Maryland Natural Resources Police Rescue Three Boaters in Distress

Photo courtesy of Support Maryland Watermen

At the height of Thursday’s strong storms, a Maryland Natural Resources Police officer responded to a call for boaters in distress just north of Kent Narrows.

Three men – all wearing life jackets – were in the water, waving for help. The officer pulled all three aboard his patrol boat and then corralled their capsized canoe and towed it to shore.

Adonias Zacarias of Adelphi, Ammer Rogue of Silver Spring and Jose Portillo of Hyattsville did not require medical assistance.

Three Washington-area men were charged last week with illegal fishing at Kent Narrows.

Jose Guillermo Cabrera-Suchite, 27, of Adelphi, received two citations Thursday for keeping five undersized striped bass and for exceeding the daily summer catch limit.

On July 4, Milagro Aracely Vierra-Lemus, 23, and Wilfredo Armando Barrious-Maldonado, 35, of Washington, received three citations each for exceeding the daily catch limit for striped bass, possessing undersized fish and possessing striped bass between midnight and 5 a.m.

All three men are scheduled to appear in Queen Anne’s County District Court Sept. 7. The maximum fine for each offense is $1,000.

Officers on saturation patrol with the U.S. Coast Guard during the holiday weekend arrested several boaters for operating while impaired.

Gregory Daniel Andrews, 28, of Kingsville, failed field sobriety tests and refused to take a Breathalyzer test after being stopped near Tolchester Marina in Kent County. He received three citations for impairment and one for failing to carry required vessel safety equipment. He has an Aug. 30 court date.

Stephen Michalkiewicz, 40, of Newark, Delaware, was stopped near Still Pond in Kent County and issued three citations for impaired operation. He has an Aug. 30 court date.

Steven Robert Taylor, 24, of Newark, Delaware, was stopped on the Sassafras River near Back Creek when an officer noticed his boat was speeding and did not have navigational lights on. He failed field sobriety tests and refused to take a Breathalyzer test.

Officers issued three citations for impaired boating, one citation for negligent operation and one citation for failing to carry required vessel safety equipment. A court date has not been set yet in Cecil County District Court.