Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Blotter: Aug. 6-12

Reminder for the week: Avoid overloading your vessel by checking its’ capacity plate

DOVER – To achieve public compliance with laws and regulations through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between Aug. 6-12 made 3,875 contacts with anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 66 citations. Officers responded to 106 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 Aug. 7, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers, along with K-9 River, visited the Smyrna Police Department’s Youth Academy where they provided a K-9 demonstration and discussed the role of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers.
  • On Aug. 7, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers attended Middletown’s National Night Out event where they displayed MP Oscar and discussed the role of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers and answered hunting, fishing, and boating questions.
  • On Aug. 12, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers gave a presentation on the role of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers, safe hunting practices, hunting laws, and what to expect when being checked by an officer while hunting to attendees of a Hunter Education Class at the Little Creek Hunter Education Training Center.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Incident of note:

  • On Aug. 10, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers in Sussex County responded to a vessel that took on water and swamped at the mouth of the Roosevelt Inlet at Delaware Bay in Lewes. Officers pulled seven people out of the water to safety and towed the vessel back to the Lewes Fire Company dock. There were no injuries as a result of this incident. The operator of the vessel was cited for negligent operation due to the vessel being over capacity.

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

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (9), possession of undersized white perch (1), possession of undersized blue crab (15), no F.I.N. (6), possession of undersized striped bass (1), tending more than 2 crab pots (1), and use of crab pots without required turtle excluder (2).

Boating and Boating Safety: Operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (2), no life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (5), failure to observe slow no wake (1), operating an unregistered vessel (2), no boater safety certificate (2), and negligent operation of a vessel (2).

Public Safety: Possession of marijuana – civil (1).

Other: Operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (2)*, destruction of state property (1)*, trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (12)*, and littering on a state wildlife area (1)*.

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

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?
Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police reminds boaters to always check the boat capacity plate, which is usually found near the operator’s position or on the vessel’s transom. This plate indicates the maximum weight capacity and maximum number of people that the vessel can carry safely. Boaters should always follow the recommended capacity in the owner’s manual and on the manufacturer’s capacity plate before heading out on Delaware’s waterways.

Anglers and hunters should also consider the weight of their extra gear to ensure they do not load their vessels beyond the stated capacity.

For more information on safe boating practices in Delaware, including Delaware’s boating safety education courses, please visit Delaware’s Boating Safety website.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DEFWNRPolice/.

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

Contact: Sgt. Brooke Mitchell, 302-382-7167, or Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Blotter: July 23-29

Reminder for the week: Observe safety precautions when towing water skiers, tubers, and knee-boarders

DOVER – To achieve public compliance with laws and regulations through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between July 23-29 made 2,563 contacts with anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 98 citations. Officers responded to 85 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 July 27, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers discussed the role of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers and answered hunting, fishing, and boating questions for kids attending the Brandywine Creek State Park’s summer camp. The campers were then taken on a police boat ride.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Action

Incidents of note:

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

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Possession of undersized blue crab (19), unlicensed fishing (4)*, no F.I.N. (2), possession of prohibited shark species (3), unlawful possession of horseshoe crabs (1), unlawful to remove oysters from tributaries (4), trespass to fish (4), and possession of undersized white perch (8)*. Commercial: Improperly marked crab pots (9) and failure to tend crab pots at least one within required 72-hour timeframe (11).

Boating and Boating Safety: Operating an unregistered vessel (1), negligent operation of a vessel (1), failure to observe slow no wake (2), operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1), no life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (2), no boating safety certificate (4), and operating a personal watercraft without required life jacket (2).

Public Safety: Leaving the scene of an accident (1), driving with a suspended or revoked license (1), reckless driving (1), operating a motor vehicle at an unreasonable speed (1), possession of drug paraphernalia marijuana related (2), and target shooting on a state wildlife area (2)*.

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (11)* and unattended motor vehicle in a state wildlife area (1).

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

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?
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind boaters of some important safety regulations when towing water skiers, tubers and knee-boarders:

  • Requires at least three participants – the water skier, the boat operator and a competent observer
  • Personal watercraft (PWC) used for towing skiers, tubers or knee boarders must have enough seats – minimum of three – to carry the operator, observer and skier.
  • Recreational water skiers, tubers and knee-boarders must wear lifejackets at all times.
  • A tow line cannot exceed 75 feet in length.
  • Observe all “slow-no-wake” areas.
  • Avoid traveling at unsafe speeds, especially in congested areas.
  • Observe marked “No Water Skiing” areas, which include all marked swimming areas, Assawoman Canal, Rehoboth-Lewes Canal and portions of Indian River Inlet, Roosevelt Inlet, Whites Creek and the channel through Masseys Landing.
  • Maintain a safe and reasonable distance from shipping lanes, other vessels, persons and property.
  • Water skiing is prohibited at night between sunset and sunrise, and within 100 feet of persons in the water, piers, docks, floats, wharfs, vessels anchored or adrift and private or public boat launch ramps.

For more information, please visit the Delaware Boating Safety webpage.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DEFWNRPolice/.

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

Contact: Sgt. Brooke Mitchell, 302-382-7167, or Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913

DNREC Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit arrests two Kent County men for illegal dumping

MAGNOLIA – Acting on a tip made to DNREC’s Environmental Complaint hotline, Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit arrested two Kent County men May 11 and charged both of them with illegal dumping in Magnolia.

Michael B. Warncke, 41, of Magnolia, was charged with disposal or discharge of solid waste materials and fined $500. He was issued a citation and ordered by the Environmental Crimes Unit to pick up the dumped trash that led to his arrest.

Dustin T. Hicks, 21, also of Magnolia, was charged with using a motor vehicle to help dispose of or discharge of solid waste, operation of an unregistered motor vehicle, failure to have insurance on an out-of-state vehicle, conspiracy third degree, and criminal trespass third degree. He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 7 in Dover and released on $500 unsecured bail.

Illegal trash dumping can be reported to DNREC’s Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit by calling the toll-free 24-hour environmental complaint hotline at 800-662-8802.

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

Vol. 48, No. 116

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Arrests made for dumping on state wildlife areas

DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police urge reporting violators

KENT COUNTY – DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police concluded multiple investigations into illegal trash dumping on state wildlife areas with the recent arrests of two downstate men in separate incidents.

On Feb. 18, Ibis A. Ayala, 33, of Dover, was charged with four counts of causing or contributing to the disposal or discharge of solid waste on the Division of Fish & Wildlife-owned Woodland Beach Wildlife Area near Smyrna and one count of driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Ayala had previously been issued a criminal summons by Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Feb. 9, 2018 for one count of causing or contributing to the disposal or discharge of solid waste on a different Fish & Wildlife-owned property in Kent County.

Ayala was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 7 in Dover, where he pled guilty, was fined $652, including court costs, and was released.

On Feb. 22, William H. Cloak III, 41, of Felton, was charged with one count of causing or contributing to the disposal or discharge of solid waste on the Fish & Wildlife-owned Norman G. Wilder Wildlife Area near Felton.

Cloak was arraigned at the Justice of the Peace Court 7 in Dover, where he was released on a $500 unsecured bond, pending a future court appearance after transferring his case to the Court of Common Pleas.

Dumping trash on state wildlife areas is an environmental crime. Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police encourage residents and visitors to report violations. Calls can be made anonymously, to 1-800-523-3336.

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.

Vol. 48, No. 40

Contact: Sgt. Brooke Africa, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-382-7167, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

DNREC Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit charges two Sussex men with illegal dump site activities

DOVER – After investigating recent complaints made to DNREC’s Office of Community Services, Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit recently charged two Sussex men with an array of trash dumping violations – with one of the men arrested for operating an illegal dump site on a 19-acre parcel near Frankford.

Danny L. Averitt, 44, of Frankford was charged with operating an unpermitted solid waste facility business. Natural Resources Police ECU officers arrested Averitt after learning that he was charging local residents and businesses a fee to dump trash on the property where they found the illegal dump site. He was arraigned in Sussex County Court of Common Pleas and given a later court date.

In conjunction with the charges against Averitt, Natural Resources Police ECU officers also arrested Perry A. Townsend, 55, of Dagsboro and charged him with illegally collecting and transporting trash in the area, then dumping the refuse on the same property Averitt was using as an illegal dump site. During their investigation, Natural Resource Police officers learned that Townsend was also involved in other illegal dumping activity near Dagsboro.

Townsend was charged with and pled guilty to two counts of discharge of solid waste (dumping), and to a single count of transportation, collection, and storage of solid waste without a permit. He was given a $1,900 fine at Justice of the Peace Court 3 in Georgetown, ordered to clean the trash west of Dagsboro that he pled guilty to dumping, and placed on probation.

Media contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 47, No. 78

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