At 5 p.m., Baltimore County fire and Natural Resources Police officers were called to the Patapsco River Bridge at the Baltimore-Anne Arundel County line because a deer had fallen through the ice and was trapped.
James Hart, of Jessup, and Khalilalim Abusakran Jr. were on the scene, but officers told them to get off of the waterway because they weren't wearing required life jackets, NRP Sgt. Brian Albert said. The men continued to advance, and managed to break the ice so that the deer could follow the path of shallow water that was about 50 feet to the shoreline.
But because the men didn't follow instructions, they were each fined $90, Albert said.
"We're coming under scrutiny," Albert said. "But it's easy to pay a fine. It's hard to tell these gentlemen's families that they didn't make it because they were trying to rescue a deer cross the ice."
- From staff reports
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@Brett - 2010-12-21 16:45:51
"As a professional rescuer, I am taught to weigh the benefit against the risk involved."
Sounds more like a lawyer.
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Adrian Hernandez - Odenton, MD - Karma: Neutral
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@ Rick - 2010-12-21 16:23:06
You'd better hope some people with no common sense are around on the day that you fall through the ice.
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Mark Smith - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent
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Good Smaritan Law - 2010-12-21 11:23:00
Good Samaritan Law saves you from being sued, from the victim you were attempting to assist.
Does not allow you to break the law.
Bottom line, we need common sense here, and its not being applied.
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Rick M - Laurel, Md - Karma: Excellent
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Whatever - 2010-12-21 11:02:11
happened to the good samaritan law?
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E. corbett - severna park, Md - Karma: Excellent
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Brett - 2010-12-21 08:44:44
Even the cold water training exercises themselves are dangerous, as we have lost at least two lives in the last couple of years out along the Potomac.
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Rick M - Laurel, Md - Karma: Excellent
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9
Seriously, people... - 2010-12-21 08:20:00
As a professional rescuer, I am taught to weigh the benefit against the risk involved. While I feel sympathy for the unfortunate animal trapped in a perilous situation and facing certain death, it would be totally senseless to turn a simple deer rescue into a body recovery had things gone bad. If these men had drowned, the DNR would be chastised for allowing them to attempt the rescue.
Firefighters train for open-water (and ice) rescue constantly. We also use all available safety gear and maintain strict control to assure the successful completion of a mission. Water is much more dangerous than most people realize...and those who spend a lot of time on the water tend to either underestimate the hazards therein or develop a great respect for them.
Good intentions are admirable; foolish acts are not.
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Brett Howe - Millersville, MD - Karma: Neutral
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8
Heroes shafted by DNR - 2010-12-20 21:01:30
Congratulations to Mr Hart and Mr Abusakran for helping this animal. You are both to be commended.
To the DNR "police"; you are idiots! As another poster already said, these guys were doing something while you were apparently just getting angry that they didn't 'follow your instructions'.
Mr Trampolini's advice is the best I've read...take it to court.
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Dave Moore - Arnold, MD - Karma: Bad
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Come on in, waters fine. - 2010-12-20 20:12:59
DNR shows up and commands citizens to not take action, takes no action, than issues fine? They should have been in the water taking action not writing tickets. Take it to court.
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harry trampolini - severna park, MD - Karma: Excellent
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Wow - 2010-12-20 19:01:17
this is so messed up.
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A Jones - Annapolis, md - Karma: Excellent
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4
gotta agree - 2010-12-20 15:39:21
Charles, I'm right there with ya but don't you know donuts will make your kids obese?
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Lou Colletti - ANNAPOLIS, MD - Karma: Neutral
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gotta love - 2010-12-20 12:24:36
reading some of these post.
Coffee, a donut or 2 and reading the capital's comment section.
This is why I live in American!
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charles harrell - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral
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13
police state - 2010-12-20 05:20:45
There is no law in Maryland that ststes you have to where a life vest in a boat only, that it is on the vessel,
Hell they should of jump in the water swimming without a life vest Illeagal.
not.
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Cliff Layman - lothian, MD - Karma: Neutral
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9
Stupid is as Stupid Does - 2010-12-19 20:43:10
Glad they were fined. Endangering human life to "save" any animal--especially a deer--is just stupid. The men should consider it a "stupidity fine" and be grateful it was the worst that happened.
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Nunya Bizness - , - Karma: Neutral
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I love - 2010-12-19 17:25:35
when some moron randomly goes around giving thumbs down. Lol get a life, troll.
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m h - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral
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17
When - 2010-12-19 16:34:40
did an adult not wearing a PFD become a crime? Smells like bovine waste to me!
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edward madden - edgewater, MD - Karma: Neutral
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24
Fined for what? - 2010-12-19 15:49:49
Not "obeying" their warnings?
DNR's responsibility ended with their verbal warning. They did their job.
To fine them AFTER the deer was rescued and AFTER everyone made it safely to shore is abuse of their "authority".
As my favorite Sergeant used to tell me, "There is the letter of the law, and there is the spirit of the law. A good officer knows the difference."
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Ann Huff - Edgewater, MD - Karma: Excellent
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would they be fined - 2010-12-19 15:28:02
if the one in distress were human?
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charles harrell - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral
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DNR strikes again - 2010-12-19 12:34:21
Once again the DNR makes the news for their lack of common decency.
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Dave Dyke - Pasadena, MD - Karma: Excellent
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.. - 2010-12-19 12:08:20
Life jackets should always be available, but were these guys on the scene before or after the emergency crew arrived? If before, and they were already in the water attempting to help the animal in distress - at least the emergency crew was standing by. Someone put their life in danger to save an animal, that should be commended. These sound like the type of gentleman that act on impulse and would stop to help other people in distress without thinking twice, $90 is pocket change.. Pay it, let it go.. big deal, you did a good deed.
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m h - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral
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No Good Deed Goes Unpunished - 2010-12-19 09:22:08
Yep, file this under "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished."
That'll teach 'em.
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biff tradwell - edgewater, MD - Karma: Excellent
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