CT State EnCon Police
Eastern District Highlights
March 2018

Boating Rescue / Enforcement
On March 29, 2018, Officer Landry and Sergeant Dwyer responded to Gardner Lake, Salem, along with Gardner Lake Fire Department and other first responders for a 62 year old male who had capsized from a single person rowing scull. The victim had activated his inflatable life jacket, but was unable to gain shore on his own. Officer Landry joined two Gardner Lake FD personnel in their rescue boat, retrieved the subject and brought him to shore, where he was taken by ambulance to Backus Hospital, Norwich. He remained overnight in guarded condition suffering from hypothermia, and was released the following day. The water temperature was about 41 degrees, and it was estimated the subject had been in the water 45 minutes to one hour before rescue; his initial core temperature at the hospital was under 90 degrees.
Officer Curran responded on 3/17/18 to Cedar Lake, Chester, on a complaint of 3 males in boats fishing during the closed season. Officer Curran located the crew in two separate manually propelled vessels, with no lifejackets aboard or being worn. In addition, two of the three males did not have fishing licenses. Citations were issued to all three for the lifejacket violation, and to two for fishing violations. Their voyages were terminated.
Recreation Enforcement Activity
On the morning of 3/4/ 18 Officer Ruggiero responded to Machimoodus State Park, East Haddam, for a report of a vehicle overturned in a park pond. The owner lived nearby, and confirmed that no one was hurt or missing. He stated that he and a passenger had cut through Sunrise Resort into the park after hours the night before, going around closed gates, when the car throttle ‘stuck’ and he lost control, ending up in the pond. Both males were cited for trespass and vandalism, the vehicle was removed and towed.
On 3/11/18 Officer Pettus found three pickup trucks that had gone around closed gates in Shenipsit State Forest, Somers, and cited all three for operation on trails. She also ticketed a vehicle blocking another Soapstone Mountain access road.
On 3/15/18 Officer Landry checked three males in their late teens returning from Millers Pond to the parking lot in Haddam, and determined one was fishing without a license, the other two were cited for marijuana violations.
On 3/20/18 Sergeant Dwyer responded to a direct complaint of illegal shooting adjacent to Gay City State Park, Hebron / Bolton area. Sergeant Dwyer and Officer Landry had responded in December 2017 for a similar complaint, and at that time had warned the property owner and his friend that the area where they had been target shooting was immediately adjacent to state park property, had no backstop and were shooting toward the park. On this date Sergeant Dwyer was notified the same activity was occurring by the same owner at the same location, and that the subject had left the property minutes before his arrival. The subject’s vehicle was located a few minutes away, at which time the subject was found with a shotgun and spent shells in his vehicle and admitted to shooting toward the park without concern for potential park patrons and hikers beyond his targets. He was arrested for Reckless Endangerment 2nd degree, Breach of Peace and Unlawful Discharge, and was released on a $500 cash bond to appear in Rockville superior court.
ATV Enforcement
On 3/4/18 complaints were received of 40-50 ATVs travelling rural roads in Stafford toward Nipmuck State Forest, Willington. Officers Danielson, Pettus and Sergeant Dwyer responded to the general area, found eight offending vehicles and operators, and issued citations for unregistered operation.
On 3/18/18 Officer Landry responded Pachaug State Forest / Newport Road, Sterling, on a complaint of 6-7 ATVs illegally traveling the forest and local roads. One offender was located at a nearby residence and cited for illegal operation.
On 3/25/18 at about the same location, Officers Danielson, Tavares, Williams, and Sergeant Dwyer were conducting ATV enforcement in Pachaug SF, Sterling. While issuing out citations to nine ATV offenders three male operators on dirt bikes came down the road toward Officer Danielson and Sergeant Dwyer. While two of the operators avoided the officers, the 3rd operator went toward Officer Danielson, turned around and drove directly toward Sergeant Dwyer, threatening to strike him as his movement was limited by a building. As the subject passed, Sergeant Dwyer deployed his Taser at the subject’s right leg; the subject continued on down the road. Several minutes later Officer Williams located all three subjects – Rhode Island natives – loading their dirt bikes into a vehicle. They admitted to being the three operators who had come at the officers earlier, and a 20 year old male freely confessed he had driven his bike at Sergeant Dwyer. He stated he was not affected by the Taser; emergency medical services were summoned, and treatment was refused by the subject. Two were cited for numerous ATV violations; the 20 year old male was arrested and processed at State Police barracks in Danielson, charged with criminal attempt at assault on a police officer, interfering/resisting, and disorderly conduct. His dirt bike was seized, and he was released on a $5000 surety bond for a later court appearance.

Public Outreach Events / Drills / Training
Eastern District officers participated in various outreach events, training and drills. Officer Vroman attended a Killingly High School Career Day; Officer Ruggiero instructed hunting laws at a Durham CE/FS course. Officers also attended a Dallas Safari Club Northeast chapter exhibition in Uncasville, and instructed a safe boating course in North Branford.
District officers Curran and Williams participated in a FEMA-evaluated radiation drill at the Millstone nuclear facility on 3/20 with the DEEP Radiation Division. Officer Tefft was a participant in a March Gardner Lake Fire Department drill of a mass casualty EMS incident at the state launch.
All officers participated in scenario-based shooting training using the Blue Line firearms training system; also, district officers completed training in personal radiation detector deployment and reporting.
CT State EnCon Police
Marine District Highlights
March 2018

On 3/5/18 Sergeant Stone was patrolling the Housatonic River in Fairfield conducting commercial oyster harvesting. This area is prohibited, commercial vessels engaged in harvesting oysters must have the proper commercial license and permits needed by the Department of Agriculture and Department of Aquaculture. In addition, all commercial harvesters are required to call into DEEP Dispatch prior to engaging in commercial harvesting of oysters to report their start time and end times. Sergeant Stone checked with DEEP Dispatch and determined that one individual vessel had not called in as required. It has been past practice for some vessel captains to avoid calling in and taking their harvest directly to market prior to a six month depuration requirement. Sergeant Stone met up with the vessel captain who related he had forgot to call in that morning. It was verified that the vessel captain had relocated his catch onto an approved shellfish bed for the required depuration period. He was issued a written warning for failure to call his relay activity into DEEP Dispatch.
On 3/19/18 EnCon Officers responded to a residence in the town of Westbrook for a report of a bobcat that was being held as a pet in the homeowners bedroom. The responsible party in possession of the cat had related information to an EnCon Officer over the phone that it was a Pixi Bob, a domesticated breed of cat bred down for the progeny of bobcat/domestic cat hybrids usually weighing between 10-15 lbs. Upon arrival to the residence, EnCon Officers were let into the residence by the homeowner, observed the cat and identified it as bobcat. It should be noted that the bobcat was not caged and was allowed to roam the bedroom freely, it was estimated to weighing over 30 lbs. EnCon Officers captured the bobcat using catch-poles and secured it in a large cage. The owner of the bobcat returned home and related he had purchased the bobcat in Montana several years ago as a kitten, was giving it “vaccinations” and claimed it was a therapy cat for his medical condition. The owner was issued a Misdemeanor Summons for illegal possession of an exotic species with a court set date in April. The female bobcat was later weighed and confirmed at 42 pounds.
On 3/20/ 18 EnCon Officer Nivolo was traveling northbound on RT 8 when he overheard a state police radio transmission regarding a suicidal male sitting on the rail of the Lindley Street Bridge. Officer Nivolo relayed back to CSP that he was in the area and that he would respond. Within seconds Officer Nivolo was the first on scene and was faced with an irate upset individual yelling and screaming at him to stay back. Officer Nivolo kept his distance and began talking with the individual until back up units from State Police and Bridgeport PD arrived on scene. Responding officers formed a semi-circle around the individual at which time one officer ran towards him, grabbed him, before he could jump into the river. A struggle ensued and Officer Nivolo was able to assist in subduing and restraining the individual. The individual was then transported to a local area hospital for a medical / psychological evaluation.
During the month of March EnCon Officers in the Marine District conducted several Public Outreaches of which included Hunting Law Updates to new police academy recruits and certified police officers around the state as well as attended the boating show.

CT State EnCon Police
Western District Highlights
March 2018

PARK AND FOREST

On 3/29/18 Officer Kiely was conducting a patrol check of Osbornedale State Park in Derby when he observed a blue colored Toyota Vensa enter the park. Upon the operator seeing Officer Kiely parked near the entrance, the vehicle quickly turned into a parking stall, backed up, and exited from the park. Officer Kiely noticed that the vehicle had a plastic attachment on the registration plate obscuring the lettering “Connecticut” and “Constitution State”. A NCIC/COLLECT check revealed the registered owner had an active court order to stay out of Osbornedale State Park for a period of two years. The court order originated from an arrest in 2016 of the registered owner by Encon Police in 2016 for Sex Assault in the 4th degree.
Officer Kiely conducted a motor vehicle stop and confirmed the identity of the operator as the registered owner and respondent of the court order. Derby Adult Probation Office was advised and instructed the accused to report immediately to their office. The accused was issued an infraction for violation of Entry into State Park during eviction period, and Improper attachment on registration plate. The findings of this investigation were forwarded to Derby Adult Probation.

WILDLIFE

On 03/27/2018 Northwest officers were notified by a local bird hospital that a Red Tailed Hawk in their care had to be euthanized due to injuries from being shot. On 3/27/18 the hawk had been recovered in Hartford by a rehabilitator. Investigating officers utilized the Hartford Police City Wide surveillance unit, which monitors all of the surveillance cameras city wide. Evidence was developed and video viewed of the hawk being brought to the area of Jennings Rd. in Hartford on 03/22/18. The hawk was injured, and remained in that area until 03/27/18 when authorities were notified by a Good Samaritan. Further investigation revealed that the hawk was last seen airborne in Farmington, on the New Britain town line. It is believed to have been shot by a shotgun with birdshot somewhere in the area of Rt. 9 and Rt. 372. This investigation is ongoing.

K-9 CALLS FOR SERVICE

On/3/20/18 Officer Flockhart and K-9 Ellie responded to a possible Search & Rescue for a suicidal male in Nepaug State Forest in New Hartford. In addition all on duty Northwest personnel responded to the State Police request for assistance in locating the individual. The search on DEEP property concluded fairly quickly when information was obtained that he was believed to be heading out of state and towards the state of Pennsylvania.