On Wednesday, July 3, 2023 at 1624 hours, I Officer First Class responded at the request of Special Operations Division Duty Officer Sgt., to the area of Solleys Cove Park in reference to a boating incident. I was briefed that field officers were on scene of a reported missing boater, from a jon boat found unoccupied, circling in Curtis Creek. While en route I contacted Sgt. in reference to responding for search management. Ofc. also responded to assist with the investigation.

Scene Interviews
            Upon my arrival, I made contact with Sgt., who was the Supervisor on scene. Sgt. advised that the missing boater was identified, and directed me to friends and family members who had already arrived.

            I made met with subject1 who advised that he was friends with Victim, and knew him from a horseshoe league. Subject1 stated he was crabbing on Curtis Creek earlier that day, and saw Victim also crabbing. Subject1 advised that he observed Victim was operating a new boat, and felt that it was likely overpowered for its size. Subject1 advised that Victim had two other people on board with him when he saw him that morning, but did not know who they were. Subject1 stated that Victim was crabbing in the area of the railroad bridge near the Coast Guard Station. Subject1 advised that he also saw Victim on his return trip still crabbing at approximately 1245 hours. Subject1 stated that Victim no longer had people with him in the boat. Subject1 advised that he observed a hat that field officers recovered from the water, and confirmed that the hat was the one Victim had been wearing earlier that day.
           I met with Victim’s daughter, accompanied by her mother. Subject2 advised that she last saw Victim that morning (July 3). Subject2 advised that he was wearing a hat and a red shirt when he left the house. Subject2 further described Victim as having gray hair with a beard, and no scars or tattoos. Subject2 advised that Victim was not an experienced boater, and that she believed this was his first trip in the boat, as he had just purchased it from a friend / coworker. Subject2 advised that Victim could not swim. Subject2 stated that Victim did not consume alcohol nor drugs to her knowledge. Subject2 advised that Victim was diagnosed in the past with high blood pressure and congestive heart failure, for which he was prescribed medication. Subject2 did not know the medication type / dosage nor if Victim took the medication as prescribed. Subject2 stated that Victim also had a recent leg injury that could affect his ability to swim / walk.
            Subject2 stated that she last spoke with Victim on the telephone earlier that morning. Subject2 advised that Victim told her he had gotten a line tangled in his propeller, but had gotten it clear with the assistance of a passerby boater, and he was not in distress at that time. Subject2 advised that she became concerned when she could not reach Victim on subsequent phone calls, so she responded to Solleys Cove Park and found the search underway. Subject2 provided the first names of the people who had been on the boat, but she was unable to provide further information about them at that time.
             Ofc. met with the registered owner of the vessel and obtained a written statement from him.
Evidence
            I received a black hat and a DVD from Sgt. while on scene. The hat was recovered in the creek by Off. (and referenced prior by Subject1 as belonging to Victim). The DVD was of video surveillance from the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Station obtained by U.S. Coast Guard Security Forces Officer. I later observed the footage which showed a distant vessel briefly come into frame, possibly unmanned. Due to pixilation I was unable to observe any details of the vessel for positive identification. The hat and DVD were later stored as evidence at the Natural Resources Police Broadneck Office.
Vehicle / Vessel Inspection
           Field units located Victim’s vehicle in the parking lot of Solleys Cove Park. The vehicle was a black Chevrolet Silverado bearing Maryland registration, with an attached boat trailer bearing Maryland registration. The vehicle was in a secure condition, and was photographed by Ofc..
             Off. and Cadet towed the recovered vessel to Solleys Cove Park. Off. stated that she found the boat circling slowly counter clockwise with no one on board. Off. advised that she nosed her vessel into the jon boat, and Cadet stepped off onto it. Cadet stated that he disturbed nothing other than the tiller and shifter of the vessel to operate it.
             The vessel was a 14ft Lowe jon boat bearing Maryland registration. Crabbing gear within the vessel was labelled with the number, which when referenced in the LTD database, was found to be Victim’s DNR ID#. I observed no obvious damage to the hull, but observed cut marks on the lower unit and propeller. The engine cut off switch was in place and appeared to have not been in use. There were three personal flotation devices on board. The trailer was removed from Victim’s truck and utilized to remove the vessel from the water. Ofc. photographed the vessel, which was then towed to the Maryland Natural Resources Police Matapeake facility for safe keeping by Off..
            On July 4, at approximately 0900 hours, I responded to the Matapeake facility to further inspect the vessel. After inspection, I contacted the registered owner and arranged to deliver the vehicle back to his custody. I transported the vessel to his residence where I released it.
Additional Interviews
            While returning the vessel, I interviewed him regarding the incident. Subject3 advised that he was the registered owner of the vessel, and was in the process of selling the boat to Victim, who was his coworker. Subject3 advised that he had accepted money from Victim for the boat two days prior, and intended to give the title to Victim on July 4. Subject3 advised that the markings on the lower unit and propeller were not there prior to Victim taking the boat. Subject3 stated that he responded to Solleys Cove Park when called by NRP about the vessel. Subject3 consented to me providing his contact information to Victim’s family to resolve ownership of the vessel.
            I contacted Victim’s eldest daughter and apprised her of the situation. Subject4 confirmed Victim’s medical history as stated by Subject2, but likewise could not advise of medication types or dosages. Subject4 provided me with the contact information of the two others onboard.
             I made contact with the two others via telephone. Subject5 advised that they had been out with Victim on the vessel the morning of the day he went missing. Subject5 stated that they went underway from Solleys Cove Park at approximately 0800 hours, and spent the morning cruising around and crabbing. Subject5 advised that he and Subject6 were dropped back off at Sollys Cove at approximately 1130 hours, but Victim went back out to do some more crabbing. Subject5 advised that Victim’s condition seemed normal, and that he had not consumed any alcohol or drugs. Subject5 advised that Victim was not wearing a life jacket. Subject5 confirmed Victim’s attire as a black hat, red shirt, and stated he was wearing dark-colored shorts. Subject6 confirmed Subject5’s telling of events.
            

Curtis Creek
Curtis Bay                    