DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife is asking the public to assist with the state’s 8th annual wild turkey survey by helping identify locations where the birds are successfully reproducing in Delaware. The data collected helps biologists track the health, distribution and reproductive success of the state’s wild turkey population and ensure the sustainable harvest of this important game species.

The survey period begins July 1 and continues through Aug. 31. If you see a turkey, you are asked to record the date, county, and number of adult hens, gobblers, and poults (young of the year) observed on a survey data sheet. The data sheet and instructions are available for download at Wild Turkey Survey. Participants are asked to submit their results to the Division of Fish & Wildlife by Sept. 10, 2017.

The wild turkey continues as one of Delaware’s top wildlife restoration successes after nearly becoming extinct by the early 20th century. In the early 1980s, the Division of Fish & Wildlife partnered with the National Wild Turkey Federation and other northeastern states to re-establish a wild turkey population in the state. By 1991, the population had grown large enough to enable a wild turkey hunting season, and the birds continue to thrive and multiply.

For more information about the wild turkey survey or to obtain a survey data sheet, please contact Justyn Foth, Wildlife Section, at 302-735-3600, or visit http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Hunting/Documents/Wild%20Turkey%20Observation%20Survey%20Form.pdf.

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Vol. 47, No. 156

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DOVER – Fishing offers an outstanding opportunity to enjoy Delaware’s great outdoors and spend quality time with family. To add to the experience for anglers age 15 and under, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife today announced a new youth division of the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament with smaller qualifying sizes for trophy fish than the tournament’s adult requirements.

The Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament is an annual program sponsored by the Division of Fish & Wildlife to promote recreational fishing opportunities in the state and recognize anglers for outstanding catches. The tournament now includes 15 species of freshwater and 30 species of saltwater fish eligible for recognition. With the smaller size requirements in their division, young anglers will have an increased chance to be rewarded for their trophy catch.

The new youth division also includes a Live Release Award program for those who choose to return their trophy catch to the water unharmed immediately after landing and measuring for length. This measurement must be verified by a witness who signs the Live Release Award entry form.

Young anglers who submit an application for their trophy catch will receive a colorful citation showing the type of fish they caught as well as an award lapel pin. The color fish illustrations on the citations are reproductions of original paintings by artist Duane Raver Jr., and are suitable for framing.

Fish entered in the tournament must be weighed at an official Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament weigh station, available at most bait and tackle shops. All fish entered must be caught in a sporting manner with hook-and-line. The Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament and the Live Release Award programs are open to the public with no entry fee.

For more information, including a list of tournament- and live release-eligible species, minimum size requirements and rules, click Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament. Applications for the Live Release Award also are available online, or may be picked up at any Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament weigh station.

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Vol. 47, No. 155

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WILMINGTON – The state-owned parking lot at Bancroft Mills used for accessing the southern portion of Alapocas Run State Park along the Brandywine River will close for public use July 10, DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation announced today. The closure is necessary for demolition of nearby abandoned mill buildings and redevelopment of the site, and will remain in effect until further notice.

The pedestrian bridge that crosses over the Brandywine River at the Bancroft Mills property will remain accessible to the public, but park visitors can expect periodic closures for public safety during building demolition.

Alternate parking locations for Alapocas Run are located at the Blue Ball Barn (1914 West Park Drive) and at the I-95 parking lot in Brandywine Park (North Park Drive and Van Buren Street). The Northern Delaware Greenway Trail is accessible from both parking locations. Visitors to Alapocas Run State Park enjoy picturesque views, hiking trails, walking paths and a natural rock climbing wall.

The demolition of the Bancroft Mills buildings is the first phase toward residential redevelopment of property owned by the Buccini/Pollin Group. A new parking lot and enhanced public entrance to Alapocas Run State Park are planned as part of the Rockford Falls development project.

For more information, contact the Alapocas Run State Park Office at 302-577-1164.

Media contact: Beth Shockley, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 47, No. 154

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Other defendants face prison for murder, weapons, drug, and rape charges.

A 31-year-old Harrington man pled guilty and was sentenced in Superior Court on charges of Attempted Murder and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony related to his shooting at a Delaware State Trooper. In July 2016, Troopers responded to a call of a man with a gun at the Alder Run Apartments just south of Dover. Aaron Purnell, a man fitting the description, ran from the first Trooper to arrive, and as the officer gave chase, Purnell fired one shot at him but missed the Trooper. Troopers took Purnell into custody a short time later after finding him hiding in a nearby backyard. A Superior Court judge sentenced Purnell to 28 years in prison, followed by 2 years of probation. Deputy Attorney General Steve Welch prosecuted the case.

Guilty pleas to 6 felony offenses including Reckless Endangering and Possession of a Deadly Weapon during the Commission of a Felony led to a 7-year prison sentence for a Dover man. Deputy Attorney General Sean Motoyoshi secured the plea and sentence for 25-year-old Jamera Fisher. In October 2016, Dover Police received a tip that Fisher, wanted on an outstanding capias, had a gun with him. As officers tried to stop him as he got into his car, and while trying to evade capture, Fisher recklessly rammed his vehicle into multiple police cars nearly striking four officers. Police arrested Fisher after one officer shot him in the arm. Fisher pled guilty to 4 counts of Reckless Endangering First Degree, Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony, and Possession of a Superior Court judge immediately sentenced Fisher to 7 years in prison, followed by 18 months of probation.

A 20-year-old Wilmington man faces 35 years in prison for a 2015 murder in the city. Deputy Attorneys General Brian Robertson and Daniel McBride secured a guilty plea from Taushia Mitchell to Murder Second Degree and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. In July 2015, Mitchell murdered 29-year-old James Rogers of Wilmington, shooting him in the head in Rogers’s home in the 500 block of West 5th Street. Mitchell was arrested a week later while sitting in the victim’s stolen car in New York City. A Superior Court judge will sentence Mitchell later this year, with a minimum mandatory sentence of 18 years in prison. Wilmington Police Detective Brian Conkey and DOJ paralegal Jaime Prater assisted with the case.

Deputy Attorney General Timothy Maguire secured a 17-year prison sentence for Nigel Campbell, 24, of Newark, for his conviction on weapons and drug charges. Acting on a tip in June 2016 that Campbell was selling drugs out of his home, members of the Delaware State Police Governor’s Task Force set up a surveillance in the parking lot of his apartment building on Kimberton Drive. Troopers took Campbell into custody, and found him with heroin and crack cocaine. A subsequent search of the apartment revealed additional heroin and cocaine as well as a loaded .380 caliber handgun. A Superior Court jury convicted Campbell, prohibited from having a gun because of a previous drug conviction, in March 2017 of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Drug Possession, Witness Intimidation, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, and Possession of Ammunition by a Person Prohibited. A judge sentenced Campbell to 17 years in prison, followed by 6 months of either home confinement or work release, then 2 years of probation.

A 37-year-old Wilmington man will spend 20 years in prison for the rape of a teenager. Deputy Attorney General Jan van Amerongen secured the sentence for Jason Ramos. In July 2016, Ramos, a family acquaintance of the victim, was arrested following an investigation that began when a concerned citizen called New Castle County Police to report a suspicion of rape. Ramos pled guilty in March 2017 to Rape Second Degree, Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Sexual Solicitation of a Child. A Superior Court judge sentenced Ramos to 20 years in prison, followed by 2 years of probation. He must also register as a Tier 3 Sex Offender.

Reminder for the week: Have a safe holiday weekend on Delaware waterways

DOVER – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between June 19-25 made 2,308 contacts with anglers, boaters and the general public, including 212 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks, issuing 156 citations. Officers responded to 55 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. An increased Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and Michael N. Castle Trail.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police in the Community

• On June 24, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers presented information about fisheries regulations and conducted several K9 demonstrations at the Roxana Fire Hall Safety Day.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Incidents of note:

• On June 21, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers cited Frank Eicherly, 58, of Frederica, for one count of horseshoe crab assistant shall not handle load or drive vehicle at Bowers Beach. Eicherly was fined $342, including court costs, and released.
• On June 22, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Hobert Cox Jr., 21, of New Castle, following an investigation into an incident in which bags of trash were dumped along a mile stretch of the C&D Canal Conservation Area roads, near St. Georges. Cox was arrested for one count of cause or contribute to the disposal or discharge of solid waste materials and arraigned at New Castle County Justice of the Peace Court 11 where he plead guilty, was fined $520, including court costs and released.
• On June 25, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers cited Sean T. Odoherty, 41, of Ridley Park, Pennsylvania for one count of inattentive operation of a vessel following an investigation into a vessel accident. Odoherty struck the Pea Patch Island jetty with his 24.5 foot Bayliner, which sank in the Delaware River. He was fined $107, including court costs and released.

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Possession of undersized blue crab (108)**, unlicensed fishing (5), possession of undersized summer flounder (2), possession of summer flounder parts (2), horseshoe crab assistant shall not handle load or drive vehicle (1), and possession of undersized white perch (3).

Boating and Boating Safety: No throwable life preserver on board as required for vessels 16 feet longer or longer (1), unregistered vessel (1), no sound-producing device on board (1), inattentive operation (1), and no life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (2).

Public Safety: Possession of marijuana-civil (1), theft under $1,500 (6)**, theft with victim over 65 years of age (4)**, conspiracy third degree (2)**, and criminal mischief under $1,000 (10)**.

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (3), dumping/littering on a state wildlife area (2)*, and operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on state wildlife area (1).

*Includes citation(s) issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

**See related press release: DNREC Division Fish & Wildlife officers make arrests for crabbing violations and crab pot thefts.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting and boating laws and regulations. Citizens are encouraged to report fish, wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at http://de.gov/ogt.

Are you AWARE?
With many boaters heading out on the water for the long 4th of July holiday weekend, DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind boaters that drinking and boating don’t mix – and that boat operators found to have blood alcohol levels of 0.08 or higher will face charges for operating a vessel under the influence as well as putting themselves, their passengers and other boaters at risk.

Other tips for recreational boaters to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend include:

• Exercise patience and courtesy at crowded boat ramps and docks.
• Observe all “slow – no wake” areas.
• Maintain a lookout for other vessels and keep a safe distance away.
• Avoid traveling at unsafe speeds, including congested areas.
• Do not allow youth under age 16 to operate jet skis.
• Make sure children 12 and younger are wearing life jackets while underway as required by law.
• Check navigation lights and make sure to turn them on when operating at night.

For more information on safe boating practices in Delaware, please visit Delaware Boating Safety.

Media contact: Lt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, www.facebook.com/pages/Delaware-Fish-Wildlife-Natural-Resources-Police.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Twitter, https://twitter.com/DE_FW_NRPolice.

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