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

Dustin T. Hicks

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.

Michael B. Warncke of Magnolia was ordered by DNREC’s Environmental Crimes Unit to clean up trash that led to his arrest for illegal dumping.

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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DNREC Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit charges Frankford man with illegal dumping

DOVER – Following an investigation, DNREC Natural Resources Police Environmental Crimes Unit arrested a Frankford man June 1 and charged him with illegal dumping after evidence from trash found on Blueberry Lane near Frankford led ECU officers to the suspect.

Carlos A. Valencia, 28, was charged with causing or contributing to the discharge of solid waste material. Valencia was also wanted on two capiases out of Justice of the Peace Court 3 in Georgetown, where he pled guilty to the illegal dumping charge and received a $500 fine along with an order to clean up the trash.

To report possible environmental violations, members of the public are encouraged to call DNREC’s 24-hour Environmental Emergency Response Line at 800-662-8802.

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

Vol. 47, No. 129

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TrashStoppers: see DNREC’s anti-dumping program candidly on-camera in new video

DNREC TrashStoppers illegal dumping videoDOVER (April 25, 2013) – DNREC’s TrashStoppers program to stop illegal trash dumping in Delaware thrives on violators convicting themselves on camera of breaking the law and possibly costing themselves thousands of dollars in fines. 

Now, in a new DNREC video, the TrashStoppers program itself goes before the camera for an inside look at how this nationally-recognized program operates to thwart illegal dumping and do away with roadside dump sites in the state. The video on Your DNREC YouTube channel details how the program has become a strong deterrent against trash dumping in Delaware.

 TrashStoppers – working out of DNREC’s Office of Community Services and within the department’s Environmental Crimes Unit – was an immediate success, and states as far away as Alaska have emulated its strategic use of surveillance cameras to reduce illegal trash dumping.

Since it was launched in 2010, the TrashStoppers program has resulted in some 100 arrests for illegal dumping in all three Delaware counties, while a website featuring photos of illegal dumpers taken by TrashStoppers cameras has generated still more leads for identifying and apprehending violators.

CONTACT: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 43, No. 168

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