With more and more people promoting more and more tourism, one has to ask whether it is safe to travel to DCL as it is?

One thing is certain, the Maryland State Police (MSP) and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Natural Resources Police (NRP) are definitely not resting on their laurels in the Deep Creek Area. A quick trip over the DNR website revealed the following incidents at or near Deep Creek Lake this month alone.

I have copied these news items from DNR website under the DNR Police Blotter tags, just this month (with one week remaining):

Garrett County – On Tuesday, July 1, at 9 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged William H. Fredlock IV, 43, of Swanton with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol on Deep Creek Lake.

NRP stopped Fredlock for allegedly not displaying proper navigational lights on his vessel. Fredlock was transported to the Garrett County Sheriff's Office for processing and charged with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol and or drugs, negligent operation and operating a vessel between the hours of sunset and sunrise without proper navigation lights. He was released on his signature.

Garrett County – On Friday, July 4, at 7:50 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Cory R. Chaney, 64, of Frederick with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol on Deep Creek Lake.

NRP stopped Chaney after receiving reports from concerned citizens of a possible intoxicated boat operator on the lake. Chaney was arrested and charged with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol and or drugs. He was released on his signature.

Garrett County – On Friday, July 4, at 11:35 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Timothy I. Rowan, 21, of Mount Airy with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol on Deep Creek Lake.

NRP stopped Rowan for allegedly not displaying proper navigational lights on his vessel. Rowan was arrested and transported to the Maryland State Police McHenry Barrack for processing and charged with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol and or drugs and negligent operation. He was released on his signature.

Garrett County – On Saturday, July 5, at 6 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Dennis R. Strawderman Jr., 27, of Reisterstown with operating his personal watercraft (PWC) while intoxicated on Deep Creek Lake.

NRP stopped Strawderman for allegedly operating a PWC at a high rate of speed between the NRP boat dock and the shoreline. Strawderman was arrested and charged with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol and or drugs and operating a PWC in excess of 6 knots within 100 feet of shore. He was released on his signature.

NRP reminds persons operating personal watercraft within 100 feet of the shore, wharfs, piers, pilings, jetties, bridge structures or abutments, individual or individuals in the water, and other vessels may not exceed a speed of 6 knots at anytime.

Garrett County – On Saturday, July 19, at 4:30 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police investigated a boating accident in the main body of Deep Creek Lake.

Che F. Moore, 38, of Verona, Pa. was operating a rented personal watercraft (PWC) when he struck the stern of a pontoon boat operated by Kevin Beattie, of Pittsburgh, Pa. No one was injured in the collision. NRP charged Moore with negligent operation of a vessel and operating a personal watercraft at greater than six knots within 100 foot of another vessel.

Garrett County – On Saturday, July 19, at 6:45 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Faith M. Lasica, 51, of McKeesport, Pa. with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol on the Youghiogheny River Reservoir.

NRP stopped Lasica for allegedly operating her pontoon boat in an erratic manner. Lasica was transported to the Maryland State Police McHenry Barrack for processing and charged with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol and or drugs and negligent operation.

Garrett County – On Saturday, July 19, at 11:45 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged a Frederick man with driving while intoxicated on Mayhew Inn Road.

NRP initiated a traffic stop on Stanley R. Powell Jr., 30, of Frederick for allegedly operating an all terrain vehicle of the roadway. During the course of the traffic stop, Powell was arrested and transported to the Maryland State Police McHenry Barrack for processing. Powell was charged with driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and driving a vehicle while impaired by alcohol. He was released on his signature.

Garrett County – On Tuesday, July 23, at 11:30 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police investigated a boating accident in the McHenry Cove area of Deep Creek Lake.

Aaron G. Mummert, 32, of Hanover, Pa. was operating an 18-foot motor vessel with three passengers onboard when he struck the stern of a 24-foot pontoon boat operated by John C. Ortiz, 29, of Oakland. Mummert's vessel became airborne and landed in front of the pontoon boat.

Two of Mummert's passengers, Nichole S. Reed, 23, of Gettysburg, Pa. and Susan M. Muscleman, 41, of Orrtanna, Pa. were transported to Garrett County Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

NRP charged Mummert with negligent operation of a vessel, failure to maintain a proper look-out, failure to operate at a safe speed to avoid a collision and failure to obtain a certificate of boating safety education. A court date of Oct. 30 has been scheduled for Mummert in Garrett County District Court.

The Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Northern Garrett County Rescue Squad and Southern Garrett County Rescue Squad assisted NRP with the incident.

NRP reminds boaters of the Maryland law that requires anyone born on or after July 1, 1972, must possess a certificate of boating safety education in order to operate any motorized vessel. This certificate is non-renewable and must be carried by the person at all times while operating a vessel. Officers may ask to see the certificate during a vessel check and, if not provided, a person can be charged with a minimum of $25 for the first offense and up to $500 for each offense thereafter.



People want more of this? More drunken tourists to endanger us all? It looks like there is an already epidemic of these type of incidents. And that's only the half of it because I'm sure the Maryland State Police list goes on and on with who only knows what else - DUI, DWI, public intoxication, disturbing the peace, theft, burglary, etc, etc. So much for the tranquil getaway Garrett County used to be, now it's more like an episode of Cops. Maybe that prison is needed, just to restore law and order to the Deep Creek area on any given weekend.

Don't forget to check back to Dan's Deep Creek Blog for future updates.