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Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter
Allegany County – On Friday, Nov. 28, the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged Mark P. Moulded, 39, of Mount Savage with theft of less than $500 in value near Mount Savage.
NRP responded to Fireclay Mountain Road at 10:30 a.m. after receiving a report of a theft of a tree stand. A short time later, NRP K-9 “Blu” and his handler were called to the scene and tracked a trail leading to Moulded’s residence. Officers recovered the missing tree stand and Moulded was issued a criminal citation for the alleged theft. The stand was returned to the owner.
Allegany County – On Sunday, Nov. 23, at 2:30 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Floyd A. Moore, 59, of Frostburg with multiple hunting violations after responding to a trespassing complaint in the area of New Georges Creek Road near Frostburg.
Through their investigation, NRP charged Moore for allegedly shooting a deer on Nov. 21 and failing to register the harvest with the Department of Natural Resources. Moore was charged with removing head or hide or any part of a deer before check in, failure to report harvest of deer within 24 hours and failure to record harvest on the hunter's big game harvest record.
Anne Arundel County – On Sunday, Dec. 7, at 9 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Thomas Stafford Jr., 18, of Glen Burnie and three Pasadena youths with multiple hunting violations on Mountain Road near Pinehurst Road in Pasadena.
The incident started after NRP observed a truck allegedly slowing along the roadway and someone firing a rifle from the vehicle into the field. The truck then fled the area at a high rate of speed. From a safe distance, officers followed the truck onto Long Point Road, then onto Sillery Bay Road where the operator allegedly turned off the vehicle’s lights. The vehicle continued onto Thies Drive, then onto Sun Glo Road and stopped.
During the course of the stop, NRP discovered the operator to be a 16-year-old male, of Pasadena. The truck was also occupied by two other 16-year-old youths, one male and one female, Stafford and one .50 caliber muzzle loader rifle.
NRP charged Stafford with hunting from a vehicle; nighttime hunting; hunting wildlife on Sundays; and shooting on, from, or across a roadway. A court date of Feb. 4, 2009 has been scheduled for Stafford in Anne Arundel County District Court.
All three juvenile individuals were charged on Anne Arundel County juvenile citations for hunting from a vehicle; nighttime hunting; hunting wildlife on Sundays; and shooting on, from, or across a roadway. The driver was also charged with turning off vehicle lights to avoid identification.
Officers recovered an antlerless white-tailed deer at the area of the shot. The deer was donated to the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry organization.
Dorchester County – On Saturday, Dec. 6, at 8:55 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Charles M. Zurawski, 22, of Pasadena and William J. Robbins III, 38, of Wingate with casting rays of artificial light on fields or woodland while having a weapon in possession capable of killing deer and failure to field tag deer on private property along Hip Roof Road near Church Creek.
NRP initiated a traffic stop after observing the two allegedly shining a light on the fields and woodlands along the roadway. During the course of the stop, NRP located and seized as evidence, one .300 Winchester Magnum rifle, one .270 caliber rifle, two shotguns, a compound bow and one untagged sika hind deer.
A court date of Jan. 12, 2009 has been scheduled for both men in Dorchester County District Court.
Garrett County – On Tuesday, Dec. 9, the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Matthew A. Burns, 19, and Steve A. Burns, 41, both of Oakland with hunting violations. The incident started after NRP received information about a possible illegal deer kill on private property in the 3500 block of Gorman Road.
An investigation ensued and NRP charged Matthew Burns with possession of deer during closed season; hunting on private property without written permission; and failure to record harvest on the hunter's big game harvest record. Steve Burns was charged with failure to obtain a hunting license. A court date of Jan. 21, 2009 has been scheduled for both men in Garrett County District Court.
Garrett County – On Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 5:17 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police arrested and charged Henry A. Kifer, 49, of Swanton with hunting while intoxicated and other hunting violations on Mount Zion Road near Swanton.
The incident started when NRP observed Kifer sitting in a vehicle parked along the roadway while checking hunters. During the incident, NRP discovered a loaded .30-06 caliber rifle and alcoholic beverages in the vehicle. Kifer was arrested and transported to the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office for processing.
Kifer was charged with hunting under the influence of alcohol or narcotic drug; loaded weapon in a vehicle; hunting from a vehicle; and failure of hunter to wear safety orange. He was released on his signature and was provided a ride to his residence by NRP.
Garrett County – On Saturday, Nov. 29, at 9:44 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged David E. Mimna, 49, and David E. Mimna Jr., 21, both of Somerset, Pa. with hunting violations on Savage River State Forest.
NRP was patrolling in the area of St. John’s Rock and encountered the two men sitting in a parked pickup truck. During the encounter, NRP discovered two loaded rifles and one white-tailed doe from the truck. Both men were charged with loaded weapon in a vehicle and failure to obtain a hunting license. David E. Mimna was also charged with hunting deer with a firearm during closed season.
Garrett County – On Friday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Michael Richard Secrist, 30, of McHenry with casting rays of artificial light on fields or woodland while having a weapon in possession capable of killing deer in the area of Bumble Bee Road and Glotfelty Lane near McHenry.
NRP charged Secrist after responding to a report from a concerned citizen of possible illegal hunting activity in the area. During the incident officers located and seized as evidence one .25-06 caliber rifle and ammunition.
Garrett County – On Wednesday, Nov. 26, the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Bradley E. Collins, 33, of Oakland with multiple hunting violations after investigating a report of possible illegal hunting activity and theft of a tree stand in the area of Corona Bayard Road near Gorman.
Through their investigation, NRP located and seized as evidence, two deer, one .270 caliber rifle, one tree stand and other hunting apparel. Collins was charged with four counts of possession of deer during closed season; four counts of failure to record harvest on the hunter's big game harvest record; two counts of failure to report harvest of deer within 24 hours; one count of removing head or hide or any part of a deer before check in; and one count of hunting on private property without written permission.
Garrett County – On Monday, Nov. 24, at 8:46 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Michael C. Falkenstein, 44, of Terra Alta, W. Va. with multiple hunting violations in the area of Snaggy Fire Tower Road on the Garrett State Forest.
NRP stopped Falkenstein after observing him allegedly operating an all terrain vehicle (ATV) in a non-designated area. NRP was in the area conducting foot patrols.
During the course of the stop, NRP discovered Falkenstein to be in possession of a loaded 7mm magnum rifle. Falkenstein was charged with loaded weapon in a vehicle; hunting deer with a firearm during closed season; and failure to obtain a hunting license. A court date of Feb. 26, 2009 has been scheduled for Falkenstein in Garrett County District Court.
Howard County – On Monday, Dec. 15, the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Richard V. Hoenes Jr., 41, of Ellicott City with negligent hunting and failure to report harvest of deer within 24 hours.
These charges are the results of an investigation that ensued after a stray shotgun slug struck a Clarksville daycare center on Wednesday, Dec. 10. Hoenes was allegedly hunting deer on private property, adjacent to the daycare when the incident occurred. A court date of Jan. 22, 2009 has been scheduled for Hoenes in Howard County District Court.
The Howard County Police Department assisted NRP with the incident.
Montgomery County – On Saturday, Nov. 29, at 11:30 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Donnie L. Lindsay, 32, of Ranson, W. Va., Ronald K. Campbell, 40, of Upperco and John D. Markley III, 40, of Mount Joy, Pa. with using a rifle to hunt deer in a county restricted to shotgun only on private property off of Haines Road near Clarksburg.
The incident started when NRP received information from a concerned citizen of possible illegal hunting activity in the area. When officers responded to the area they observed Lindsay operating a vehicle on the property. NRP stopped Lindsay and discovered one loaded .300 Winchester Magnum rifle and one .30-30 caliber rifle and ammunition in the vehicle. A short time later, Campbell and Markley were located on the property allegedly hunting deer with rifles. Lindsay was also charged with loaded weapon in a vehicle and failure to obtain a hunting license.
Queen Anne’s County – On Sunday, Nov. 30, at 6:45 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police arrested a Church Hill man on drug charges along Main Street in Church Hill.
NRP initiated a traffic stop on Lamont M. Kyler, 33, of Church Hill for allegedly failing to display lighted headlamps in unfavorable conditions. During the course of the traffic stop, Kyler was arrested for driving on a suspended license. A subsequent search of Kyler and the vehicle revealed numerous baggies of suspected crack cocaine, marihuana, and cash.
Kyler was transported to the Queen Anne’s County District Court Commissioners Office where he was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), marijuana; possession of CDS, cocaine; possession of CDS, marijuana with intent to distribute; and possession of CDS, cocaine with intent to distribute. Kyler was held at the Queen Anne's County Detention on $7,500 bail.
St. Mary’s County – On Saturday, Dec. 13, 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. NRP helicopter Natural One flew overhead locating individuals hunting at night and directed officers to the violators.
At 10:12 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Randall W. Plummer, 19, of St. Inigoes with casting rays of artificial light on fields or woodland while having a weapon in possession capable of killing deer along St. Jeromes Neck Road near Dameron.
NRP officers initiated a traffic stop after Plummer was observed allegedly shining his headlights into fields along the roadway by the crew of NRP helicopter Natural One. During the course of the stop, NRP located and seized as evidence one .22 caliber rifle and ammunition. A court date of March 20, 2009 has been scheduled for Plummer in St. Mary’s County District Court.
St. Mary’s County – On Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 8:45 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Christopher S. Clark II, 18, of Hollywood and a 17-year-old Saint Inigoes youth with casting rays of artificial light on fields or woodland while having a weapon in possession capable of killing deer and driving in a non-designated area of Point Lookout State Park near Scotland.
NRP initiated a traffic stop after observing the two allegedly illuminating a deer with the headlights of their vehicle along Cornfield Harbor Road. During the course of the stop, NRP located and seized as evidence one 12-guage shotgun, one .22 caliber rifle and numerous rounds of ammunition.
The youth was referred to the Department of Juvenile Services and released to his parents. A court date of Feb. 13, 2009 has been scheduled for Clark in St. Mary’s County District Court.
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.
December 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