Marine District Monthly Highlights - September 2015

Training

Officers from the district attended numerous training sessions that included Police Combat Lifesaver Training Course and Dangerous & Exotic Animal Training,where officers handled live specimens including such animals as rattlesnakes and alligators. Officers Torres, Mihalyak, Hage and Heath also attended a week long NASBLA boating training course that included other local and State officers from the region.

Three ENCON l<-9 handlers completed Game Detection Certification Training. The three week training will enable the officers and their l<-9 partners to be utilized to detect deer, turkey and waterfowl. They completed the fish detection part of the training this past spring.

Marine Fishing Violations

Officers in the district issued 46 citations for fishing violations during the month. Violations included species size, closed season and fishing without a valid license.

Search and Rescue

On September 6, 2015 officers from the District responded to an emergency call from Old Saybrook Police Department and the US Coast Guard concerning people falling off a vessel into the Connecticut River and reported missing. Officers responded to the lower part of the river with numerous other local fire and police departments. A search and rescue mission was conducted in the dark for two missing people one of which had gone into the water for a swim. A total of twelve people were on board the vessel when one passenger decided to go swimming. She was quickly swept away from the anchored vessel by the strong current and a male passenger jumped into the water with life jackets to help. Both were later found by rescue personnel and brought to shore for evaluation by medical staff.

On September 22, 2015 EnCon officers from the East sector responded to a request from the US Coast Guard concerning a capsized vessel in Fishers Island Sound near Stonington. ENCON Officers responded by vessel and quickly determined that a two vessel collision had occurred in Watch Hill Passage located within Rhode Island waters. A local fisherman died as a result of the collision. Officers assisted Rhode Island Environmental Police with the accident investigation, including taking photographs, interviewing witnesses, gathering evidence and other pertinent details, notifying next of kin and transporting I escorting personnel and vessels from the scene
to a secure Rhode Island port.

The fatal accident is still under investigation.

West Monthly Highlights- October 2015

Marijuana Grow

On Sept. 14, 2015 EnCon Officers and EnCon K-9 Ellie from the Northwest Sector, State Police and Statewide Narcotics Unit under a joint operation confiscated numerous marijuana plants from Housatonic State Forest. The illegal grow was located by observation from the Connecticut State Police helicopter unit.

Illegal Deer Hunting

On Sept. 25, 2015 Sergeant Williams was on patrol in Cedar Swamp WMA (Wildlife Management Area) in New Hartford and located a bow hunter hunting deer over bait. Upon further investigation Sgt. Williams found a second tree stand within the WMA from the same individual that was also baited. The individual was arrested for Illegal Deer Hunting over Bait and released on a $500 Non Surety Bond with a court date set for Oct. 13tt1, 2015 at Bantam Superior Court.

On Sunday Sept. 27, 2015 Officer O'Brien was on patrol in Seymour and observed a vehicle parked along RT 34. Officer O'Brien observed hunting gear within the vehicle and conducted a foot patrol of the area. Officer O'Brien subsequently found an individual hunting within a ground blind. Further investigation revealed that the individual did not possess a valid 2015 Connecticut Archery Hunting License. Officer O'Brien arrested the individual for Hunting on Sunday, Hunting on Private Property without Written Consent and Hunting without a Permit.

During the month of September Sergeant Williams, Officer Johnston, and SCO Cammack responded to 34 calls for service on Candlewood Lake, of which 30 cases resulted in infractions issued, many for safety violations. On September 19th, 2015 Officer Johnston and SCO Butler conducted a boating enforcement initiative on the Lower Housatonic River and issued two infractions.


East District Monthly Highlights - September 2015

Hunting Arrests

On September 15, 2015 Officer Danielson responded to a complaint of an archery deer hunter reportedly hunting too close to a residence in Lisbon. Upon checking the hunter, there was no distance violation but the individual did not have written permission to hunt the property nor did he have his deer permit or tags with him. The individual was arrested on site and released on a promise to appear in Norwich court.

Officer Vroman received a complaint in August 2015 of possible illegal deer hunting on private property in Thompson where a trail camera and tree stand were placed in an area which was also baited with apples. On September 191

Officer Vroman checked the area and found a 48 year old Massachusetts man actively hunting with a crossbow, over apples and corn. The hunter stated he had hunted the area for years and only placed the apples and corn to get pictures. He was arrested for illegal deer hunting and failure to carry his deer permit and license.

On September 26th Officers Danielson and Pettus checked property previously baited with apples in Somers. They found a 53 year old male actively archery deer hunting from the tree stand, with apple pieces at the base of the tree. The subject stated he was eating apples while in the stand and had dropped his peels on the ground. Upon further investigation, the subject had more bait in his jacket and vehicle, and had been arrested previously for similar activity by Officer Pettus. He was arrested and released on a promise to appear in Rockville court.

Boating Accident Investigation Arrest

On May 3rd,2015, Officer Bouthillier and numerous EnCon officers and BARU members responded to Coventry Lake for a jet boat collision with a racing shell occupied by nine students, four of whom were injured; the racing shell was damaged beyond use. Following a thorough investigation and working with Rockville Superior Court prosecutors, a warrant was issued for the operator of the motor vessel (jetboat). On September 201

Officer Bouthillier arrested the 46 year old male on the charges of Reckless Operation of a Vessel,1st Degree; Assault, 3rd degree (3 counts); Reckless Endangerment (9 counts), and Criminal Mischief, 3rd degree. He was processed and released pending an October court appearance.

Regional Unit Training

On September 25th the Capitol Region Emergency Services Team (CREST) Crisis Negotiation Unit conducted training in Coventry, including a waterborne crisis scenario on Coventry Lake. EnCon Police officers with a vessel participated in the exercise alongside units from Coventry, Manchester, Glastonbury, Vernon, Wethersfield, and South and East Windsor police departments. EnCon officers provided an overview of on-water capabilities and discussed how they can assist local police agencies in such situations.