East District

Hunting arrests

On December 7, 2013 officers from the Northeast sector where investigating a deer hunting complaint in Windham. The complainant was concerned that hunters were too close to their home hunting with firearms. During the investigation officers determined that the area was baited with corn. Officers arrested one hunter for deer hunting private land without written consent of landowner, hunting within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling, hunting without a deer permit and hunting deer over bait. The accused was given a court date to appear at Danielson Superior court for the above charges.

Sunday hunting

On December 15, 2013, officers from the Northeast sector responded to Canterbury for a deer hunting complaint. The property owner found a male dragging a dead deer out of the woods over to a waiting vehicle. Once at the scene officers located the suspect dressed in full camouflage clothing with a recently harvested deer carcass. The suspect was from New Hampshire and had been brought to the area by his family to hunt early that morning. The accused thought he was hunting on State Forest property in Voluntown. He also believed he could hunt deer on Sunday in Connecticut. The New Hampshire resident was charged with hunting on Sunday, hunting deer on private property without written landowner consent and released after posting a $500 bond. The deer was seized as evidence from the accused.

Park and Forest Trespass

On December 24, 2013, officers from the marine sector responded to Millers Pond State Park in Durham for a complaint. A concerned citizen called the State Police reporting a man was seen walking in the park in just his underwear and a cowboy hat. Officers conducted a foot patrol of the area and just after sunset, officers located a white male in his 40’s wearing white underwear, a sweatshirt, a backpack, and an orange traffic safety vest carrying ski poles. The individual was cooperative and agreed to put his athletic shorts back on. After a brief interview the officers warned the male for being in the park after legal hours (sunset) and escorted him out of the area.

West District

Illegal snake seized

On December 20th, the Connecticut State Police contacted the EnCon Police requesting assistance at a residence in Litchfield where a drug search warrant had been executed. During the search of the residence the State Police came across three large snakes. EnCon Police officers responded and identified the snakes as a Python, Boa Constrictor and a Green Anaconda. The Python and Boa are legal species in Connecticut however the Green Anaconda, which can grow to between 16 and 22 feet at maturity, is not legal in Connecticut. The anaconda was seized and turned over to an out of state reptile rehabilitator for care.

Drug arrests in state park after closing

On December 26th after park closing hours, EnCon Police Officer Blackwell was conducting a patrol check of the Lake Wintergreen section of West Rock Ridge State Park in Hamden.
Officer Blackwell pulled into the parking area and observed a vehicle occupied by a single male operator. When Officer Blackwell approached the vehicle she detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Looking into the vehicle Officer Blackwell saw several pieces of drug paraphernalia on the front passenger seat, a large folding knife in the open position on the center console, and an empty pistol holster near the center console. When Officer Blackwell asked the operator if he had a weapon, the operator stated that there was a BB gun in the console. Hamden PD provided backup at which time the operator was removed from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle produced two folding knives and a pistol BB gun. Also located in the vehicle was a homemade water smoking bong and four other pieces of drug paraphernalia. The subject was charged with two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and one count violating park hours.

On December 27th after park closing hours, EnCon Police Officer Blackwell was patrolling West Rock Ridge State Park in Hamden when she observed a single vehicle pulled off onto a gravel pull off within the park. Upon approaching the vehicle Officer Blackwell observed two occupants. Upon the operator opened his window, a strong odor of marijuana began emanating from the interior. A search of the vehicle and its occupants was made which produced a plastic bag with a RX bottle inside of it containing marijuana. Also found was marijuana smoking pipe, and a metal marijuana grinder with marijuana inside of it. All the items were seized as evidence. Both occupants of the vehicle were charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and violating park hours.