Illegal Pet Coyote Caught in Public, Destroyed
The pet coyote prior to being destroyed by the state. DNR employees advised local police that possession of the animal was illegal in Maryland.
On August 26 at approximately 8:09 a.m., the Calvert Control Center received a call from a citizen advising that there was a coyote running loose with a leash in the area of Neptune's restaurant in North Beach. Sheriff's deputies and Animal Control Officer (ACO) Tom Guy responded to the call. They were able to capture the coyote, utilizing catch poles, in the area of Frederick Ave. and 3rd St. in North Beach. The coyote was wearing a blue collar indicating it was someone's pet.
The coyote was transported to the Sheriff's Office where ACO Guy met with members of the Natural Resources Police and Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division where they confirmed that the animal was a coyote. A resident of North Beach responded to the Sheriff's Office claiming that he was the owner of the coyote.
During the investigation conducted by the NRP Officers, they were advised that the coyote was obtained as a puppy in the Virginia area. Due to the possible exposure of rabies from the coyote, it was humanely euthanized and sent to the state lab in Baltimore for testing. The coyote tested negative for rabies.
According to NRP Officers, charges are pending for the owner. It is illegal to own/possess a coyote in the State of Maryland.
Serious Crash
On August 24 at approximately 11:13 p.m., the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office responded to Calvert Beach Rd. and Forest Trail in St. Leonard for a single vehicle crash. A 1999 Jeep Cherokee ran off the road and struck a tree. The Jeep was traveling west on Calvert Beach Rd. when it failed to negotiate a sweeping left turn in the roadway. The Jeep crossed the center line and the west bound lane and left the roadway briefly. The Jeep then reentered the roadway and started rotating in a clockwise direction. The Jeep continued across both lanes of the road and left the road on the east bound side. The Jeep struck a tree and continued to rotate around the tree. The driver, 18-year-old Makayla Lee Burkman, of Port Republic, was pinned in the vehicle.
EMS crews worked for approximately an hour before they were able to extricate Burkman from the Jeep. Burkman was taken to Prince George’s Medical Center via Maryland State Police Helicopter. Burkman was suffering from life threatening injuries. The other occupants of the Jeep were identified as Tyler James Fortney, 19, of St. Leonard; Catherine Jordan Findley, 18, of Prince Frederick; and Kyle Nicholas Hooper, 18, of Prince Frederick. All three sustained non-life threatening injuries and were transported to a hospital for treatment.
Preliminary investigation indicated that speed and alcohol are factors in the crash. The crash is being investigated by Dfc. W. Beisel of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Anyone with information about the crash can call 410-535-2800 or email beiselww@co.cal.md.us.