Gunpowder Falls State Park Manager Indicted On Rape Charges

BALTIMORE COUNTY - According to court records, a former Gunpowder Falls State Park manager was indicted by a Baltimore County grand jury on Monday.

Baltimore County Police arrested Michael Browning Junior, 71, in September and charged him with sexually assaulting a park employee. The charging documents state that the woman told police she had met Browning as a teenager while attending a camp run by Browning’s wife. The victim later went on to work at Gunpowder Falls State Park with Browning.

Police say that Browning and the victim had a two-year-long consensual relationship. ​​The woman told police that she tried to end the relationship and that Browning raped her 10-15 times.

A Baltimore County grand jury indicted Browning on charges including assault and rape relating to details provided by two women.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources spokesman Greg Bortz did not say how many years Browning had worked for the park service or whether he was still an employee.

In a statement Thursday evening, Bortz urged patience in the case and said that MDNR is doing all it can.

“While we cannot discuss specifics, the department assures the public and our employees that we are taking every appropriate step and personnel action within the parameters of the law, including the Police Accountability Act,” Bortz said in the statement. “With respect to the internal, administrative investigations related to any employee misconduct, we again encourage employees or others with information to reach out to our Human Resource Services.”