Natural Resources Police Charge Suspected Arsonist

A West Virginia man has been arrested and charged in connection with a recent series of fires that damaged almost 58 acres in Green Ridge State Forest in Allegany County.

Brian Chad Twigg, 19, of Paw Paw, West Virginia, was arrested on a warrant Monday and ordered held on a $5,000 bond at the Allegany County Detention Center. Twigg is charged with three counts each of malicious burning in the first-degree, a felony, malicious destruction of property and maliciously setting fires.

The nine charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 39 years and a fine of up to $28,500.

Investigators were called to the scene of three fires that occurred March 23 near Malcolm Road, and April 3 and 4 near Kirk Road. They concluded the fires were suspicious in nature and traced the evidence back to Twigg.

A trial date has not been set.

Using information gathered by Natural 1, the department’s helicopter, officers charged four men with illegally hunting turkeys in Caroline County.

Last Saturday, officers set up surveillance near an area baited for turkey and issued a citation to Marlin Ray Lapp, 19, of Gordonville, Pennsylvania, for hunting turkey with the aid of bait.

On April 18 at 6 a.m., officers saw two men begin to hunt in an area baited for turkey near Preston. They issued citations to Terry Dixon Colby, 58, of Southington, Connecticut, and David Lloyd Fluharty Jr., 70, of Laurel, Delaware.

That same morning, officers conducting surveillance of an area near Wood Wharf Road saw a man walk into the woods and enter a hunting blind that over looked the bait.

Michael B. Steeken, 54, of Preston, received a citation for illegally hunting over bait.

All four men are scheduled to appear in Caroline County District Court June 9. If found guilty, the fine would be $500.

Two Virginia men were charged Wednesday with illegal fishing at Fishing Creek Bridge in Dorchester County.

Jose Arnoldo Portillo Vasquez, 63, and Medrano Ernesto Isabet, 45, both of Reston, were seen catching fish and hiding them by two officers on surveillance.

The officers found 12 undersized striped bass and wrote each man citations for keeping undersized fish, possessing too many striped bass and fishing for striped bass in a prohibited area.

They are due to appear in Dorchester County District Court July 19. If found guilty of all three charges, each man could be fined a maximum of $4,500.

On Sunday shortly after midnight, officers on surveillance patrol at Fishing saw two men catching and hiding striped bass. Officers found 18 fish.

Sergio “D” Martos 37, of Hyattsville, and Felipe Orduna Zamudio, 35, of Cheverly, each received citations for possession of undersized striped bass and possession over the legal limit. Zamudio also received a citation for fishing without a license.

They are scheduled to appear in Dorchester County District Court June 21. If found guilty, each man could be fined up to $3,000.