Joyride with Stolen Kayaks Led 3 Men from Dangerous Waters to Hot Water

A joyride with stolen kayaks nearly turned deadly for three Baltimore County men who were forced to call police to rescue them from rough waters.

At around 9 p.m. on Friday, the young men rode their bicycles into the Hammerman area of Gunpowder State Park and used bolt cutters to free three kayaks that belonged to Ultimate Water Sports, according to police reports.

The three men—identified by Baltimore County police as Ryan Placek, 19, and William Zeman and Adam Lawry, both 18—then took the boats onto the water.

But Friday’s heavy winds quickly turned the trio’s prank into a life-or-death emergency. Lawry was able to pilot his kayak back to shore, but Zeman and Placek could not prevail against the winds and waves.

One of them called 911 from the water to seek help from police.

The Department of Natural Resources, the Coast Guard, Maryland State Police aviation unit, Baltimore County Police marine unit, Bowleys Quarters marine rescue unit and the Baltimore County Police air unit responded to the search for the pair.

The Baltimore County Police air unit located the men about an hour after the distress call and the Middle River dive rescue unit brought the men back to shore at Dundee Creek Marina.

Baltimore County paramedics treated the men at the scene before all three were arrested and charged with second-degree burglary charges.

According to police reports, all three men admitted to taking the kayaks but stressed they had planned to put them back after they were done in the water.