DNREC Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit charges Harrington man in trash dumping incident

Rahmeen Floyd
         Rahmeen Floyd

HARRINGTON – After investigating an illegal dumping complaint made to DNREC’s Division of Community Affairs, Natural Resources Police officers with the Environmental Crimes Unit arrested a Harrington man Sept. 5 in connection with the incident in southern Kent County.

Rahmeen Floyd, 38, was charged with three counts of causing or contributing to the discharge of solid waste materials. He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 6 in Harrington, and released. Each charge carries a minimum fine of $500 and a maximum fine of $1,500 for first offense.

Residents are encouraged to report illegal trash dumping to DNREC’s Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit by calling the 24-hour environmental complaints line at 800-662-8802.

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

Vol. 48, No. 242

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Greenwood man arrested by DNREC Environmental Crimes Unit for illegal dumping in Harrington

HARRINGTON – Natural Resources Police Officers with DNREC’s Environmental Crimes Unit arrested a Greenwood man Aug. 21 for illegal dumping in Harrington.

Raymond H Wood, 32, was charged with causing or contributing to the disposal or discharge of solid waste materials, and transportation, storage, or collection of solid waste without a permit. Wood was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 7 in Dover, Delaware and released on $200 unsecured bail.

His arrest comes following an investigation into a dumping complaint along Fisher’s Bridge Road in Harrington. Through investigative measures, Wood was identified as having been hired through a contracting company to remove and dispose the refuse that was later found dumped off Fisher’s Bridge Road.

The minimum fine for dumping is $500, up to $1,500 maximum. The fine for transportation, storage, or collection of solid waste without a permit is $100 for a first offense, plus the cost of an annual permit, $350.

Delawareans are asked to report illegal trash dumping to DNREC’s Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit by calling the 24-hour environmental complaints line at 800-662-8802.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 234


DNREC seeking volunteers for Delaware Coastal Cleanup

Volunteer registration to close Sept. 5

DOVER (Aug. 27, 2018) – Volunteers are still needed and welcomed to join the 31st annual Delaware Coastal Cleanup, to be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 15. Sponsored by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the cleanup spans 49 sites in New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties, including river and ocean shorelines as well as wetland and watershed areas. Volunteers are strongly encouraged to preregister at https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/coastal-cleanup/ to ensure enough supplies are readied for each Cleanup site. Preregistration will close Wednesday, Sept. 5.

“The Delaware Coastal Cleanup is DNREC’s largest volunteer event of the year, and we are looking for more volunteers at some of our sites,” DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin said. “Our volunteers are what make this annual statewide cleanup possible – and with their help, we are making a difference. Not only are we cleaning up trash from our beaches, waterways, and watershed areas, we are encouraging people to visit our parks and natural areas.”

Cleanup sites that still need additional volunteers include:

  • New Castle County:
    • Fox Point State Park
    • Woodland Beach – McKay Tract
    • Woodland Beach – Taylors Gut
  • Kent County
    • Big Stone Beach
    • Bennetts Pier
  • Sussex County
    • Slaughter Beach
    • Oyster Rocks Road
    • Beach Plum Island
    • Lewes Boat Ramp
    • Cape Shores
    • Boat Hole/Love Creek
    • DeauvilleDewey/Indian Beach
    • South Bethany Beach
    • Nanticoke Wildlife Area – Phillips Landing
    • Delaware Seashore State Park – 3Rs
    • Delaware Seashore State Park – Keybox Road
    • Holts Landing State Park
    • Fenwick Island Town Beach
    • Fenwick Island State Park

Delaware’s Cleanup is part of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, the world’s largest annual clearing of trash from coastlines, rivers, streams, and lakes by volunteers. Information collected helps identify the source of the debris and focus efforts on eliminating or reducing it. For more information, visit www.oceanconservancy.org.

For more information about the Delaware Coastal Cleanup, please contact Joanna Wilson, Delaware Coastal Cleanup coordinator, at 302-739-9902, or joanna.wilson@delaware.gov.

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

Vol. 48, No. 232


Newark man pleads guilty to illegal dumping in New Castle County

NEWARK – Following an investigation into a recent complaint made at the state-maintained Polly Drummond Hill Road yard waste site in Newark, Delaware Natural Resources Police with DNREC’s Environmental Crimes Unit arrested a Newark man Aug. 15 for illegal dumping of refuse.

Jonathan D. Kirk, 37, was charged with one count of cause or contributing to the disposal or discharge of solid waste materials. The charge carries a minimum fine of $500. Kirk was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 in New Castle, where he pleaded guilty.

The Polly Drummond Hill Road yard waste site allows Delaware residents to drop off yard waste at the site from their own residence during scheduled hours. Commercial businesses are barred from dropping off yard waste at the site. Yard waste consists of plant materials from lawn maintenance and landscaping activities such as grass clippings, leaves, brush, shrubs, garden materials, Christmas trees and tree limbs up to four inches in diameter. It is against the law to dump lumber and fencing at the site.

Residents are encouraged to report illegal trash dumping to DNREC’s Delaware Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit by calling the toll-free 24-hour environmental complaints hotline at 800-662-8802.

Vol. 48, No. 225

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

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DNREC Environmental Crimes Unit K-9 officer apprehends fugitive wanted for assaulting Maryland police officer

NEWARK – A DNREC Natural Resources Police K-9 officer apprehended a man Aug. 9 who fled when Park Rangers sought to question him as a person of interest in a series of recent break-ins at White Clay Creek State Park, and who was later identified as a fugitive accused of assaulting a Maryland police officer.

DNREC Natural Resources Police Park Rangers arrested Jesse J. Planter, 29, no known residence, after he was tracked by a DNREC Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit K-9 unit for more than a mile through White Clay Creek State Park. Planter surrendered without incident after the K-9 officer located him beneath heavy brush inside the park.

Planter gave false information about his identity when he was taken into custody, but after positive ID was made, DNREC Natural Resources Police learned that he was wanted by the Carroll County, Md. Sheriff’s office for assault on a police officer. Planter was charged by DNREC Natural Resources Police Parks Rangers with being a fugitive from another state; criminal impersonation; resisting arrest, and entering or remaining on closed lands without permission, among other charges.

Planter was held at the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington, after waiving extradition to Maryland.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 220