Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter

Allegany County – On November 28, 2009, the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) started an investigation into the body of a hunter found in Green Ridge State Forest in the area of Mertens Rd., Flintstone. The hunter was identified as Robert Scott Miner, 72, of Boonsboro, Md. The unattended death is still under investigation and is not considered a hunting accident or the result of foul play.

Queen Anne’s County – On November 28, 2009, the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) started an investigation into a hunting accident during the first day of deer firearm season on Lands End Road, Centerville. The victim, Frank Plummer II, 46, was transported to Chestertown Hospital with a gun shot wound to his leg. The incident is still under investigation.

Anne Arundel County – On November 30, 2009, the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) investigated a body that was found in Back Creek in the area of Jabins Yacht Yard. The body has been sent to the office of the chief medical examiner for an autopsy.

Allegany County – On November 25, 2009 at 10:30 pm., the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged Travis Keith Heavner, 28, of Flintstone, Md., with jacklighting. NRP Officers observed Heavner shine a hand held spotlight from a vehicle on Town Creek Road in Flintstone. Officers recovered a .17 caliber bolt action rifle, 4 rounds of ammunition, a folding hunting knife and a hand held spotlight from Heavner’s vehicle. Heavner was charged with casting artificial rays of light from a vehicle, with an implement capable of killing a deer in possession.

Somerset County – On November 24, 2009, the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged Russell James Swift, 38, of Crisfield, Md. with harvesting oysters with in an oyster sanctuary. Swift was observed by NRP Officers harvesting oysters within the Oyster Sanctuary located in Tangier Sound near the Big Annemessex River. Oyster Sanctuaries are protected areas for the propagation of oysters and do not allow the harvesting of oysters within the marked boundaries.

Carroll County – On November 22, 2009, the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged John Scott Wood, 46, of Manchester, Md. with jacklighting. NRP Officers observed Wood shine a spotlight from a vehicle on Eckard Rd. in Westminster, Md. Officers seized a 12 gauge shotgun, slugs and spotlight. Wood was charged with casting artificial rays of light from a vehicle, with an implement capable of killing a deer in possession.

Anne Arundel County – On November 22, 2009, the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged Thomas Ethan Allen, 40, of Hanover, Md and Timothy Sean Harmon, 30, Halethorpe, Md with poaching violations. NRP officers responded to a complaint of illegal hunting on Ridge Rd. in Hanover at 9:20 pm., on November 22. The officers located Allen and Harmon in the woods on an ATV with a freshly killed 8 point buck. An investigation revealed that Allen and Harmon used a spotlight and a 12 gauge shotgun to shoot the deer. Both individuals were charged with casting the rays of artificial light with a implement capable of killing a deer in possession, possession of deer during closed season, hunting deer on Sunday, and hunt/pursue wildlife with an off-road vehicle. The shotgun, spotlight, flashlight, knife and deer were confiscated.

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