CT EnCon Police
Eastern District Highlights
September 2019

Public Safety Responses / Search and Rescue
On the afternoon of September 7th, 2019, Officers Waite, Wojcik and Sgt. Dwyer responded to an East Hampton Police request for assistance following a call of an individual possibly missing after partying and drinking in the area of Wopowog Wildlife Management Area, East Hampton, along the Salmon River. Upon arrival, officers found three males and three vehicles (one stuck in the Salmon River), a campsite, and numerous trees cut and damaged. The three males stated they had camped there for two days. All were cited for multiple charges, including violations of trespassing, hours of operation, use of trails, illegal camping and fires, and vandalism, with fines of up to $500 each. The vehicle was towed and all were evicted.
On 9/9/19 Officers Vroman, Waite and Sgt. Ulkus responded to Eagleville Lake, Coventry near a private association for a reported male in the water from a small vessel; Officer Scatena responded directly to Windham Hospital where the 33 year old male was pronounced deceased. The victim had been with three other males who primarily spoke Spanish; it was eventually determined they were working on a nearby island when the incident occurred, possibly while in a small rowboat. Following a detailed investigation and further interviews by EnCon Police Officer Vroman, along with State Police detectives, it was determined the individual had gone swimming on his own and ultimately drowned, not as a result of a boating incident. State Police are handling the investigation.
Around 1130 hours on 9/25/2019, EnCon Police Eastern District were notified by State Police Troop C of a missing 42 year old male from East Hartford, whose vehicle had been located that morning in Nipmuck State Forest, Ashford. Officers Danielson, Pettus, Vroman, K9 Officers Logiodice and Reilly, Sgt. Ulkus and Captain Lundin responded along with CSP K9 Search and Rescue unit members. The male’s friends indicated he had last been seen nearly two days prior, was an avid hunter and often hunted this block near the laurel sanctuary. His vehicle was several hundred yards into the woods. Later that afternoon, EnCon Police and CSP personnel located the male deceased, apparently while actively archery hunting. EnCon Police were assisted by CSP detectives, and continue to investigate this apparent untimely death.




Hunting Enforcement
Officer Wojcik received a complaint of illegal turkey hunting on 9/9/19 in the Durham/Haddam area, and found an area with a pile of corn and evidence of hunting. On the first day of archery deer/turkey hunting (Sunday 9/15/19, on private land only), he returned to find a 33 year old male in a tree stand, with a bow and nocked arrow, hunting directly over the corn pile. The male landowner had the appropriate license and permits, but admitted he knew it was unlawful to hunt over bait in that area. He was arrested and released on a promise to appear in Middletown court.


CT EnCon Police
Western District Highlights
September 2019
Hunting Enforcement:
On 09/19/19 at approximately 1736 hours, Southwest officers were dispatched to the report of an archery deer hunter, hunting on property without permission. Upon arrival, officers found the archery hunter and requested all licenses, permits and written consent to hunt on the landowner’s property. The accused was unable to provide any requested information. A check with dispatch showed the accused had no licenses or permits for the year 2019. The accused was issued a misdemeanor summons for hunting private land without written consent, bow hunting without a permit, and hunting without a license. The accused was given a court date to appear in G.A. 3 Danbury on 10/10/19.
Nuisance Bear:
During the month of September Western District officers were dispatched and responded to 18 Nuisance Bear complaints.
On 9/28/19 at 1240 hours Southwest officers responded to the Lake Zoar Boat Launch in Southbury for a complaint of a bear attack. Officers were able to confirm that a 38 year old hiker encountered a bear and was knocked to the ground. The hiker was able to free himself from the bear and get to safety. He was transported to Danbury hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries. Officers attempted to locate the bear with negative results. DEEP Wildlife staff set up a trap in the area, which was removed a few days later. The bear has not been located nor successfully trapped.
Sick, Injured, and Nuisance Wildlife:
During the month of September Western District officers were dispatched and responded to 18 calls for sick, nuisance or injured wildlife. Some incidents involved blue heron, squirrel, raccoon, skunk, deer, hawk, and bobcat.
On 9/29/19 a Northwest officer responded to a complaint of a deer attacking a vehicle in a driveway and charging the homeowners. Upon arrival the deer was seen rubbing up against the vehicle and was identified as the deer that had been tranquilized and relocated on 8/26/19 by Wildlife. The deer was euthanized and transferred to Sessions Woods for a necropsy. The results of necropsy are pending.

K-9 Calls for Service:
Officer Flockhart and K-9 Ellie responded to three calls for service. On 9/2/19 they assisted CSP Troop L personnel with a suicidal party, who was located prior to arrival. On 9/6/19 they responded to a call for a blood-like substance in a lean-to at the Macedonia Brook Campground, with negative hits for human cadaver or blood, and they also responded to a suicidal party at the Oxford Reservoir. That individual was located by a CSP K9. Sgt. Logiodice and K-9 Ruger also responded to three calls for service. On 9/20/19 they were dispatched to search for lost hikers, on 9/25/19 were dispatched to assist in locating an overdue hunter, and on 9/27/19 attempted a track off a vehicle to locate a possible illegal hunter.



CT EnCon Police
Marine District Highlights
September 2019
Fishing Enforcement
On 9/1/19 Officer Hey was patrolling Milford Harbor and observed three individuals catching and keeping snapper bluefish well over the daily creel limit. Officer Hey observed a female walk across the road to a vehicle where he observed her putting numerous snapper bluefish into a container. Officer Hey approached her and was able to identify all three fishermen. In total there were 181 snapper bluefish, 151 of them were over the daily limit which is 10 fish per person. Each individual was issued an infraction for 3 counts over the daily limit of bluefish.
Also on 9/1/19 Officer Blackwell was patrolling the Branford River Boat Launch and observed a vessel approaching the dock occupied with three individuals. Officer Blackwell approached the individuals to conduct a vessel safety inspection, and during the conversation it was determined that all three were out fishing for the day. While conducting the inspection, Officer Blackwell observed multiple scup on board the vessel many of which were undersized. The minimum length limit for scup is 9 inches. Several of the fish were between 5 and 7 inches. It was also determined that none of the individuals had a fishing license and that the vessel was unregistered. The operator was issued an infraction for fishing without a license, possession of short scup and operation of an unregistered vessel. The other two individuals were each issued infractions for fishing without a license and possession of short scup.
On 9/2/19 Officer Tefft was patrolling the Thames River in New London and observed a vessel approaching the boat launch area with three fishermen on board. While conducting an inspection, Officer Tefft observed an undersized black sea bass 14 ½ inches and an undersized summer flounder (fluke) that was 18 inches. Black Sea Bass need to be 15 inches and summer flounder (fluke) need to be 19 inches. The individual was issued an infraction for the short fluke and a verbal warning for the short sea bass.
On 9/2/19 Officer Kerr was patrolling the Bayberry Lane Boat Launch in Groton and observed a vessel come in with 5 individuals onboard. Officer Kerr conducted an inspection of the vessel and determined that the individuals had been fishing for the day and had several coolers onboard. Officer Kerr inspected one cooler containing several scup and black sea bass all of which were legal. Upon further inspection, Officer Kerr located another cooler covered in jackets that also had scup and black sea bass in it as well as a summer flounder (fluke) that measured 17 inches. One individual immediately stated he had caught it but didn’t know what kind of fish it was. It was also determined that the individual did not possess a salt water fishing license. The individual was charged for fishing without a license and possession of a short fluke.
On 9/5/19 Officer Blackwell was patrolling Sherwood Island State Park and observed an individual walking towards a vehicle in the parking lot carrying a fishing pole and a large cooler. Officer Blackwell observed the individual moving quickly to get to the vehicle and engaged in conversation with the person asking how the fishing was for the day. Officer Blackwell was able to inspect the cooler finding one short black sea bass inside. The fish measured 13.75 inches. The legal length for black sea bass is 15 inches. The individual was issued an infraction for the violation.
On 9/8/19 Officer Kerr was patrolling Lamberts Cove in Stonington and observed three individuals fishing and putting fish in white plastic buckets. Upon inspecting each individuals catch, one person refused to have Officer Kerr look into his bucket and pulled it away from the officer. Officer Kerr eventually seized the bucket finding multiple scup covering three undersized black sea bass within it. The individual was issued an infraction for three counts of short black sea bass.
On 9/9/19 Officer Dota was patrolling Long Island Sound in Old Saybrook and observed two individuals fishing from a vessel. The vessel was boarded by Officer Dota who inspected two coolers that contained two black sea bass the measured under the required length limit of 15 inches. Both fish measured between 13 and 14 inches. The responsible individual was issued an infraction for possession of short black sea bass.
On 9/16/19 Officer Kerr was patrolling the Mystic River in Stonington and observed three individuals fishing from the dock at Mystic River Park. While checking each fisherman’s catch, Officer Kerr observed one individual had a black sea bass that measured less than the required minimum length of 15 inches. The individual stated “sorry, I just wanted to see what it tasted like”. The individual was issued an infraction for possession of a short black sea bass.

Wildlife Enforcement
On 9/9/19 East Marine District Officers responded to East Lyme for a report of a gray fox that had bitten two children at a daycare facility. Both children were transported to L&M Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. One child was bitten in the head, arm and leg. The other child was bit in the leg. A search for the fox that day was unsuccessful.
Blue Crab Enforcement
Connecticut Blue Crab regulations state hard shell crabs must measure 5 inches from tip to tip. Soft shell blue crabs must measure 3.5 inches from tip to tip.
On 9/1/19 Sgt. Bruno was patrolling the Indian River and Hammonasset River in Clinton. While at the Indian River Sgt. Bruno issued an infraction to an individual who was in possession 5 short blue crabs. Sgt. Bruno issued an infraction to another individual on the Hammonasset River who was in possession of 12 short blue crabs. Also on 9/1/19 Officer Kerr issued a written warning for short blue crabs on the Black Hall River in Old Lyme.
On 9/3/19 Officer Carlson issued a written warning for short blue crabs on the Black Hall River in Old Lyme.
On 9/8/19 Sgt. Bruno issued an infraction to an individual in North Cove in Old Saybrook for illegal possession of short blue crabs.
On 9/13/19 Officer Kerr was patrolling Birch Plain Creek in Groton and observed three individuals actively taking blue crabs. Upon inspection it was determined that multiple blue crabs were undersized. Each individual was issued an infraction for possession of short blue crabs.
Boating Enforcement
On 9/1/19 Officer Blackwell was patrolling the Branford River State Boat Launch and observe a vessel approaching with a “19” certificate of decal. This is a registration decal issued by DMV for vessel registrations. This registration decal expired on April 30, 2019. The operator was asked to produce a valid registration of which he did not have. The operator was also asked to produce his CT boating license of which he also did not have. The operator was issued an infraction for operating an unregistered vessel and given a verbal warning for not having a CT boating license.
On 9/2/19 Officers Flis and Carlson were patrolling the Thames River Boat Launch in New London and observed a vessel approaching the launch. Officer Carlson conducted a vessel safety inspection and determined that the individual failed to have a sound producing device. While conducting the inspection Officer Carlson determined the individual had been fishing and was in possession of a short black sea bass. The individual was issued a written warning for the violations.
On 9/3/19 Officer Dota and Blackwell were patrolling the area of Leetes Island in Guilford and observed three individuals that were underway in a small motorized jon boat that were fishing for blue crabs. The vessel did not have any apparent registration decals affixed to it. Upon further inspection, it was determined that the vessel was never registered and that the owner/operator did not have any personal floatation devices on board. The operator was issued a written warning for the violation and his voyage was terminated.