DNR Natural Resources Police Report — August 2021

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The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) announced charges for individuals throughout the state for illegal activities including boating while intoxicated, drunk driving, illegal fishing, and more.


A Frostburg man was arrested on Aug. 1 for impaired driving after crashing his motorcycle into a bush at Rocky Gap State Park in Allegany County. Police say they were flagged by park staff and notified of a motorcycle swerving off the road on Lakeshore Drive near the park’s entrance. Police say the driver, Harry Skidmore III, 31, showed signs of alcohol impairment, and was given a field sobriety test. After receiving the results of the test, police issued Skidmore four citations for impaired operation. He is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.


Officers on patrol in Deep Creek Lake charged a Virginia man for operating a vessel while intoxicated on Aug 4. Police say they observed a boat traveling without navigation lights after sunset. When officers spoke with the driver, Reid McDonald, 21, they observed McDonald had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, along with odor of alcohol. He was escorted back to shore and given a field sobriety test. After obtaining the test results, police issued McDonald four citations for impaired operation and one citation for negligent boating. He faces up to 14 months in prison and $1,185 in fines. He is scheduled to appear in court in late September.


A Pennsylvania man was issued 11 citations for impaired and negligent operation of a vessel Aug. 5 in Anne Arundel County. At about 8:55 p.m. that night, police on boat patrol observed a vessel traveling at excessive speed and without the required navigational lights. Officers activated their emergency lights to conduct a vessel stop, but the operator continued to travel another 50 yards before being alerted to stop by a passenger. Officers instructed the operator, Richard Klein, 63, to turn on his navigational lights. According to police, Klein had difficulty finding the switch and needed a passenger to assist him. Additionally, officers found that Klein did not have any life jackets or fire extinguishers on his vessel and his flares were also expired. After observing that Klein had slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and an odor of alcohol, police escorted him to shore to conduct a field sobriety test. Based on police observations and the field sobriety test results, Klein was issued four impaired operation citations, three safety equipment citations, and four negligent citations. He is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.


Police arrested a Salisbury man who drove a stolen car while impaired. Officers on patrol in Wicomico County on Aug. 9 observed an individual pacing back and forth near a vehicle stopped in the road. Officers checked on the individual, Kiontre Baker, 26, and observed that he smelled like alcohol, was very anxious, and had trouble staying still. Baker initially told police he wasn’t operating the vehicle but later admitted he was. Officers on the scene said they found an open alcoholic beverage container. Police conducted a field sobriety test and based on the results arrested Baker for impaired driving. During their investigation, officers observed items in the car belonging to a woman who reported her car stolen a day earlier. Baker was also charged with unlawful taking of a vehicle. He is scheduled to appear in court at a later date. The car was returned to its rightful owner.


A Greenbelt man was cited for harvesting 10 undersized striped bass. NRP were conducting surveillance in the early morning hours at the Kent Narrows area of Queen Anne’s County on Aug. 14 when they observed a man harvesting multiple striped bass. Police identified him as Mario Perez-Santos, 44, and observed a black plastic trash bag containing 10 undersized striped bass. Police issued Santos three fishing citations and returned the striped bass to the water. Santos faces up to $3,000 in fines if convicted.
 

PrchJrkr

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Ol' Mario got off easy. He should've received a citation for each undersized fish. :burning:
 

Sneakers

Just sneakin' around....
The crabs gotta eat too. Better they get them then the poacher, freaking river rapist.
Def take them away from the poacher, but they could also be donated. Shelters, etc... Just seems like a waste to toss them back dead.
 

PrchJrkr

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Def take them away from the poacher, but they could also be donated. Shelters, etc... Just seems like a waste to toss them back dead.
I see your point. I even hate to use cut bait. That bait could've grown into food fish, but realistically, 10 undersized rockfish aren't going to make that big of a difference. We see these hispanic sounding names associated with poaching far too often these days. It's time to start busting their asses open. Then maybe word of mouth will curtail it.

A few years ago, DNR busted a trio with around 100 and let them off with meager fines of around $1k for each poacher, IIRC. If they want to stop it, they should really hurt their wallets.
 

Sneakers

Just sneakin' around....
Agreed. But it's a problem no matter where you go, and has been forever. The hispanics in NY would fish without licenses and take whatever they could catch regardless of size, walk away with hundreds of pounds of illegal stuff. And this was back in the '60s.
 

spr1975wshs

Mostly settled in...
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When I was a Hunter's Safety Instructor in Illinois for over a decade, we worked closely with the DNR Police Officers.
The one we worked with most often, Dennis, was a hard nose, black letter of the law enforcer.
You did something wrong and he caught you, charges were filed.

However, Dennis did unbend a lot for the younger kids in the class.

One of the kids Dennis, I and my colleagues taught was the Rockford, IL cop killed during a routing traffic stop 4 years ago.
 
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