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Citizen Call Results In Citation For Illegal Trout Fishing
The NRP encourages citizens to use Catch-a-Poacher Hot Line, participate in natural resources conservation
Maryland resident Lew Moldovan was so pleased with the response to his recent Catch-a-Poacher hotline call, he contacted the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to commend the work of the Natural Resources Police (NRP).
On April 15, 2009 at approximately 6:00 pm, Mr. Moldovan was fishing in a delayed harvest trout fishing area of Catoctin Creek, Myersville in Frederick County. This area permits fishing with artificial lures only, and all trout caught from October 1 through May 31 must be immediately returned to the water. When Mr. Moldovan witnessed two anglers catching trout with bait and keeping them, he used the Maryland’s Catch-a-Poacher hotline to report the incident to the NRP.
“I witnessed two guys fishing with bait and putting the fish in their cooler,” explained Mr. Moldovan. “It irritated me to the point of calling the hotline and reporting the incident. This was after hours and I expected to just get an answering machine and someone would follow up at a later date if at all. Within a half an hour I had not one but two Natural Resources Police standing streamside with me in a driving rain.”
NRP Cpl. Bob Taylor and Reserve Officer Ira Click arrived at the location, took a detailed report from Mr. Moldovan, and located the violators at a residence near the creek. The individuals had been taking the fish to the house to avoid being caught.
The Officers charged Bradley Alan Stallings Barrow of Myersville and Andrew William Grimm of Smithsburg with possessing trout in a delayed harvest area. The citation amount is $125, and a court date of June 11, 2009 in Frederick District Court is set where they may elect to stand trial.
“The hotline is an important tool through which citizens can partner with our officers to protect the resources that belong to the public trust,” said NRP Superintendent George Johnson. “We want to thank Mr. Moldovan for his quick thinking, and for letting us know that our partnership with Maryland’s citizens is working!”
To his surprise, Mr. Moldovan received a call follow up call from Cpl. Taylor thanking him for reporting the incident and letting him know that citations had been issued.
“If anyone doubts if it is worth while to call the catch-a-poacher hotline to report a crime, I can attest that it worked for me,” added Mr. Moldovan.
Catch-a-Poacher is a cooperative program of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Association of Wildlife Conservation, Hunting and Sport fishing Associations and the citizens of Maryland. Callers can remain anonymous if they choose, and citizens may receive cash rewards if their information leads to an arrest and conviction of the violator. CATCH A POACHER 24 HOUR HOTLINE 1-800-635-6124
April 27, 2009 Contact: Sgt. Art Windemuth
410-260-8003 office
awindemuth@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