NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

Dec. 4, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 469

Contact:  Chief William McDaniel, DNREC Environmental Crimes Unit, 302-739-9401, or Michael Globetti, DNREC, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Wilmington man guilty of
illegal dumping after DNREC
surveillance catches up to him

Surveillance cameras led DNREC’s Environmental Crimes Unit to the arrest and guilty plea of a New Castle County man for illegal dumping November 28 at the DNREC DART Mid-County yard waste site near Bear.

Kennard Ringgold, 58, of Wilmington, entered a plea after he was caught on video dumping from a three-axle truck approximately 640 cubic feet of waste materials that included plastics and pressure-treated lumber. The dumping pile measured almost 20 feet long by eight feet wide and four feet high.

An investigation by ECU Cpl. Casey Fountain identified Ringgold from surveillance photos and an eyewitness account. Ringgold was fined $500 plus court costs.

While surveillance cameras led to this arrest for illegal dumping, DNREC’s Environmental Crimes Unit also asks the public to be vigilant for dumpers and to report any dumping incidents by calling a 24-hour hotline, 800-662-8802 or by calling #367 for Verizon Wireless customers.

“We ask the public’s help in preventing illegal dumping and strongly urge the public to report it when observing this illegal activity,” said Chief William “Chip” McDaniel of the ECU. “Unfortunately, everyone shares the burden in paying to have illegal dumping materials removed. Prevention of illegal dumping  removes that cost.”