With nearly perfect weather for the five-day Independence Day weekend, the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) were kept busy making close to 12,000 boating contacts on state waterways and over 10,000 public lands contacts.

Drowning at Swallows Falls State Park

At 5:12 p.m. June 30, NRP responded to Swallow Falls State Park for a report of a possible drowning.

Alvin Louis Garner, 43, of Norfolk, Va., along with three other individuals, was swimming in the Youghiogheny River at the second set of falls in the park. The four had entered the park through a side path to access an area of the river that is not a controlled swim area. Garner was noticed missing at 4:16 p.m. by one of the party while they swam.

An NRP helicopter conducted an aerial search of the area while NRP Underwater Operation Unit members and divers from the Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Department searched below. Garner’s body was recovered by Deep Creek divers at 9:05 p.m. and transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy. Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Southern Garrett County Rescue Squad, Oakland Volunteer Fire Department and the Maryland State Park Service assisted NRP with the incident.

Three Mature Boaters Hit With Assault on Police Charges

On June 29, NRP arrested a Towson couple and a Sherwood Forest woman east of the Route 450 Bridge on the Severn River for operating a vessel while intoxicated, resisting arrest, and assault on a police officer.

U. S. Coast Guard (USCG) officers originally stopped the 40-foot motorboat at 11:14 p.m. and boarded the vessel. Carl Peter Smith, 65, of Towson was operating the vessel. His wife, Judith Hook Smith, 63, also of Towson accompanied him along with Neville Hook Gardner, 56, of Sherwood Forest and many other passengers. USCG contacted NRP and requested assistance for a possible intoxicated operator. After Smith took field sobriety tests, officers determined that he was intoxicated and placed him under arrest. Smith refused to comply with officers’ orders and had to be forcefully restrained. While the officers attempted to arrest Smith, Judith Smith and Neville Gardner verbally and physically assaulted them. As a result, Mrs. Smith and Gardner were also placed under arrest.

Carl Smith was charged with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of second degree to intentionally cause physical injury to a law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of his duties, and resisting arrest.

Judith Smith was charged with two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of second degree to intentionally cause physical injury to a law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of his duties, and interfering with a lawful arrest.

Neville Gardner was charged with two counts of second-degree assault and interfering with a lawful arrest.

All three individuals were taken before the Anne Arundel County District Court Commissioner, where they were released on personal recognizance.

 

NRP checked 11,866 boaters and performed 3,468 vessel safety inspections over the extended holiday weekend. Officers issued 349 citations and 1,266 warnings on the state’s waterways.

Thirteen subjects were arrested for operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol (a 15 pe