CT State EnCon Police
East District Highlights
January 2018

Public Safety Incidents
Around dusk on January 26, 2018, EnCon Police dispatch received notification through Montville State Police that an older male and female had been seen leaving a vehicle earlier in the day with hiking gear at a trailhead in Pachaug State Forest, Voluntown, and the vehicle was still there at sunset. The complainant was concerned for the apparently older couple and their safety in the below freezing temperatures after dark. Officers Williams, Tefft, and Sergeant Dwyer initially responded along with State Police and two of their canine officers, who tracked from the vehicle with no results. Meanwhile, information was developed that the probable subject was a 40 year old Massachusetts male who frequently camped solo in winter weather. An hour or so later EnCon Police K9 Officer Reilly and K9 Hunter began a fresh track, and soon located the lone male subject in good condition at his established camp. As the subject was not in a permitted camping area, he was escorted to his vehicle and cited for trespass after hours.
Dumping Investigation/ Arrest
EnCon Police Officer Reilly received a complaint on January 8, 2018 of numerous garbage bags and loose garbage dumped along Rt. 196 in and alongside Wopowog Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in East Hampton. She found several trash bags over a one mile stretch along the road, with similar bags in an adjacent WMA parking lot. Through an investigation process a male and a female subject were determined to be suspects. Contributing factors to the investigation included a drugstore receipt, store camera footage, and East Hampton Police assistance. The twenty-five year old male and twenty-seven year old female were located, confirmed to be the violators, and were issued Misdemeanor Summonses for the dumping violations; both were also arrested by East Hampton PD on similar charges. East Hampton Public Works assisted in removing the trash.
Park & Forest Enforcement
On 1/10/18 Officer Ruggiero was checking ice fishermen at Black Pond, Middlefield, and found a male and female in their twenties on the ice not engaged in fishing but who admitted to smoking marijuana with a pipe. The party was issued an infraction for Possession of less than 1/2 oz. of marijuana.
Officer Pettus received a complaint around sunset on 1/16/18 of five trucks racing around Meshomasic State Forest, Portland. An hour and a half after sunset she stopped five trucks and ten occupants, who stated they were ‘just having fun’ driving around the forest. The five vehicle operators were cited for trespass after hours and evicted.
On January 21st, Officer Ruggiero was patrolling Cockaponset State Forest in Haddam and came across three trucks off-roading, with one stuck, all in a posted ‘closed to motor vehicles’ area. A tow vehicle was summoned for the one broken down vehicle, all three young male operators were cited for illegal use of trails / trespass.
CT State EnCon Police
Marine District Highlights
January 2018
Fishing Enforcement
On January 1, 2018 Officer Blackwell was conducting ice fishing enforcement on Gorton Pond in East Lyme and observed three individuals ice fishing. Prior to checking the individuals Officer Blackwell inspected the tip-ups and found one individual had more than the 6 of the allowed amount by state regulation. Officer Blackwell also saw a dead chain pickerel on the ice of which she measured to be less than the minimum length of 15 inches. Officer Blackwell approached the three males and determined that one individual was also fishing w/o a valid license. All were cited, one for exceeding the number of tip-ups, another for fishing w/o a license and the third for possessing a chain pickerel below the minimum length.
Motor Vehicle Enforcement
On January 1, 2018 Officer Tefft responded to Harkness State park for a trespassing incident after sunset (state parks clos at sunset.) Upon arrival Officer Tefft observed an individual operating a Toyota Scion within the parks’ closed gate. Officer Tefft stopped the vehicle and asked the operator for his driver’s license. The operator stated he did not have one and instead provided a passport from Ecuador. A CT DMV query showed the operator’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle in CT was suspended. Officer Tefft then asked said individual for his registration and insurance. The individual again stated he did not have said paperwork. The individual stated he had bought the car earlier in the day and could not provide a bill of sale and stated to Officer Tefft he had borrowed a license plate from a friend and it did not belong the vehicle. CT DMV records indicated the plate was cancelled in 2015. The individual was arrested by Officer Tefft and issued a summons for Misuse of Plates, No Motor Vehicle Insurance and Operating Under Suspension. The vehicle was subsequently towed.
Hunting Enforcement
On January 1, 2018 Officer Tefft observed a waterfowl hunter in a vessel near Great Island in Old Lyme. Upon conducting a compliance check Officer Tefft realized the individual was the subject of a hunting violation that had occurred in October, 2017 where he evaded being checked by another EnCon Officer while waterfowl hunting. Officer Tefft noticed that the individual had purchased his 2017 State Duck Stamp/HIP permit in November and questioned the hunter if he was waterfowl hunting in October, 2017 without said State Duck Stamp/HIP permit to which he shrugged his shoulders and didn’t respond. Officer Tefft issued the individual an infraction for waterfowl hunting without the required State Duck/HIP permit.
Public Safety Assist
On January 5, 2018 Officer O’Brien came upon a motor vehicle accident in the town of Plainville. He exited his patrol vehicle to ascertain information and was told by one of the victims that the suspect had evaded the scene and fled on foot approximately two minutes prior to his arrival. Due to the snowstorm Officer O’Brien began tracking the individual in the snow and requested back-up from Plainville Police. EnCon Officers Norton and Hey also responded and assisted in the search. After a lengthy pursuit, Officer O’Brien was able to locate the suspect near the Southington Town Line and took him into custody.
On January 10th, 2018 Officers O’Brien, Blackwell, Fliss along with Sergeant Stanko responded to Rocky Neck State park for a report of a 19 year old suicidal male that had fled into the park on foot. East Lyme had begun a track of said individual outside of the park and had entered the park following foot prints in the snow heading towards the West Beach area of the park. Officer O’Brien met up with East Lyme Police Officers and began a searching. Responding officers and Sergeant Stanko ensured that EMS and Fire were standing by and requested Amtrack to slow down their trains when traveling through the area. Within several minutes Officer O’Brien located the individual near the pavilion heading towards the water. Officer O’Brien was able to make contact with the individual before he went any further and for his safety took him into custody. The individual was evaluated by EMS at the scene and committed to a local hospital for further observation and treatment.
CT State EnCon Police
West District Highlights
January 2018

FISHING ENFORCEMENT

On 1/11/18 two individuals were charged with fishing violations as a result of an investigation that began on 12/11/17. DEEP Dispatch received an anonymous email with a picture of a male holding an approximate 5 foot long replica lure with three short striped bass hanging from the three separate treble hooks. The photo was taken on 12/4/17 on the Housatonic River in Shelton. Officer Mihalyak interviewed the accused who provided a statement confirming what was seen in the photograph. He also stated that another individual was fishing with him at the time and participated in catching the striped bass that were hanging from the replica lure. That person was also interviewed and provided a statement as well. Both were issued Misdemeanor Summons for violations of Possession of striped bass less than legal limit; striped bass not immediately returned and Excess creel. Both were scheduled to appear on 01/23/2018, at 0900 hours at Derby Superior Court.

On 1/19/18 at approximately 1020 hours, Officer Kiely was dispatched to the Housatonic River in Derby for the report a male keeping short stripers in a luggage type bag that were caught through the ice. Upon arrival, Officer Kiely made contact with the accused who possessed a valid 2018 Inland Fishing License. The accused stated they only caught several yellow perch which were lying on the ice. A check of the luggage bag next to the accused revealed a green colored shopping bag that was ‘moving’. The shopping bag was removed and two undersize striped bass were found. The striped bass ranged between 15 inches and 19 inches. The accused stated he didn't know it was illegal to keep short striped bass. The striped bass were returned to the water unharmed. The accused was issued a misdemeanor summons for possession of excess creel limit of striped bass and possession of less than legal length.

HUNTING ENFORCEMENT

On 1/4/18 Southwest Officers assisted Pennsylvania Game Commission Officers with an illegal deer hunting investigation. Officers interviewed the suspect regarding illegal poaching activity in Pennsylvania. The accused provided a written statement where he confessed to illegally harvesting a deer in Pennsylvania without a hunting license. His statement was forwarded to Pennsylvania Game Commission Officers, where they were able to charge the suspect. All hunting violations occurred in the State of Pennsylvania.
On 1/10/18 Officer Johnston and Officer Hey responded to a neighborhood in Weston at the request from the Weston Police Department for a report of a hunter dragging a deer through a backyard. Upon arrival officers made contact with the suspect who stated he had shot a deer with his bow and that it then ran onto an adjacent property. The suspect was unable to produce a 2018 Hunting License. While being questioned on-scene the suspect had a panic attack. Weston EMS was called and treated the suspect on-scene. It was discovered the suspect had purchased his 2018 hunting license on his phone between when officers arrived on-scene to when he was released by EMS. It was further discovered that the suspect did not have written permission to hunt on the property where he shot the deer. The suspect was charged with Hunting without a License, Archery Hunting without a Permit, and Archery Hunting on Private Property without Written Consent. He is scheduled to appear on January 23rd at GA-20 in Norwalk. The deer was seized and donated to charity.

MOTOR VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT

On 11/17/17 a Southwest Officer observed a vehicle, a 1999 Nissan 200SX, color black, travelling south on interstate 91 in the area of exit 14, Wallingford. A DMV query of the registration plate showed “No record found.” A motor vehicle stop was conducted in the area of exit 13 on interstate 91, Wallingford. Upon approaching the vehicle the operator (who could not provide a photo ID) verbally identified himself. It was later determined that the operator provided false information about his identity and he was later accurately identified. On the evening of the motor vehicle stop, the accused was issued a Misdemeanor Summons under the name of his brother. The brother (who was not in the vehicle the day of the stop) received a letter from court notifying him of his court date. The victim showed up to GA-7 in Meriden and informed them that his brother falsely provided his information at the car stop. The victim provided a sworn written statement in regards to the incident. An arrest warrant for the accused operator was obtained and on 01/25/2018 he was arrested and charged with the following: Improper Use of Marker Plate, Operating Unregistered Motor Vehicle, Operating Under Suspension, Insurance Fails Minimum Requirements, Criminal Impersonation, Interfering With Officer, and (2) two counts of Forgery Third Degree.
K-9 CALLS FOR SERVICE

During the month of January a District K-9 officer responded to a Search & Rescue for a suicidal juvenile in the area of Dennis Hill State Park. The juvenile was located by CSP on private property.