MARINE DISTRICT
Federal Warrant
Agents from the National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement from the New Bedford Office requested assistance in locating a subject that was wanted on a warrant for violations of the Lacey Act, conspiracy, and mislabeling seafood containers. The warrant originated from the Mobile, Alabama office. State EnCon Police Sergeant Healy and Officer Persico assisted in the investigation for several days, checking local addresses for the subject. The subject was believed to be living in either Plainfield or New London with his wife. On 2/8/2010 at 0800 hours NMFS agents and EnCon Police Officers executed the warrant at the Plainfield residence and took the subject into custody without incident. He was transported to Hartford Federal Courthouse by special agents and brought before a federal magistrate.

Narcotics Arrest

On 2/11/2010, Officer Chemacki and Reilly were patrolling Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. At approximately 2:00 p.m., the officers observed a vehicle travelling in the park with an expired registration decal on the windshield. A check through DMV files confirmed that the vehicle’s registration was expired. The officers stopped the vehicle and after speaking with the operator determined that the vehicle was also uninsured. The officers gained consent from the owner to search the vehicle and during the search found a plastic bag containing suspected marijuana. A glass smoking pipe containing residue was also found. The operator was charged with operating an unregistered vehicle, operating without insurance, possession of marijuana less than four ounces and possession of drug paraphernalia. The operator was released on a promise to appear.

Illegal Deer Hunting

On 2/19/2010, Officer Samorajczyk was dispatched to the area of Nells Rock Rd. in Shelton to assist the Shelton Police Dept. in an illegal deer hunting investigation. He met two Shelton officers on scene. One of the Shelton officers had been in the area at about 7:15 am that day when he heard a single gunshot come from behind a residence and then saw a deer stumble and fall to the ground behind that residence. The officer went to the residence and was met by the homeowner. The officer asked the homeowner about the deer and the homeowner denied shooting the deer. Officer Samorajczyk went into the woods and found the deer, freshly killed with a single gunshot wound. Officer Ramos arrived on scene and assisted Officer Samorajczyk with questioning the suspect. The suspect did admit to killing the deer and the officers took possession of a .22 caliber rifle used to kill the deer. Since the residences in that area were very close together, the subject was charged with Reckless Endangerment in the second degree and Negligent Hunting in the third degree. The deer and firearm were seized as evidence and the subject was released on a promise to appear.

EASTERN DISTRICT
INTERFERING ARRESTS

On 2/6/2010, EnCon Police Officer Danielson and Sgt. Dwyer were checking ice fisherman on Coventry Lake when they encountered two individuals on ATV’s attempting to load their machines into their vehicles. Neither individual had valid registrations for their ATV’s and they tried to evade the officers by leaving the scene after being advised to “standby” while the Officers were conducting business with others. They were apparently leaving to avoid numerous motor vehicle charges associated with their ATV activities and in the process were arrested for interfering with a Police Officer as well.

JACKLIGHTING ARREST

On 2/6/2010, EnCon Police Officer Pettus was off duty in her state issued patrol truck in the town of Ellington and noticed a pickup truck shining farm lots with a portable spotlight well after dark. She watched the truck for several minutes as it “shined” several fields on the farm until it pulled onto the public highway where it was stopped by Officer Pettus. In the truck were the 39 year old operator and two juveniles, aged 13 and 9 years old. Also inside the truck were two rifles, a .17 HMR caliber rifle that was between the 39 year old and the 9 year old and a .22 long caliber rifle, which was situated in the cab between the two juveniles. The 13 year old was in possession of a fully loaded clip for the .17 HMR rifle. The operator was arrested for Jacklighting of Deer, Risk of Injury to a Minor (two counts), Unregistered Motor Vehicle and Driving Under Suspension. He was processed at Connecticut State Police Troop C in Tolland and released on a $5000 cash bond and the children were released to a relative.

UNTIMELY DEATH

On 2/15/2010, EnCon Police Officer Vroman was dispatched to the area near Breakneck Pond in Union to a report of a person walking their dog and finding a body. He and Trooper Sackett of the Connecticut State Police, Troop C used Officer Vroman’s patrol truck to traverse the rough terrain and met Massachusetts police and fire officials in a deeply wooded area where it was determined by GPS that the deceased was actually located in Massachusetts. They helped secure the scene until investigators from the Massachusetts State Police arrived to investigate.

LICENSE INVESTIGATION

On 2/3/2010, EnCon Police Officer Pettus was assigned to investigate a possible license fraud. An anonymous source advised that an individual had procured a hunting license by fraudulent means and when Officer Pettus went to perform the initial investigation the individual was incarcerated. She later returned to the address to find the individual she was investigating was in violation of a protective order, as he was in close proximity to a female who was listed on that order. Upon further investigation the female was found to have an outstanding arrest warrant for larceny. Both subjects were arrested; the male was processed at Connecticut State Police Troop C in Tolland and the female was transported to Groton Town Police. The license investigation is still pending.

FISHING VIOLATIONS

Eastern District Officers were busy with fishing violations in February. Earlier in the month, ice fishermen were found to be in violation at locations like Gardner Lake, Pachaug Pond, Wauregan Reservoir and Mashapaug Lake. As ice deteriorated, officers focused on the Connecticut River and Thames River fisheries for Pike and Striped Bass violations.


WESTERN DISTRICT
ILLEGAL TRAPPING ARREST
n 1/31/2010 EnCon Police received a complaint from a citizen that while walking his dog on a trail along the Farmington River in Avon, his dog was caught in an illegal snare trap. The dog was not injured. On February 2, 2010, EnCon Police officers Hilli and Yescott located several more illegal snare and unpadded leg hold traps set along the river area. While conducting the investigation the officers observed a subject approach them carrying additional illegal snare traps and other trapping equipment. Officers Hilli and Yescott seized a quantity of traps and trapping equipment and arrested the subject on charges alleging 5 counts of Illegal trapping (for using the snare traps); 7 counts of Illegal coyote trapping (out of season); 2 counts of Illegal trapping (using unpadded leg hold traps) and 7 counts of Failure to tag traps with the name of the owner. The subject was released on a written promise to appear in court on February 16, 2010 in Hartford.

I enjoy reading these reports...keep up the good work.

Great job, all you ENCON folks, keep it up. I hope the next election will result in an administration that recognizes your fine work and focuses some attention on the Connecticut outdoors!