Body Recovered
On April 5, 2005, Environmental Conservation Police Officer Stan Mieldzioc was closing Rocky Neck State Park when he made note of a vehicle left in the park without any occupants. The next day Captain Smutnick and Officer Ruggiero attempted to contact the registered owner of the vehicle but were unsuccessful. However, they obtained information that led them to believe that the owner/operator of the vehicle might still be in the Rocky Neck area. The State Police were notified and an extensive search of the park was conducted by EnCon, State Police and East Lyme officers as well as the State Police helicopter, Trooper 1. The search was discontinued at sunset and resumed the next day by K-9 units and DEP. Additional information expanded the search to nearby Long Island Sound by DEP patrol vessels and State Police aircraft. It was later determined that the vehicle's owner, a 43-year old female, had walked from the park to a private shoreline residence and without the owner's permission took their small boat and paddled out onto Long Island sound. The unoccupied vessel was discovered on April 5th by the U.S. Coast Guard and her body was recovered on April 6th along the shoreline in E. Lyme. The State Police are investigating the incident.
Turkey vs. Truck
On April 5 Environmental Conservation Captain John Smutnick responded to a tractor trailer truck vs. wild turkey accident on Rte. 9 in Essex. While flying across the highway, the turkey had crashed through the windshield of the truck and was sitting on the passenger seat, injured, but still alive. Captain Smutnick retrieved the turkey from the cab of the truck and then had to dispatch it due to the extent of it's injuries.The driver was uninjured and the truck was towed from the scene.
Suspect Repeats Crime
On April 13 Environmental Conservation Police Officers Jeff Samorajczyk and John Hey observed a fisherman keeping undersized striped bass on the Housatonic River in Stratford. The 31-year old male was charged for possession of two illegal fish. The next day the same two officers observed the same fisherman catching undersized striped bass near the same location. He was again arrested and charged with possession of the illegal fish. This time he had twenty-eight short striped bass.
Falcon Egg Arrest
On 4/7/05, Environmental Conservation Police Officer Bill Myers was on routine patrol when he observed two males climbing up a man made structure in the center of the Connecticut River in Middletown. Officer Myers knew that this structure was the home of an active peregrine falcon nest. He then observed the two knock over a section of protective fencing and retrieve what appeared to be an egg from the nest. The two suspects then got into a canoe and began to paddle down river. Local police departments along the river were notified of the situation at which time several Middletown officers apprehended the suspects at Harbor Park. The Middletown officers retrieved one peregrine falcon egg from the canoe. Officer Myers placed the two accused under arrest for criminal trespass and escorted them to the Middletown Police Department where they were released on a promise to appear. Officer Myers then returned to the scene and placed the egg back into the nest. The next day, Officer Myers observed the female falcon sitting on the nest. An ongoing investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Vehicle Pursuit Arrest
On 4/13/05, Environmental Conservation Police Officer Eric Johnson observed a minor motor vehicle violation in Mansfield Hollow State Park and attempted to stop the operator utilizing his emergency lights and siren. At this time, the operator accelerated at a high rate of speed out of the park entrance and headed east on Bassett's Bridge Road. The vehicle crossed over a double yellow line into the westbound lane and passed several vehicles on a curve. Officer Johnson discontinued his pursuit and radioed state and local officers in the area. Several minutes later, a Mansfield officer found the vehicle abandoned on a dead end road near the park. As State Police K-9's were searching the area, the suspect was apprehended while running down Bassett's Bridge Road. Officer Johnson placed the suspect under arrest for operating a motor vehicle while under suspension, engaging an officer in pursuit, interfering with an officer, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and failure to wear a seat belt. The accused was transported to the State Police barracks in Tolland and released after posting a $1,000 cash bond.
Rabid Bobcat Attack
On 4/15/2005, Environmental Conservation Police Officer Paul Hilli responded to the town of Litchfield on a report that a man had been attacked by a bobcat. The bobcat was reported to still be in the complainants' basement. Upon arriving, Officer Hilli learned that the man had gone into the basement of his mother's home to check to see if an animal had gotten inside. As he went into the basement, the bobcat attacked him, biting and scratching his legs and hands. Officer Keith Schneider responded to the scene to assist Officer Hilli. The bobcat was very aggressive and for their protection the officers were forced to shoot the bobcat through an open window of the basement. The animal was taken to the State Health Lab in Hartford for testing and on 4/16/2005, the lab reported that the bobcat had tested positive for rabies.
Suicide
On 4/23/2005, Environmental Conservation Police Officers Ed Yescott, Paul Hilli , Matt Tomassone and Sgt. Warren responded to Mohawk State Forest in Cornwall on the report of an attempted suicide. Upon arriving, they learned that a twenty-eight year old female had attempted to hang herself from the public observation tower in the forest. The first paramedic to arrive on the scene cut the female down and was able to establish a pulse on the victim. The victim was transported to a local hospital but died several days later. The DEP's EnCon Police and Connecticut State Police are investigating the incident.
Burglary Arrests
On 4/23/2005 and 4/24/2005, Environmental Conservation Police Officer Tim Hill served seven arrest warrants at the Western District Headquarters in Harwinton based on an investigation he conducted into a burglary that occurred on February 7, 2005 at the DEP's Farmington Headquarters. Windows had been broken, lumber stolen and portions of the building were vandalized. After a lengthy investigation involving numerous interviews, Officer Hill obtained the seven arrest warrants for area teenagers that were involved. The charges included burglary in the third degree, trespass in the second degree and criminal mischief. All the teenagers were released on court set cash bonds ranging from $500.00 to $7500.00. There are warrants pending for three juveniles that were also involved in the case.