Deer Rescued During Thursday's Storm
POSTED: 8:50 pm EST December 19, 2010
UPDATED: 6:56 pm EST December 20, 2010
BALTIMORE -- Natural Resources Police fined two men who helped rescue a deer trapped in a frozen river because they were not wearing life jackets aboard their inflatable boat, but the duo said they'd do it again if they had to.
The Baltimore County Fire Department and Natural Resources Police officers were called to the Patapsco River Bridge last week after a deer fell through the ice.
NRP Sgt. Brian Albert said James Hart and Khalilalim Abusakran Jr. were at the scene, but officers told them to get off the waterway because they weren't wearing required life jackets.
Hart told 11 News on Monday that he was driving over a bridge when he saw something struggling in the water below.
"She was trying to get up on the ice, but any corner she went to, she kept sliding off," he said.
Abusakran said he showed up with a rubber raft in his van and the two men decided to try to help free the deer.
"I would save a life in a heartbeat, regardless what it was."
- Rescuer James Hart
"I was chopping and trying to break the ice, so that way if we scared him, he'll come back up the canal and come on shore," Hart said.
"We went out there with some oars and some shovels and started beating at the ice and breaking it up to give the dear an access path out," Abusakran said.
Albert said that because the men didn't follow instructions, they were each fined $90.
But the men said they did have flotation devices.
"Everyone could see the two big black personal floating devices on the boat," Abusakran said.
Despite getting the tickets, both men said they would do the same thing again.
"I would save a life in a heartbeat, regardless what it was," Hart said.
"It felt good. You can't replace that feeling," Abusakran said.
Natural Resources Police Superintendent Col. George Johnson said Monday evening that he reviewed the reports and is standing by the officer's decision to ticket the men.
Johnson said although the rescuers meant well, they disregarded orders given by officers on the scene. He said what began with an animal in distress could have quickly led to human tragedy.
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