CT EnCon Police
Eastern District Highlights
April 2020

COVID-19 Response
In April 2020 Eastern District officers continued adjusting their patrols to ensure social distancing and minimum group numbers following directives and executive orders from state government. Many state parks, recreation and management areas saw increased use as weather improved and required extra officer patrols along with limited park staff during park closures and to ensure public safety.

Public Safety Incidents
On the evening of 4/7/2020, Officers Curran, Pettus, Blackwell, Dota, Sergeant Dwyer and Captain Williams responded to Lake Hayward state boat launch, East Haddam, along with CT State Police and Colchester constables, for a report of shots being fired into the water and over a kayaker’s head. The complainant and his brother heard continuous shots for nearly ten minutes and told responders the shooter was at the launch, with a vehicle blocking it. The shooter had not aimed at them but they hid in a remote part of the lake. Upon arrival officers located a 24 year old male in possession of a .177 caliber air rifle. The male suspect stated he had just purchased the rifle and was trying it out. The male suspect was arrested for breach of peace and a number of boat launch violations. He is scheduled to appear in superior court in June 2020. The air rifle was seized pending the case disposition.
On 4/19/2020 Officers Bouthillier, Carlson, Flanagan and Sergeant Ulkus responded to Thompson for a CT State Police Dispatch report of a 58 year old male from Massachusetts reportedly hiking the Airline Trail for three days and had not been heard from since. Officers spent nearly eight hours on ATVs checking the Airline Trail, adjacent loops and outbuildings for signs of the missing male while CT State Police utilized K9s and a helicopter until dark, when all units cleared the area. The subject was eventually located elsewhere.

Deer Hunting Arrest
On the evening of April 18, 2020, Officer Curran was dispatched to Colchester on a complaint of shots being heard on neighboring property where deer had been seen, and black pickup truck was seen leaving the area shortly after the shots being operated by a male neighbor. A deer with an apparent gunshot wound was later located in a swamp on the neighboring property, and the suspect vehicle soon returned to the area. Officer Curran responded, located and stopped the vehicle. Upon contact the 24 year old male operator stated he had returned back because of the deer. The male further stated that he had shot at it earlier to ‘scare it away.’ Officer Curran located a 9 mm unloaded handgun in the truck. The male did not possess a hunting license, was hunting out of season with a semi-automatic pistol, and had discharged the firearm within 200 feet of neighboring houses (minimum distance required is 500 feet). The firearm was seized, and resulted in the arrest of the male for Illegal Deer Hunting, Negligent Hunting Third Degree, and Hunting without a License. He was released on a $250 bond and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court.

Recreational Incidents / ATV Enforcement
Eastern District officers continued to be busy as the public sought relief from staying safe at home by visiting state parks and facilities, especially during good weather, causing multiple state parks, recreation areas and boat launches to fill to capacity, close, and required law enforcement monitoring for public safety maintenance.
On April 12, 2020, Officers Landry and Waite responded to the Wickaboxet Marsh area of Pachaug State Forest, Voluntown, for a report of over 20 ATVs in the area. Three vehicles and two all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trailers were located. While officers investigated four ATVs (Rhode Island residents) returned to the area. All were stopped and cited for illegal operation of ATVs without registrations and on state trails; one individual operated a vehicle on-site that was determined to be unregistered, had an improper license plate, and no insurance for the vehicle; the subject also had a suspended driver’s license. He was arrested for these violations and released on a cash bond, to appear in court at a later time.
Officer Waite was patrolling Bear Hill Wildlife Management Area in Bozrah when a gray Ford F350 pickup truck suspiciously left the area as he entered (there had been multiple reports of vandalism at the WMA). The operator was stopped and check of the registration revealed the registration belonged on a green colored F150. The check further showed that the male was operating an unregistered, un-insured vehicle. He was arrested for these charges, misuse of plates, and released for a scheduled court appearance.
CT EnCon Police
Marine District Highlights
April 2020

Patrol

On April 12, 2020 Officer Blackwell was patrolling the 4-Mile River State Boat Launch and noticed two individuals in an SUV leave the area at a high rate of speed leaving behind a large pile of trash in the parking lot. Officer Blackwell attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop but the vehicle had sped off. Officer Blackwell caught up to the vehicle just east of Rocky Neck State Park and initiated a motor vehicle stop. When asked about leaving the trash the operator admitted it was his. Officer Blackwell detected the odor of marijuana and investigated which resulted in the operator handing Officer Blackwell a large zip lock bag containing marijuana. The investigation further resulted in locating two more large bags of marijuana in the driver’s side door, several bags of Heroin, LSD and Cocaine on his person. Both the operator and the passenger admitted to drug possession with intent to sell. During the search of the vehicle a machete and several BB guns were found between the front seats. Both were charged with littering, possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal sale of narcotics, illegal possession of narcotics, and weapons in a motor vehicle some of which are felonies... Drugs seized included 5.1 grams of THC, 6.7 grams of LSD, 2.3 grams of Cocaine, 1 gram of Ecstasy, and 65.5 grams of Marijuana.

Fishing Enforcement

On April 18, 2020 Officers Bernier and Hey along with Captain Williams were observing several groups of people fishing at Long Beach in Stratford. There were multiple out of state cars from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Several women were seen carrying backpacks running down the beach, some up to a mile down and back with undersized striped bass, putting them into the trunks of their cars while the other individuals kept fishing. This activity went on for several hours. As vehicles were leaving, they were stopped and questioned about fishing, to which all individuals answered no, that they were not fishing. They were then asked if they would open up their trunks for verification to which they all agreed. Of the vehicles checked, a total of 12 undersized striped bass were seized. The Officers then walked down the beach to where the remaining individuals were fishing and observed several individuals trying to hide fish in the wrack line on the beach. In total another 17 undersized striped bass were located, seized and returned to the water where they belonged.

On April 19, 2020 Officer Mihalyak and Captain Williams responded to the Devon Bridge Boat Ramp on the Housatonic River for a report of several individuals’ illegally keeping undersized striped bass. Upon arrival these individuals were observed putting fish into a white 5 gallon bucket and a black trash bag. None of the individuals had valid fishing licenses. The fish were seized and were able to be revived and put back into the water where they belong. All were cited for fishing without a license.

Commercial Fishing Enforcement

On April 19, 2020, Officers Kerr and Flis received a commercial fishing complaint at the mouth of the Niantic River of two individuals taking over the limit of tautog. The officers observed the individuals who were on a vessel tied to a piling, catch several tautog and put them into a live car that was tied to a dock nearby. A vessel registration showed that the owner/operator/fisherman did not have a commercial license or vessel permit. After a lengthy amount of time the officers observed the two individuals leave the area and arrive at their vehicles at the Niantic River State Boat launch, leaving the live cars behind. They further observed the individuals drive two separate pick-up trucks to where the live cars were on the other side of the river and began loading the fish into a holding tank that was on the bed of one of the trucks of which was equipped with oxygen. At this time officers made contact with the two individuals. Sergeant Bruno also arrived on scene. It was determined that one individual had a commercial fishing license but was not on his own vessel of which he had a vessel permit for. It was also determined that they were over the daily limit of tautog and that some of the fish were undersized. The owner of the vessel had a seafood dealer license, but no commercial license. The commercial fisherman also created false sales receipts for the vessel owner. The commercial fisherman was issued a Misdemeanor Summons for over the daily commercial limit of tautog and failure to have a vessel permit. The fish were seized and returned to the water.

Public Safety

On April 26, 2020 Officer Kerr was traveling northbound on RT 95 over the Gold Star Memorial Bridge and noticed a vehicle enter the bridge going the wrong way. Officer Kerr informed EnCon Dispatch, turn around and stopped the vehicle along with CT State Police prior to any accidents occurring. The elderly driver, who was in his eighties was escorted off the highway.

On April 26, 2020 Officers Hey, Bernier, Mihalyak and Sergeant Stone responded to Stamford for a report of a capsized kayak with two occupants in the water. Stamford Fire and Police also responded and were able to rescue a female who was still hanging onto the kayak. The female related that her husband was also on the kayak and had not been seen for almost 30 minutes. Rescue personnel located the male victim unconscious in the surf zone a short distance away and immediately began CPR. Both individuals were transported to Stamford Hospital where the male victim was pronounced deceased. Neither were wearing life jackets as required during this time of year. Conditions that day were stormy, winds gusting to 50 mph and seas were 3-4 feet.

Park Enforcement
On both April 19th and 25th, Marine District EnCon Officers had to close several shoreline state parks due to capacity issues related to Covid 19 including Sherwood Island, Harkness and Hammonnasett State Parks. Visitor numbers seen in those parks were similar to what is normally seen in the summer months of July and August.

CT EnCon Police
Western District Highlights
April 2020

ENFORCE PARK & FOREST

On 4/14/2020 at approximately 2100 hours, Officer Kiely observed a vehicle parked within Osbornedale State Park after hours of operation. The operator relayed to Officer Kiely that their vehicle had run out of gas and they were attempting to get a ride home. While speaking with the operator, Officer Kiely detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from their breath. On the passenger seat Officer Kiely saw in plain-view an opened bottle of champagne to which the operator admitted to consuming. The operator was informed that alcohol was prohibited inside the park and that it was illegal for them to be there after sunset. The operator immediately began to cry and informed Officer Kiely that he suffered from chronic medical problems and that his father had recently passed away. The operator stated they were sad, depressed, and wanted to die. Derby EMS was dispatched for evaluation. The operator was later transported to Griffin Hospital for a psychological evaluation. The operator was verbally cited in the field for Hours of Operation and Possession of Alcohol in Prohibited Area. The vehicle which was confirmed to be disabled and out of gas was secured in the park and left for the owner to facilitate its removal.

ILLEGAL HUNTNG:

On 4/4/2020 at approximately 8 PM Officers Huber and Kiely responded to a complaint of a bear that had been shot in Canton. Upon arrival the officers spoke with the 70 year old homeowner who claimed to have accidentally hit a bear while firing “warning shots” at it to scare it away from his garbage cans. The officers located the yearling bear with a bullet wound at the base of its skull. After further investigation it was determined that the homeowner had fired 3 shots at the bear at approximately 10-15 yards away with a scoped .22 rifle, only hitting the bear once with the fatal round. The homeowner was arrested for Illegal Take of Black Bear.
K-9 CALLS FOR SERVICE:
On 4/3/2020 Officer Flockhart and K-9 Ellie were dispatched to a Search & Rescue (SAR) call at Wharton Brook State Park for a missing suicidal female. The female was located by authorities out of state.
PUBLIC SAFETY

On 4/17/2020 officers responded to West Rock Ridge State Park after receiving a call from the Woodbridge Police Department regarding a body that was discovered by hikers. The body was ultimately identified as a 30 year-old New Haven resident.

With the declaration of a state of emergency announced due to the Covid-19 outbreak in the state, officers patrol activity drastically increased, and continues to do so as the weather warms, in relation to the state parks. Officers were assigned and/or patrolled daily at state parks and enforced and educated patrons on the restrictions set forth in the Governor’s Executive Order. Officers conducted similar enforcement while conducting fishing compliance checks.