Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter

Allegany County – On October 31, 2009 at 11:50 pm., the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged three adults with poaching violations near Finzel, Maryland. Steven Andrew Durst, 22 of Grantsville, Maryland, Aaron Dean Wilburn, 19 of Bittinger, Maryland and Ashley Renee Baker, 23 of Grantsville, Maryland were charged with casting the rays of light with a weapon in possession. A .22 caliber weapon and spotlight were seized as evidence.

This charge is commonly referred to as “jacklighting”. Jacklighting is defined as when a person or persons have a weapon in their possession and shine an artificial light, such as a spotlight, on to fields or woodland at night in search of deer. This activity illuminates the deer and inhibits the deer from moving, thus enabling the poacher to shoot the deer. The penalty for jacklighting is a fine not exceeding $2000 and imprisonment not exceeding six months. In addition to this penalty, a person’s hunting license is revoke for two to five years and all evidence is forfeited to the state.

Frederick County- On November 8, 2009 at 12:05 pm, the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged three individuals with poaching violations on Old Mill Road near Creagerstown, Maryland. The following individuals were charged after their vehicle was stopped for shining an artificial light out of the vehicle onto a field in search of deer. Andrew Arthur Wolfe, 24, of Woodsboro, Md., Andrew Marshall Phillips, 25, of Thurmont, and John Kennedy Fitzgerald, 44, of Thurmont were charged with casting rays of artificial light with a weapon in possession. One muzzleloader was seized.

Kent County/Queen Anne’s County – On November 8, 2009 at 1:30 pm., an off-duty Maryland Natural Resources Police witness a domestic violence assault occurring in a vehicle in the area of Kent County Board of Education in Chestertown. The off-duty officer summoned uniformed assistance and continued to follow the vehicle south on Route 213 until it stopped at a residence on Duke of Kent St., Kingstowne, Md. During this time, the passenger continued to strike the victim (driver) on the head and face. After the vehicle stop, the off-duty NRP Officer intervened and identified himself as a police Officer. The Off duty NRP Officer was then assisted by troopers of the Maryland State Police who arrived shortly after the vehicle stop. The passenger of the vehicle was identified as William ‘Cody” Howard Fleetwood, of Chestertown, Maryland. Fleetwood was charged with one count of 2nd degree assault/domestic violence and transported to the District Court Commissioner and releases on his personal recognizance.

Washington County - On October 29, 2009 the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged Samuel Andrew Houser,45, of Williamsport, MD with Hunting while Intoxicated, Failure to wear fluorescent Orange, and Failure to record kill on Harvest Record. A trail date will be set by the court.

Washington County- On November 7, 2009 the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged two individuals with poaching violations. The incident occurred on University Road near Sharpsburg Md. at 11:00 pm on November 7, 2009. Todd Anthony Stotler, 48, of Williamsport, Maryland and Derrick Lyndon Black, 24, of Boonsboro, Maryland were charged with casting rays of artificial light with a weapon in possession. One 22 Caliber rifle was seized.

Worcester County – On November 7, 2009 at 9:45 pm., The Maryland Natural Resources (NRP) charged James Raymond Hambrick of Snow Hill, Maryland with driving a vehicle while impaired by alcohol and driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The vehicle was initially stopped for being in a non-designated area of the Pocomoke State Forest.

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