DOVER – An ongoing investigation into hunting violations by persons prohibited from possessing weapons by prior criminal history or court actions led to the recent arrests of four men and the seizure of more than 50 weapons, ammunition and other evidence, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police announced today.

Taken into custody in the ongoing investigation and arraigned to await trial were:

• Michael E. Dewey, 53, of Wilmington, was arrested and charged with one count of possession of a firearm/ammunition by a person prohibited, six counts of possessing and/or transporting an illegally taken antlerless deer, six counts of possessing and/or transporting an illegally taken antlered deer and one count of possession of unlawfully taken game. Eight firearms and ammunition, one crossbow, approximately 50 pounds of venison, various antlered deer mounts/racks and one mounted duck were seized as evidence. Dewey was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 2 in Rehoboth Beach and released on a $10,500 unsecured bond pending a court appearance at a later date. Evidence seizure by Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police in persons prohibited from possessing deadly firearms investigation

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  Christopher A. Griffin, 24, of Wilmington, was arrested and charged with one count of possession of a firearm/ammunition by a person prohibited, one count of unlawful use of a quality buck tag, two counts for failure to tag antlerless deer, three counts of failure to tag antlered deer, four counts of possessing and/or transporting an illegally taken antlered deer, six counts of possessing and/or transporting an illegally taken antlerless deer and two counts of the possession of unlawfully taken game birds. Seized as evidence were 36 firearms and ammunition, four crossbows, approximately 100 pounds of venison and duck meat and various antlered deer mounts/racks. Griffin was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 in New Castle and released on a $4,500 unsecured bond pending a court appearance at a later date.

• Jeffrey D. Callahan, 53, of Newark, was arrested and charged with one count of possession of a firearm/ammunition by a person prohibited, eight counts of possessing and/or transporting an illegally taken antlerless deer, four counts of possessing and/or transporting an illegally taken antlered deer, one count of possession of marijuana and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. Four firearms and ammunition, one crossbow, approximately 100 pounds of venison, various antlered deer mounts/racks, approximately 11.1 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were seized as evidence. Callahan was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 in New Castle and released on $3,750 unsecured bond pending a court appearance at a later date.
• Gary L. Grose, 50, of Townsend, was arrested and charged with one count of possession of a firearm/ammunition by a person prohibited, two counts of possessing and/or transporting an illegally taken antlerless deer, one count of possession of marijuana and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. Two firearms and ammunition, one compound bow, one crossbow, approximately 15 pounds of venison, various antlered deer mounts/racks, approximately 7.5 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were seized as evidence. Grose was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 in New Castle and released on $5,500 unsecured bond pending a court appearance at a later date.

To report a person prohibited from possessing deadly weapons who is illegally engaged in hunting, the public is encouraged to contact 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 www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Hunting/Pages/OpGameTheft.aspx.

“Under Delaware law, persons whose criminal and legal history includes prior felony convictions, misdemeanor convictions associated with violent crimes, drug convictions, mental conditions as defined under the law or court-issued protection from abuse orders (PFAs) are prohibited from possession of ammunition, firearms and other deadly weapons,” said Cpl. John McDerby Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police. “This prohibition means they cannot be in possession of hunting weapons, including bows or crossbows, shotguns, muzzleloaders or any deadly weapon or ammunition used for hunting.”

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 and 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 www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Hunting/Pages/OpGameTheft.aspx.

Media Contacts: Cpl. John McDerby, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 45, No. 122

On Monday, February 24th, at approximately 4:15pm, a Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement agent was conducting a routine administrative check at South Dupont Liquors located at 157 S. Dupont Highway in New Castle when he noticed two young males inside.  Upon checking their identification one of them was discovered to be only 18 years of age.  Both subjects were acting suspicious and further investigation revealed that both subjects were from New York and were in Delaware to purchase a large amount of alcoholic beverages to transport back to New York in order to avoid state taxes.  Both subjects had in their possession a large amount of cash and a lengthy shopping list of various types of alcoholic liquor that they intended to purchase.  The agent arrested both individuals and they were charged with the above stated offenses. A total of $6,830.00 in cash was seized and both were later released to pending a future court date.

DOVER (April 26, 2013) – 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, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement agents between April 16-23 made 597 contacts with hunters, anglers and boaters, and other members of the public, including 57 boardings for boating safety/fishing regulation compliance checks. Agents responded to 33 complaints and issued 22 citations for violations of fish, game, traffic and criminal regulations. Of particular interest were: 

• The arrest of a Townsend man for trespass and theft on the Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area. A Fish & Wildlife agent investigating vandalism and illegal entry into buildings on the wildlife area noticed a man attempting to remove a lightning rod from the roof of a barn behind a DNREC-owned 19^th century property known as the Chabbott House. Charles J. Bachman, 70, was cited for one count of trespass and one count of theft under $1,500.
   
• Agents charged two Seaford men with illegal possession of river herring during a closed season. One of them, Brice M. Smart, 54, was hit with a third charge of illegal possession since a ban on river herring went into effect last year in Delaware. Smart was transported to Justice of the Peace Court #3 and arraigned on one count of unlawful possession of river herring and one count of failing to produce a fishing license. He was released on $150 unsecured bond with the special condition that he not fish in Delaware waters until the case is adjudicated. Michael J. Schaffers, 25, was cited at the same time for illegal possession of river herring.
• Increased Fish & Wildlife enforcement presence on the new C&D Canal Trail under construction resulted in six of the citations mentioned above: two for illegal dumping, three for fishing without a license, and one for driving without a license.

  Also on the C&D Canal Wildlife Area, an enforcement agent checking a complaint of illegal hunting near the new trail was approached by citizens who reported four pit bull dogs running loose in the area. The agent contacted the SPCA for assistance, and SPCA officers located and captured the dogs, then took them to a shelter.

Citations issued by violation type included the following, with the number of charges in parentheses:

Wildlife Conservation: Hunting wild turkey over bait, Sussex County (1).

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Illegal possession of river herring, Sussex County (2); Fishing without a license, New Castle County (3), Sussex (1).

Public Safety: Illegal dumping, New Castle (2), Kent (1) and Sussex (1) Counties; Operating a motor vehicle without a license, New Castle (1); Trespassing on state property, New Castle (1); Theft of state property less than $1,500 in value, New Castle (1).

 Inside Enforcement: 

• Agents throughout the state are continuing to prepare patrol boats stored over the winter for the start of the upcoming spring boating season. 
   
• Half of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement agents have completed spring firearms training and recertification.  All are expected to be recertified by the end of May.  
   
• Agents noted an increase in complaints related to nuisance/injured wildlife; on April 22, Fish & Wildlife Dispatch documented seven calls related to foxes alone.

 Are you AWARE?

The Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section reminds recreational crabbers who are setting up for the season about state regulations for catching blue crabs:

• A Delaware recreational fishing license is required for crabbing.
• Recreational crabbers may not use, place, set or tend more than two crab pots.
• Recreational crab pots must be tended by the owner at least once every 72 hours and must be marked with white buoys with the owner’s name and permanent mailing address.
• A turtle by-catch reduction device is required to be attached in the funnel entrance of recreational crab pots to reduce the possibility of diamondback terrapins entering the pots and drowning. The device is a rigid rectangular frame made of metal or plastic that measures 1.75 inches by 4.75 inches. By-catch devices are available at local tackle shops or may be handmade of heavy wire.
• Recreational crabbers may use any number of hand lines or traps.
• Minimum “keeper” size for male blue crabs and immature female crabs with the V-shaped apron is 5 inches, measured across the shell from point to point.
• Mature female crabs, identified by the U-shaped apron, are exempt from the minimum size of 5” because many females reach maturity at a smaller size. 
• Mature female blue crabs bearing eggs, known as sponge crabs and recognizable by the orange eggs visible under the apron, may not be taken and should be returned to the water immediately.
• The recreational daily limit on blue crabs is one bushel per person.

Recreational anglers and crabbers also are reminded that fishing or crabbing off of courtesy docks at state-owned boat ramps is prohibited. Anglers and crabbers also should remember that these areas are “carry in, carry out,” and gather up leftover bait, bait containers, crab lines and other trash for proper disposal; those who do not can be cited for littering. “When left behind, crabbing lines are not only an eyesore for other anglers, crabbers and area visitors, they present a danger of entanglement to wildlife attracted to leftover bait,” said Sgt. Gregory Rhodes of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement. This reminder also serves recreational notice to crabbers and anglers, as the Division of Fish & Wildlife has in the past restricted access to areas where littering and dumping become a constant problem, and will do so again if warranted.

With spring finally warming our waterways, anglers also are reminded that using any type of net to catch fish within 300 feet below a dam or spillway is illegal, with the exception of using a landing net on a fish caught with hook and line.

The DNREC Division of Fish and 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 and wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Hunting/Pages/OpGameTheft.aspx.

Contact: Sgt. Gregory Rhodes, Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement, 302-739-9913 or 302-542-6102, or Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 43, No.172

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NEWARK (April 22, 2013) – An investigation by Delaware State Park Rangers into a series of vehicle break-ins over the last three months at White Clay Creek and Brandywine Creek State Parks culminated in the arrests April 19 of a Wilmington couple on an array of criminal charges.

Jason A. Scott, 38, of 2643 Longfellow Drive, was arrested and charged with four counts of misdemeanor theft, one count of felony theft, eight counts of conspiracy, one count of possession of deadly weapon by person prohibited, three counts of illegal carry of a concealed deadly weapon, and four counts of criminal mischief.  He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $4,200 secured bond.

Katheleen M. Brown, 27, of the same Wilmington address, was arrested and charged with one count of felony theft, four counts misdemeanor theft, eight counts conspiracy, four counts of criminal mischief, and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and released on $7,250 unsecured bond.

 State Park Rangers developed leads on the suspects through surveillance images and physical evidence left at several areas where break-ins occurred.

 Contact: Chief Wayne Kline, Delaware State Parks Enforcement, 302-739-9221, or Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902. 

Vol. 43, No. 165

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