RedactedNarrative: On Sunday, May 23rd, 2021, at approximately 0023 hours, the Maryland Natural Resources Police, responded to the area of Foxy's Harbor Grille in St. Michaels Harbor for a report of an intoxicated vessel operator possibly operating a stolen vessel. While enroute, a St. Michaels Officer advised me that the suspect vessel hit two different vessels as they were leaving the harbor. I arrived on scene at approximately 0037 hours. I obtained information from the two vessel owners that were struck. OWNER 3 was the owner of the first vessel struck. His vessel was a 1983 Uniflite cabin boat. OWNER 2 was the owner of the second vessel struck. His vessel was a 1984 30 foot Catalina Sailboat.
  
  After investigating the incident, the operator of the suspect vessel was identified as OPERATOR 1. I obtained written statements from three Foxy's employees who were able to identify OPERATOR 1 and were able to definitely say he was operating the suspect vessel when it left the harbor. SMPD confirmed that OPERATOR 1 was operating the vessel when it left the harbor. He made contact with OPERATOR 1 for an unrelated incident prior to him leaving. 
  
  The second occupant of the suspect vessel was not identified by anyone on scene.
  SMPD obtained a report from at Oak Creek Landing in Newcomb of a vessel with two occupants entering the creek at a high rate of speed around the same time of the incident. I then patrolled Oak Creek by vessel at approximately 0236 hours. I checked vessels within the creek for any damage that would coincide with the accident from the harbor. I documented three different vessels that may have been involved solely based on the appearance not from damage.
  
  At this time the suspect vessel is unknown. The only description that I have is that it was a white center console under 25 feet, possibly a Grady White.
  
  I reviewed bodycam footage and neither of their cameras showed any clear footage of the suspect vessel. I also asked Foxy's if they had any security cameras that captured the incident. She advised that the only camera close to the incident covered the parking lot but not the water. Foxy's also provided me with a credit card receipt belonging to OPERATOR 1 from that night.
  
  The suspect vessel struck both vessels with its starboard (right) side. The damage to VESSEL 2 is on the forward half of the port (left) side and at the stern (rear). Pictures of the damage to his boat have been added to the report. VESSEL 2’s owner also advised me that a cable was damaged that helped secure the main staff which deemed the vessel inoperable. VESSEL 2 was unable to safely sail the vessel home and had it towed sometime during the week to a harbor in Anne Arundel County. I advised him to keep me updated on the cost of the damages so I can determine if a boat accident report is needed.
  A detailed description of the accident was written and has been added to the report. 
  I cleared the scene at approximately 0356 hours.
  
  All events occurred in Talbot County, Maryland.
  On the evening of Saturday, May 29th, 2021 I spoke with OPERATOR 1 over the phone. He admitted to driving the suspect vessel during the accident. He also stated the accident happened because the throttle was stuck. He agreed to meet me at his residence the next day, May 30th so I could review the damage to his vessel.
  
  On Sunday, May 30th, 2021, I met OPERATOR 1. The damage to his vessel coincided with the damage to the other two vessels. OPERATOR 1 stated that he would fix the damage himself or leave it the way it is. He also showed me the damage done to the vessel's prop. He said the throttle kept getting stuck on the way home so he ran the vessel aground damaging the prop. There was no way to determine if the prop was damaged that night or if it was already damaged. He also stated that he purchased registration through Virginia, but was unable to produce any verification. The vessel still had the previous Maryland registration on it. That registration "2925AT" expired in December 2020.
  
  I asked him to fill out a voluntary statement. He read the NRP-425 voluntary statement form and decided not to fill on out.
  Based on his voluntary admission and the information I gathered through my investigation, I charged OPERATOR 1 with the following:
  08.18.01.05B - Negligent Operation
  NR 8-724a - Boating accident - Duty to give information
  08.18.01.04A - Failure to obey navigational rules - Rules of the Road Rule 5
  08.18.01.04A - Failure to obey navigational rules - Rules of the Road Rule 6 
  08.18.01.04A - Failure to obey navigational rules - Rules of the Road Rule 8 
  I am still waiting to hear from Vessel 2’s owner on the cost of the total damages to his vessel. If the damages reach 2000 dollars I will complete a boat accident report per USCG regulations.
  All events occurred in Talbot County, Maryland.
  