NRP Seeks Suspect In Attempted Vehicular Assault On Officer

Elkton, Md. (November 19, 2009) – The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) are looking for a suspect or suspects, who attempted to run over a uniformed NRP officer trying to stop the suspect’s truck on Tuesday November 10, at about 6:40 p.m. in near Old Elk Neck Road in Elkton, Md.

Officers were on foot investigating a deer poaching at night complaint on Old Elk Neck Road. The officers saw a truck stop and shine a light at a deer that was in a field adjacent to the road. Someone in the vehicle shot at the deer and then drove off.

When one of the NRP officers attempted to stop the truck, the driver accelerated and attempted to strike the uniformed officer. The officer jumped out of the way to avoid being hit.

The truck is described as a red 1997-2003 Ford pick-up truck. Officers from NRP and the Maryland State Police are investigating the incident.

Anyone with information on the identity of the suspect or suspects is asked to call the Natural Resources Police CATCH – A- POACHER Hotline at 1-800-635-6124 and ask for Cpl. Capozzoli. Callers with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects are eligible for a cash reward. Callers may remain anonymous.

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