Marine District

Boating Training
During the month of April officers participated in numerous boating training courses. Officers attended a comprehensive boating accident investigation course, a NASBLA Pursuit and Stop course and BUI transition training course. Officers will be able to utilize the training to enhance their investigative skills as part of the Boating Accident Reconstruction Unit and as another tool to apprehend individuals boating under the influence. The Pursuit and Stop training is an extension of the Tactical Operators Course for officers who are involved in the waterborne response unit. Officers are taught standardized tactics for intercepting and stopping vessels.
Fishing arrests
Officers from the West Marine sector have been busy enforcing fishing regulations throughout the sector, including areas such as the Housatonic River, Mianus River, Beardley Park / Bunnell’s Pond and Long Island Sound.
On April 19, 2014 a check of a male fishing the bank of the Housatonic River was made. The check revealed that he did not have a valid fishing licenses and a garbage bag containing six small striped bass was located nearby. The size range of the fish was found to be 15 to 18 inches, well below the legal size limit to possess. The male suspect was charged with fishing without a license, possession of undersized striped bass and possession of striped bass over the daily creel limit. He is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport court later in the month.
On April 24, 2014 a fisherman was advised by an officer not to fish in the river if he did not have a license. The fisherman admitted he did not have a current license and agreed not fish until he did get a current license. A short time later the officer saw the same male, fishing from shore and catching striped bass. The accused would catch the undersized fish and quickly run it up the bank to hide it in a drainage pipe. Each time he did this he would cautiously look around the area before hiding the fish. The officer apprehended the suspect who was only identified by his passport from Ecuador. The accused was charged with fishing without a license and possession of three undersized striped bass. He is due to appear at Milford court.
Criminal Mischief
On April 26, 2014 officers from Eastern Marine sector were called to Bluff Point Coastal preserve for a complaint of two individuals in a pickup truck driving recklessly in the dirt parking lot. The operator of the truck was driving fast and doing “donuts” and “burnouts” throughout the parking lot. Some of the dirt, rocks and gravel struck another vehicle causing minor damage. Officers were able to obtain a description of the vehicle and registration information from the victim. A short time later the operator of the truck was apprehended and admitted to his reckless driving. He also stated that he had taken the truck for a test drive to see if he wanted to buy it. The accused was charged with Criminal Mischief 3rd and is due to appear in New London Superior court.
West District
LPO Training Academy started

EnCon Police Sergeants Buckley and Lundin began the biannual Lake Patrol Training Academy for the Candlewood Lake Marine Patrol and Lake Housatonic Marine Patrol. New lake patrol officers are required to complete this training academy in order to obtain an appointment by the Commissioner of the DEEP as a lake patrol officer. The training academy covers boating law, boating accident investigation and boat operation.

Preseason fish stocking local rivers / streams / lakes / ponds with Fisheries

EnCon Officers in the Western District assisted the Inland Fisheries Division in early April with pre-season trout stocking. Officers escorted the stocking trucks to ensure that no one attempted to catch the fish when they were stocked prior to opening day.

Fishing enforcement

Officers in the Western District made numerous arrests and issued warnings for pre-season fishing violations as well as in-season violations.

Officers made 11 arrests for illegal Striped Bass fishing on the Housatonic River in the Shelton/Derby area during the month of April. In one case a suspect had over bagged more than 16 short Striped Bass.


Commercial Shellfish Enforcement

During April, EnCon Police Officers in the West Marine sector conducted a joint enforcement operation with the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture Division in Long Island Sound and the Housatonic River. The operation resulted in the issuance of 4 written warnings for shellfishing violations.
East District

Park and Forest
On the night of April 24, 2014 EnCon Police Officers Scatena and Pettus were patrolling Mansfield Hollow State Park. Officer Scatena observed a car occupied by 3 males smoking what appeared to be marijuana. Upon approach of the car, the occupants (2 adults and 1 juvenile) were making furtive movements as if to hide something. A strong odor of marijuana was emanating from the car. The driver of the car relinquished a burning marijuana cigarette to Officer Scatena and stated there was nothing else in the car. During a pat down check of one of the passengers, Officer Pettus felt a bag of what appeared to be marijuana in his jeans. While attempting to place the passenger in handcuffs, he broke free and ran, tossing a bag of contraband and his highly visible yellow hooded sweatshirt. K-9 officers were requested to the scene to search for the evading suspect and any evidence. A CSP Troop C K-9 Officer and EnCon K-9 Officers Bernier and Reilly responded. Officer Reilly and K-9 Hunter recovered a bag of marijuana that the subject had allegedly tossed into the woods. Officer Bernier and K-9 Saydee recovered the yellow ‘hoodie’. The suspect made his way home on foot, and later turned himself in to Officers at the Willimantic Police Department. The passenger was charged with Interfering with a Police Officer, Possession of less than 4 ounces of Marijuana, Breach of Peace, and Littering. The accused suspect was processed and released on a $1000.00 non-surety bond.

On numerous different dates throughout April, Eastern District Officers and Sergeants responded to numerous Search and Rescue Operations in several of the State Forests and Parks including Pachaug, Nipmuck, Meshomasic and Bigelow Hollow. EnCon personnel responded in all weather conditions and at all times of the day and night. In all cases the lost subjects were found and dealt with as needed with no major injuries.

Fishing

On April 26, 2014 Officer Vroman received a tip from an angler who had been fishing the Natchaug River in the Windham area. The angler had witnessed a person catch his limit of trout and drive away only to reappear a short time later and start fishing again. The suspect had left the area before the officer’s arrival. With the information provided, Officer Vroman tracked the suspect down at his residence in Willimantic. Officer Vroman witnessed the suspect with an over limit of trout and after a brief interview the suspect admitted to the violation. He was issued an infraction for over bagging trout and the additional trout were confiscated.


On April 27, 2014 Officer Lindo received a complaint that anglers were keeping under sized Striped Bass from the CT River in the area near the Portland/Glastonbury Town line. Upon his arrival he witnessed a subject preparing to leave the area and upon further investigation he determined that another angler fishing nearby had eleven Striped Bass all less than the legal length. The suspect admitted to being in possession but claimed he had found most of them when he arrived at the fishing area. Officer Lindo issued the suspect an infraction for possession of undersized Striped Bass and fishing without a license.

Wildlife

In February 2014 a Ledyard resident who lived next door to a horse pen, shot and killed a canine that was aggressive toward livestock and humans. The deceased canine and two other canines travelling with it were of the same distinct appearance. The other two dogs fled the area after their companion was killed. The owner of the horses took samples from the deceased dog and sent them to the University of California at Davis for genetic testing due to rumors in the area of wolf-dog hybrid animals. A property in North Stonington on the Eastern Pequot Tribal reservation was identified as where the canines normally resided. The test of the deceased dog was returned with a positive result for dog-wolf hybrid.
In March 2014 EnCon police were notified of the complaint and the positive results from the deceased canine. Sergeant Wolfe collected all the background information on the case, including the complainant information, testing information, suspect information and discovered a lengthy case from the Department of Agriculture - Animal Control Division from 2011, where numerous dogs were removed from the suspect’s property. Officer Arsenault conducted interviews with the complainant and the suspect and upon completion it appeared that there was sufficient circumstantial evidence to request the suspect for a voluntary sample from his dogs to determine if they were dog-wolf hybrids. Consent was obtained from the suspect at which time Sergeant Wolfe coordinated a veterinarian and two officers to assist in taking samples of the dogs. A total of 7 samples were taken under extremely difficult circumstances. All dogs that were sampled were then fitted with a sub-dermal microchip for identification.
A huge effort was made by the East District EnCon Officers, many of the Chemical Immobilization members statewide, and Hartford Staff in preparation for positive results of dog-wolf hybrid animals. Thankfully, upon return of the results from UC Davis, the results showed the animals were not hybridized and no further action was needed by D.E.E.P. The case was transferred to the Department of Agriculture for licensing and vaccination issues.

Thank you for taking the time to post,

Great job, EnCon Police Officers !!

Nice to see a few of the striper poachers bagged!!
Hey Skip, could you get anymore information on these wolf- dog hybrids?? Seems like a very interesting topic.

I can't "find" stripers in or out of the water!!! Good work as usual!