Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter

Worcester County - On July 18, 2009 at approximately 7:30 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged Bart Alan Mitchell of Frankford, DE, with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by any drug or combination of drugs and alcohol, and exceeding the speed limit. Mitchell was initially stopped for exceeding the posted 6 knot speed limit in the Ocean City inlet speed zone.

Worcester County - On July 17, 2009 at approximately 10:20 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) responded to Sinepuxent Bay south of Eagles Nest campground for a report of a boating accident with subjects in the water. Upon arrival, NRP officers located two injured females in the water. The officers assisted both injured subjects on board the patrol vessel and provided first aid to both individuals for leg and head wounds. Both subjects were transported to the Assateague State Park boat ramp and were transported to Atlantic General Hospital by Berlin Ambulance. An investigation determined 23-year-old Abigail Linsenbigler, of Pittsburgh, PA, was operating a rental PWC at a high rate of speed. The operator failed to reduce her speed while approaching within 100 feet of a large offshore duck blind. The operator and passenger 23-year-old Danielle Sloan of North Braddock, PA were thrown into the duck blind as a result of the collision. Both subjects were taken to Atlantic General Hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries. Linsenbigler was charged with operating a PWC at a speed greater than 6 knots while within 100 feet of a shore/piling/ object.

The Maryland Natural Resources Police is the enforcement arm of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). With an authorized strength of 249 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 (DNR), which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 461,000 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