed 24 bushels per boat. A permit is required for power dredge.
November 15, 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