DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Blotter: Sept. 3-9

Reminder for the week: Public urged to report violations of hunting and wildlife regulations

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 Sept. 3-9 made 1,886 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 42 citations. Officers responded to 50 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 Sept. 6, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers gave a presentation on the role of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers and answered hunting, fishing, and boating questions during a Hunter Education Class at the Little Creek Hunter Education Training Center.

• On Sept. 8, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers, along with the United States Coast Guard, assisted the Pennsville, New Jersey Police Department using marine patrol vessels to maintain a security zone for a fireworks event along the Delaware River.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions
Incidents of note:

• On Sept. 3, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Gary Hendrix, 60, of Wilmington, for one count each of operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol and negligent operation of a motor vessel at the Indian River Marina. Hendrix was issued a summons for a mandatory court appearance at a later date and released.

• On Sept. 5, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Matthew Ewing, 35, of Frederica, for 20 counts of improper display of commercial crab pot license number on buoy on the Delaware Bay. Ewing was arraigned and released at Kent County Justice of the Peace Court 7, where he pled guilty and was fined $336, including court costs.

• On Sept. 8, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers responded to a boat accident involving a boat striking the 5th Street Bridge in Delaware City that resulted in minor injuries to the operator and significant boat damage. The accident is still under investigation.

• On Sept. 8, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers responded and rescued two uninjured individuals who fell off a kayak on the Rehoboth Bay.

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:
Wildlife Conservation: Hunting with an unplugged shotgun capable of holding more than three shells (1).
Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Trespass to fish (1), possession of undersized Atlantic croaker (1), and possession of undersized blue crabs (2). Commercial: Improper display of commercial crab pot license number on buoy (20).

Boating and Boating Safety: Failure to observe slow no wake (1), no boating safety certificate (1), operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol (1), negligent operation of a motor vessel (1), and operating an unregistered vessel (1).

Public Safety: Excessive speed on a state wildlife area (1)* and possession of drug paraphernalia – civil (1)*.

Other: Operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (1)*, damaging state property on a wildlife area (1)*, trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (7)*, and dumping 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?
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police encourage the public to report violations of Delaware’s hunting and wildlife regulations through Operation Game Theft (OGT), a fund established in 1980 by the Delaware General Assembly to assist in the apprehension and conviction of game law violators. Funded with fines collected for violation of game laws in Delaware and with donations from various sources, OGT provides cash rewards up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons involved in game law violations. The identity of those providing information is kept confidential.

Please report any suspicious or illegal activity that you observe as soon as possible to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030. You can also visit Operation Game Theft online for more information about the OGT or to report illegal activity.

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DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police investigating fatal personal watercraft accident in Sussex County

FENWICK ISLAND – DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers are investigating a fatal boating accident involving personal watercraft (PWC) that occurred at approximately 1:41 p.m. today on Roy’s Creek off Assawoman Bay in Sussex County.

A 53-year-old man, who was operating a PWC, was pronounced dead at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, Md. The name of the deceased is being withheld, pending notification of family members.

DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police said alcohol was not a contributing factor in the fatal PWC accident. Their investigation into the accident is ongoing, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police said Saturday evening.

Vol. 48, No. 204

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Victim of Saturday’s fatal boating accident in Sussex County identified

MILTON – The victim of an Oct. 28 fatal boating accident on the Broadkill River near Oyster Rocks Road has been identified as Dan M. Cochran IV, 62, of Lewes.

Cochran, who had been kayaking alone, was located in early afternoon by a couple boating in the area. They initially observed an empty kayak and then noticed the victim floating nearby. The victim’s body was recovered by the Lewes Fire Department and then turned over to the Delaware Division of Forensic Science for an autopsy.

An investigation of the incident was jointly conducted by DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police and the Delaware State Police. The boating accident remains under investigation by Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police.DE F&W Natural Resources Police logo

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. 

Media contact: Lt. John McDerby, 302-354-1386, or Sgt. Brooke Africa, 302-382-7167, or Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Vol. 47, No. 234

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Victim identified from Sunday’s fatal boating accident in Delaware River

WILMINGTON – The victim in Sunday’s fatal boating accident on the Delaware River has been identified as Frank Montana IV, 40, of Penns Grove, N.J., according to DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, who were among agencies searching for a missing man throughout the afternoon and into the night before the body was recovered.DE F&W Natural Resources Police logo

Mr. Montana and a passenger were in a 12-foot flat-bottom boat that capsized Sunday afternoon in rough waters approximately 200 yards out in the river off Penns Grove, N.J. The men were setting recreational crab pots at the time of the incident, according to the passenger, who managed to swim ashore.

Witnesses told investigating Natural Resource Police officers that Mr. Montana was seen swimming approximately 100 yards from shore before he went underwater and did not resurface. Emergency responders from Delaware, New Jersey and the U.S. Coast Guard conducted search and rescue efforts for several hours, until water conditions became unsafe for divers.

At about 9:50 p.m., a Penns Grove homeowner spotted Mr. Montana’s body along shore behind his residence. The victim’s body was recovered and turned over to the Delaware Medical Examiner’s office.

The boat passenger was transported to Memorial Hospital of Salem County, N.J. and treated for hypothermia and water inhalation.

The DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police investigation into the accident is continuing.

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

Vol. 47, No. 108

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Maryland man cited for OUI after boating accident near Fenwick Island

FENWICK ISLAND – A Maryland man was charged early Sunday morning by DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police with operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol (OUI) following a boating accident that left him clinging to his capsized 28-foot cabin cruiser for about two hours in the water off Cape Windsor, west of Fenwick Island.

The boat’s operator, Jeffrey S. Collier, 54, of Bel Air, Md. was brought to shore by Roxana Fire Company’s marine unit after Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, the Delaware State Police Aviation Unit and the fire company responded to a 911 call placed from the headwaters of Big Assawoman Bay about 11:15 p.m. Saturday. Collier was cited by Natural Resources Police for OUI, negligent operation of a vessel and failure to maintain a proper lookout and released, pending an appearance in Justice of the Peace Court 14 in Georgetown at a later date.

Collier was alone aboard the vessel, with no injuries reported. His boat was recovered Sunday morning by a commercial salvage company. The accident remains under investigation by Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police.

Boaters navigating Delaware waters are reminded that operating a boat with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher is in violation of Delaware and federal laws. Boat operators found to be at or above the limit will find their voyage terminated, will be cited and may have their vessel impounded. Boat operators found to be under the influence also can face fines and potential jail time. For more information, please visit Delaware Boating Safety.

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.

Contact: Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 260