MARINE DISTRICT

FISHING ARRESTS
On the 25th of the month Sergeant Kane and Officers Samorajczyk and Ulkus were patrolling Hemlocks Reservoir in Fairfield in search of illegal hunters when Sergeant Kane spotted two individuals in camouflage clothing hiding on the ground. At first they thought they were participating in illegal hunting but they were in possession of fishing rods and seven Largemouth Bass and one Pickerel and admitted to illegally fishing the reservoir. They were charged with illegally fishing the reservoir.

PUBLIC SAFETY ASSISTS
Officer Mieldzoic was called assist Waterford Police and the United States Coast Guard on the 26th of November for what was originally reported as a possible plane crash in Long Island Sound just south of the Millstone Nuclear Plant, as reported by at least four witnesses. Further investigation revealed that the “aircraft” turned out to be an unmanned hot air balloon that was burning out of fuel when it descended back to earth.

HUNTING ARRESTS
On the 2nd of November Sgt. Healy responded to a complaint of an illegal deer kill in East Lyme. The hunter apparently was confused about the new season for handgun hunting and harvested a deer with a handgun during the Free Landowner Deer Season which opens on November 1st. The hunter had Private Land Permits and was warned and the deer was seized and turned over to “Hunters for the Hungry” a program that allows hunters to donate their game to charitable food organizations.

Officers Chemacki and Reilly were patrolling Cockaponsett State Forest in Clinton on the 17th of the month when they encountered an individual entering the forest with a loaded shotgun approximately one half hour after sunset. Sunset is the end of legal time to hunt deer. He was issued a summons to appear in Middletown Superior Court and charged with hunting deer during closed hours.

MOTOR VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT
Officer Reilly was travelling on Route 9 in Old Saybrook on the 27th of November when she spotted a vehicle being operated recklessly in the southbound lane. After stopping the vehicle she developed probable cause to arrest the driver for driving while intoxicated. The individual had his 11 year old son in the car and was charged with risk of injury to a child as well.

EASTERN DISTRICT
On 11/14/10, EnCon Police Sgt. Wolfe and Officer Ruggiero responded to a complaint of all terrain vehicle use in the Wangunk Meadows Wildlife Management Area in Portland. Upon their arrival the officers discovered numerous off road pickups and jeeps operating on the management area. After a complete search of the area, the officers issued a total of 19 infractions to the operators for operating vehicles in an unauthorized area. On 11/21, Officer Ruggeiro returned to the area with officer Ulkus and issued another 9 infractions for the same violation.
On 11/19/10, EnCon Police Sgt. Dwyer and Officer Stone responded to the State Park Airline Trail in Coventry to a report of a female who fell off of a horse and was injured. Upon their arrival, the officers discovered that two women were walking their dog on the trail and decided to take the leash off and let it run free. Moments later, a woman riding her horse entered the trail at which time the dog took off running towards the horse. The rider fell off and received injuries to her head and arm. The injured party was transported to Windham Hospital and the owner of the dog was issued an infraction for not having it leashed.
On 11/25/10, EnCon Police Officer Pettus responded to the Bilton Apple Farm in Somers on a complaint that a subject dressed in camouflage/orange hat and carrying a rifle was dropped off and entered the farm property. The owner of the farm stated that he does not allow hunting on his property. Officer Pettus searched the area and found the hunter. The subject stated that he was deer hunting but had left his license and consent form at home along with his orange jacket. Further investigation revealed that the subject did not have a 2010 firearms hunting license, private land rifle/shotgun deer privileges or a consent form for the property. Officer Pettus also discovered a black duffle bag belonging to the subject that had extra rifle ammunition and a fluorescent orange jacket. The accused was issued a summons for Illegal deer hunting, Criminal Trespass 3rd degree, hunting deer without the owner’s consent and Failure to wear the required fluorescent orange clothing. The rifle was seized as evidence.
On 11/27/10, EnCon Police Sgt. Dwyer and Officer Stone responded to a complaint of a vehicle trespassing on the State Park Airline Trail in Pomfret. They arrived in the area just after dark and drove up onto the trail where they ran into a Massachusetts registered vehicle coming at them. Upon making the stop, they discovered that the only occupant, the operator, was dressed in camouflage clothing and had a rifle in the vehicle. After questioning, the subject admitted that he was hunting off of the trail and did not have consent to do so. The subject gave his non-resident hunting license to the officers but after further questioning the subject admitted to them that he was lying and that he had used a friend’s license and that he was not licensed in Connecticut. The subject admitted that he had someone hunting with him at the other end of the property and that it required driving around the block to pick him up. The second hunter instructed the driver to pull into a field and beep the horn once so that he knew it was him. Both officers got into the Massachusetts vehicle and drove in with the first subject. The driver entered the field beeped the horn and the second hunter came out of the tree line dressed in camouflage and carrying the rifle. Both officers exited the vehicle and took the second hunter into custody. That individual admitted to hunting deer without consent but did have the proper license and deer hunting privileges. Both subjects were processed at the Putnam Police Department and charged with Illegal deer hunting, Hunting without wearing the required fluorescent orange clothing, criminal trespass 3rd degree and the first subject was also charged with interfering with an officer. Both were released after posting $500 cash bonds. Both rifles were seized as evidence.

WESTERN DISTRICT

Unit Citation received from Connecticut State Police
On November 16, 2010, the Connecticut State Police awarded a Unit Citation to the EnCon Police Western District for their part in a manhunt that occurred in April 2010.

On April 5, 2010 information was developed by the United States Marshal’s Service that a fugitive wanted for assaulting a Florida State Trooper with a firearm was suspected to be in the Winsted, Connecticut area.

On April 6, 2010, additional information was developed by the US Marshals and the Connecticut State Police that the subject may be in a wooded area of the Mad River Flood Control area on the north side of RT 44 in Winsted. The area involved consists of rough terrain and is heavily wooded.

A Command Post was established at the Winsted Police Department comprised of members of the US Marshals, Connecticut State Police, Winsted Police and EnCon Police. EnCon Police initially provided technical support with regards to knowledge of the terrain in the DEP owned property. As the manhunt evolved, EnCon Police officers were requested to assist in the manhunt for the fugitive. The State Police also requested EnCon Police ATV assets are available for deployment as needed.

Capt. Raul “Skip” Camejo, Sgt. Keith Schneider and Sgt. Mark Shaw responded to the Command Post where they were responsible for coordinating EnCon Police activities with the Connecticut State Police.

Officers Paul Hilli, Tate Begley, Ed Yescott, Erin Crossman and Keith Williams were assigned to field positions as part of the manhunt. Sgt. Matt Tomassone was assigned to the aircrew for the Connecticut State Police Trooper 1 helicopter to serve as an observer/spotter due to his intimate knowledge of the terrain and area of the search.

Information was developed that the fugitive had been utilizing a black van with Michigan registration plates and a green van with Massachusetts plates. As the manhunt continued through the afternoon and evening the focus of the search shifted from the northern side of RT 44 to the southern side near and around Crystal Lake and Highland Lake.

At approximately 9pm, Officers Crossman and Williams observed a black van and green van with Massachusetts registration plates on Platt Hill Rd near Crystal Lake and RT 263. Despite knowing that the manhunt was for a fugitive who had already shot at a police officer, Officer Crossman activated her emergency lights to stop the two vans, which had turned on to RT 263. Both vehicles stopped and pulled to the shoulder of the roadway. Seconds later both vehicles began to pull away from the shoulder and continued westbound on RT 263. Officer Crossman having already relayed the location information regarding the stop to the command post, continued to attempt to stop the vehicles which she was able to do approximately 1/4 mile later. Officers Crossman and Williams conducted a high risk stop and contained the two vehicles until backup from the Connecticut State Police arrived on scene. Two females who were operating the vans were identified as known accomplices of the fugitive and were taken into custody. The State Police Emergency Services Unit then arrived and conducted a tactical entry of the two vehicles searching for the fugitive. The fugitive was not located in the vehicles.

Officer Crossman was the only female officer on scene and assisted the State Police in searching the two females in custody. She then accompanied Troopers to Troop L with the females where she assisted in processing them.

One of the females apprehended by Officer Crossman’s and Williams’ stop provided information that led officers to believe that the fugitive was located in a residence on the southeast side of Highland Lake approximately 3 miles from where Officers Crossman and Williams conducted the motor vehicle stop.

The State Police were able to obtain a search warrant for the residence where the fugitive was believed to be located. The warrant was executed at daylight and the fugitive was successfully captured.

For their exceptional collective efforts in providing invaluable assistance to the United States Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police and Winsted Police in apprehending a violent fugitive, the Connecticut State Police awarded a Unit Citation to the EnCon Police Western District.


HUNTING INCIDENTS
During the month of November, EnCon Police officers in the Western District responded to 89 incidents involving deer hunting resulting in 17 arrests and 10 written warnings. Also during November, officers made 9 arrests and issued 4 written warnings for small game hunting violations.