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Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter
Baltimore County – On Friday, Jan. 23, the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged Gerard “Gary” Edward Simpson, 50, of Sparks Glencoe with eight natural resources charges and one criminal charge as a result of an investigation by NRP on the illegal selling of deer parts.
The investigation started in Dec. of 2008 when NRP observed through an online auction website, Simpson allegedly selling two sets of white-tailed deer antlers. NRP officers posing as buyers purchased the antlers and on Thursday, Dec. 18 met with Simpson at his Elizabeth Court residence to finalize the transaction.
During the incident, NRP seized as evidence 13 sets of white-tailed deer antlers, one sika deer skull with attached antlers, an improvised smoking device made from an aluminum can and a small quantity of suspected marijuana. Officers also located a loaded .225 caliber rifle in Simpson’s vehicle.
NRP charged Simpson with six counts offering deer antlers for sale; loaded weapon in vehicle; failure of harvest reporting required for deer and possession of controlled dangerous substance (CDS) paraphernalia.
A court date of March 19 has been scheduled for Simpson in Baltimore County District Court.
Garrett County – On Wednesday, Feb. 4, at approximately 9:30 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police investigated a snowmobile accident on Deep Creek Lake that sent a McHenry woman to the hospital.
Cynthia O. Cramer, 44, of McHenry was operating a snowmobile on Deep Creek Lake near Paradise Point Road when she lost control of the sled and crashed. Cramer was transported to Garrett County Memorial Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
NRP charged Cramer with operating a snowmobile while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and operation of an off-road vehicle in a negligent manner. A court date of April 22 has been scheduled for Cramer in Garrett County District Court.
Northern Garrett County Rescue Squad and the Maryland State Police assisted NRP with the incident.
Garrett County – On Saturday, Jan. 24, at 10:45 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged a LaVale man with operating a snowmobile while intoxicated on Deep Creek Lake near McHenry.
Officers were in the area monitoring snowmobile activity on Deep Creek Lake for proper off-road vehicle (ORV) registration stickers. NRP initiated a traffic stop on Christopher P. Sell, 50, of LaVale and during the course of the stop, Sell was arrested and transported to the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office for processing.
Sell was charged for operating a snowmobile while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and failure to display registration sticker on off-road vehicle. He was released on his signature.
A court date of March 25 has been scheduled for Sell in Garrett County District Court.
Snowmobiles may only be operated on DNR lands on trails designated for snowmobile use. Snowmobiles utilizing these trails must be registered annually with DNR and display a registration sticker. Registration stickers are available from any DNR regional service center.
A snowmobile may be used on trails designated for its use from December 15 through March 15 of each year, except for certain trails, which may be closed based upon consideration of overall physical, environmental, and recreational use. It is recommended that visitors call the State Forest and/or Park office before using the trails for current trail closures or hazard advisories.
To learn more about snowmobile and other off-road vehicle use on Maryland’s public lands visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website at www.dnr.maryland.gov
NRP Notables for January
- Corporal Michael Friend will be recognized as the National Wild Turkey Federation’s (NWTF) Maryland Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer of the Year during its 33rd annual Convention and Sport Show, Feb. 19-22, in Nashville, Tenn.
Cpl. Friend, who is assigned to Allegany County, and other state winners are eligible for the NWTF's National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award, which will be presented during the NWTF's Awards Banquet Feb. 21.
The NWTF initiated the State Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award in 2000 to highlight the contributions from wildlife officers across the country. In addition to playing a crucial role in helping to convict wildlife criminals, many wildlife officers volunteer their own time to help educate youth about the importance of wildlife.
- Corporal Melissa Scarborough assigned to the Annapolis area and Western Region Area 8 officers assigned to Garrett County, Sergeants Brian Albert and David Marple, Corporals Walter May, Jeffery Sweitzer, Robert Mayles, Mark McMillan and William Thomas, and Officers Glenn Broadwater, Brian Friend, Tim McMillan, Michael Berry and Michael Cooper are recipients of the National Water Safety Congress (NWSC) Award of Merit for significant contribution or an outstanding effort to enhance or promote water safety at the local or state level.
Corporal Scarborough is being recognized for her efforts during the 2008 boating season; logging over 700 hours of waterway patrol, issuing nearly 400 warnings and citations, apprehending eight individuals for operating a vessel while intoxicated and investigating six boat accidents.
Area 8 officers are being recognized for consistently exceeding boating safety patrol expectations during the 2008 boating season on Deep Creek Lake by providing a much needed boating safety law enforcement presence and reducing the number of watercraft accidents.
Those named will be recognized at the 13th Annual International Boating and Water Safety Summit in Panama City Beach, Fla. during a luncheon on Tuesday, April 21st for their contributions to boating and water safety.
The NWSC was organized on June 28, 1951 in Nashville, Tenn. in response to growing concerns over water deaths in the region of the Cumberland and Tennessee River Valleys. NWSC is not affiliated with any one Federal or State agency or private industry. Its membership probably represents the greatest total aggregate of water safety knowledge in the nation. Its members dedicate themselves to the prevention of accidents in the recreational use of our water resources. They serve without pay, promote no product, and endorse no organization or agency. They condemn only that which is unsafe.
- The Maryland Natural Resources Police received a Certificate of Appreciation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for their services and expertise in the preparation of Wildlife Services Program Safety Review: Evaluation of Current Safety Program and Identification of Safety Improvements. The review, conducted by subject-matter experts external to APHIS, looked at nine targeted areas within the agency’s Wildlife Services program. NRP was tasked with reviewing watercraft.
The Maryland Natural Resources Police was chosen for their premiere boating safety programs and boating safety training designed for the general public and for the training curriculum developed and taught by the NRP Training Academy to federal, state and local law enforcement and emergency personnel.
Corporal Richard Kaufmann of the NRP Training Academy and Anne Rogers of the NRP Safety Education Division were chosen to conduct an on site review of Wildlife Service boating operations across the nation with emphasis on operational hazards, safety policies and procedures, initial and recurring training, accountability of crews, safety equipment, boat handling, operator certification and compliance with federal, state and industry standards.
February 6, 2009 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