The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) issued multiple citations and made several arrests over the summer, targeting a range of violations related to criminal and natural resource laws. The charges, which occurred at various locations across the state, include overfishing, illegal hunting, weapons violations, and criminal activity in state parks.
One of the most notable incidents involved a 25-year-old man from Mt. Airy, who pleaded guilty to hunting deer during a closed season. The man killed a 19-point non-typical buck using a rifle during the archery-only season in November 2023. The buck’s Boone and Crockett Club score, a standard measurement for white-tailed deer, was 169.
After the illegal harvest, the man posted photos of the trophy buck on local social media groups, where the deer was identified as being shot with a rifle, which is prohibited during the archery season. The man was fined $1,000 for hunting out of season and was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution under Maryland’s Poaching Restitution Act. Additionally, he was sentenced to 80 hours of community service.
In another incident, NRP officers responded to a report at Rocks State Park on July 7, where they arrested multiple individuals for weapons violations. A 24-year-old male and two 18-year-olds, all from Middle River, were charged with possessing a firearm without a serial number after officers discovered a “ghost gun” near the King and Queen Seat trail. Officers also confiscated another handgun, ammunition, and knives. The group was initially reported for drinking alcohol in the park.
In a separate case on June 3, a 43-year-old woman was charged with possession of a weapon and controlled substances at an illegal campsite in Susquehanna State Park. After officers informed the woman that she was camping in a prohibited area, she admitted to having methamphetamine. A search of her tent revealed a sword and metal knuckles. The woman was cited with three violations, including a “must appear” charge for the drug offense.
Hunting violations continued to be a focus of NRP enforcement. A 25-year-old Churchville man pleaded guilty to possessing a rifle despite being a convicted felon and to spotlighting wildlife, both illegal activities in Maryland. The man received a one-year jail sentence following an investigation that revealed he had shot a sika deer from a vehicle in Dorchester County in November 2023. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised probation, ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution under the Poaching Restitution Act, and lost his hunting privileges for five years.
On July 20, a 52-year-old man from Mount Savage was charged with killing two timber rattlesnakes, a protected species in Maryland. The man admitted to killing the snakes with a rifle and a shovel, later posting his actions on social media. He faces two charges for the illegal possession of a List C species, with penalties up to $1,500 per violation.
In another case involving wildlife violations, a 34-year-old man from Gaithersburg was charged with possessing undersized fish after officers found 99 undersized croakers, three undersized weakfish, and one undersized red drum in his possession at the Bushwood Wharf boat ramp in St. Mary’s County on July 21. The man faces up to $3,000 in fines and potential revocation of his fishing license. The fish were confiscated and returned to the water.
NRP officers also assisted with criminal investigations not directly related to natural resource violations. On August 4, officers supported the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office in recovering stolen bushels of live blue crabs and commercial crab processing equipment. The stolen items were returned to their rightful owners in Cecil County and Delaware.
In another incident, on August 2, NRP officers assisted the Maryland State Police and National Park Service in Allegany County during a domestic disturbance. The situation involved a man, a mother, and her child. The male suspect fled the scene but was apprehended after a search involving aviation and K9 units. The suspect, who was found hiding in thick brush near the Potomac River, was wanted in Florida for grand theft auto, larceny, and probation violation.
Lastly, on August 8, NRP officers arrested a 38-year-old woman from Frostburg in Garrett County on multiple narcotics charges and traffic violations. After resisting arrest and attempting to flee, officers discovered heroin, fentanyl, and other drug paraphernalia in her vehicle. She faces several charges related to drug possession, resisting arrest, and fleeing from law enforcement.
A separate incident at Greenbrier State Park on August 17 involved three individuals who were charged with disorderly conduct, assault, and resisting arrest following an alcohol-fueled altercation. The individuals, all in their 30s, failed to comply with officer instructions and were cited for possessing alcohol in the state park, among other violations.
