Maryland Natural Resources Police Search for Missing Boater in South River

Edgewater, MD - On July 26, 2009 at 4:42 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) received a call from the Anne Arundel 911 of a missing boater in the South River, Mayo Beach Park, Edgewater. NRP, Coast Guard, and Anne Arundel County Fire Company searched for Clinton Mathew Wallace, 39 years old, from Baltimore Maryland who went missing after he jumped into the water from a boat. Rescue units searched by water, as well as Maryland State Police and Coast Guard Aviation searched for the victim by air. The search lasted until sunset without finding the victim. The search will resume at first light on Monday morning. Preliminary investigation revealed that Wallace was with three other individuals in the vessel when Wallace and another person from the vessel decided to go swimming. After swimming for approximately five minutes, Wallace called for assistance. The other person in the water tried to assist Wallace but was unable to keep him afloat. The other passengers in the vessel threw Wallace life jackets. But, the high winds of approximately 25 knots and seas of 2-3 feet prevented the life jackets from reaching the victim. On Monday, the Natural Resources Police will be utilizing side scan sonar in an attempt to locate the victim. The Natural Resources Police Special Operation Division will be continuing the investigation into the accident.

The Maryland Natural Resources Police remind all citizens and visitors that attention to boating safety saves lives, and is of paramount importance when enjoying Maryland’s waterways. While it is recommended that everyone on board wear a personal floatation device while a vessel is underway, a child under 7 years of age must wear a life jacket while underway in a vessel that is less than 21 feet in length. In addition, children under 4 years of age and/or less than 50 pounds must have a life jacket equipped with a grab strap, inflatable headrest and crotch strap. The NRP also recommends filing a float plan with a friend or relative. The plan should include the vessel’s destination, how long it will remain at the destination, and what time it’s expected to return. This information will assist rescue units if the vessel does not return. The Maryland Natural Resources Police emergency number is 800-628-9944.

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