9 arrested July 4th Weekend for boating under the influence in Maryland, police say

MARYLAND ( DC News Now ) — Police said multiple people were arrested during the July 4th Weekend during the Dry Water Operation initiative.

Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) said officers made nine arrests for boaters who were operating while under the influence of alcohol from July 4 to July 6. It was the highest number of arrests made since its 2018 operation when officers arrested 12 people during Independence Day Weekend.

No boating fatalities were reported, making this year “statistically safer” compared to the last few years, NRP said.

“Operation Dry Water” started in 2009. During the operations, officers concentrate in areas of Maryland’s waterways where drinking and boating are known to happen.

Operation Dry Water was launched in 2009 by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. Since then, NRP officers have conducted “saturation patrols,” concentrating in Maryland waterways where drinking and boating are known to happen.

The nine people facing charges are:

• A 24-year-old Camp Springs man was charged after a personal watercraft collision that occurred in Rock Creek near Fort Smallwood State Park on July 4.
• A 30-year-old Denton man was charged after being stopped for improper navigation lighting on the Choptank River in Cambridge on July 4.
• A 23-year-old Eden man was charged after he was spotted operating a personal watercraft negligently in the Sinepuxent Bay in Ocean City on July 4.
• A 44-year-old Sparrows Point man was charged after being stopped for operating without navigation lights in Bear Creek on July 5.
• A 55-year-old Rockville man was charged after two vessels collided in Deep Creek Lake on July 5, causing injuries to several occupants and heavy damage to both boats.
• A 24-year-old Chester man was charged after a U.S. Coast Guard safety inspection in Kent Narrows on July 6.
• A 59-year-old Cambridge man was charged after a U.S. Coast Guard safety inspection on the Choptank River in Cambridge on July 6.
• A 50-year-old Jefferson Hills, Pa. man was charged after being stopped for improper navigation lighting on Deep Creek Lake on July 6.
• A 22-year-old Middle River man was charged after officers located him on a fishing boat after a reported physical altercation at Wilson Point Park Boat Ramp on Dark Head Creek on July 6.

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