Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter

Allegany County - On July 21, 2009, the Maryland Natural Resource Police (NRP) charged Gina Rubeck, 51 years old, of Ridgeley, WV with driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, disorderly conduct, and assaulting a police officer. Rubeck was driving through Rocky Gap State Park Campground disturbing other campers. She bit one of the arresting officers in the hand. Rubeck was held on $4500.00 bond in Allegany County Jail.

Allegany County - On July 22, 2009, approximately 3:00 a.m., the Maryland Natural Resource Police (NRP) charged Shawn Short, 34 years old, of Cumberland, Maryland with possession of drug paraphernalia. The incident occurred when NRP officers were called to Rocky Gap State Park Campground for a disorderly campsite where Short was camping. During the course of the investigation, NRP Officers discovered that Short was in possession of drug paraphernalia.

Queen Anne’s County – On July 20, 2009 in Queen Anne’s County District Court, Thomas Harmon Collier was found guilty of hunting waterfowl with the aid of bait and was fined $300.00 and paid court cost of $22.50. This incident was the result of an investigation that started on January 11, 2009 when NRP Officers observed a subject mowing standing corn on a farm that was located in Queen Anne’s County. This same field was then hunted by hunters the following day. This practice is a violation of state law, which prohibits the manipulation (mowing) of standing crops to act as a lure and attracted to migratory waterfowl for hunters.

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