Commercial Shellfishing Violation
On 2/8/2006, Environmental Conservation Police Sgt. Eric Lundin was conducting a patrol of Long Island Sound in a State Police airplane for shellfish and marine fisheries activity. Sgt. Lundin observed a commercial shellfish vessel actively shellfishing in Long Island Sound off of Guilford. The area was not marked with bouys or stakes as required.The vessel's operator was met a short time later by EnCon Police Officers Harold Lindo and Raul Ramos at a dock in Guilford. The subject did not have a vessel operators certificate as required to operate his vessel. He was issued a citation for both violations and released. The subject has previously been cited for these same violations.
Protective Order Violation
On 2/10/06 at 8:40 p.m., Environmental Conservation Police Officers Joe Ruggiero and Larry Golet were on patrol at Bear Hill Wildlife Management Area in Bozrah. They observed a vehicle in parking lot with two occupants. The area is posted "Closed at Sunset". While checking the identifications of the male and female occupants, the officers learned that there was a Protective Order prohibiting the male from being in the presence of the female. The 26-year old male was arrested and charged with Criminal Violation of a Protective Order and released after posting a $1000.00 bond.
After Hours Violations
On 2/11/06, Environmental Conservation Police Officers Joe Ruggiero and Larry Golet were assigned to patrol Hurd State Park in East Hampton due to repeated complaints of late night vandalism at a picnic shelter. They encountered a large group of youths leaving the park and issued sixteen tickets to them for the charge of Hours of Operation.
Burglary Arrests
On 2/17/06, Environmental Conservation Police Officer Joe Ruggiero served two arrest warrants charging one person with one incident of Burlary 3rd Degree and Larceny 3rd Degree and a second incident of Burlary 3rd Degree and Larceny 4th Degree. The investigation began in September 2005 when Officer Ruggiero investigated the burglary of two buildings at Cockaponset State Forest in Haddam. In one incident, a maintenance building was burglarized and four chain saws were stolen, and in the other incident a storage building was burglarized and a number of power tools were stolen. Officer Ruggiero worked with the State and local police and was able to develop a suspect in this and a number of other burglaries. The 25-year old male confessed to stealing the items and selling them to support a drug habit.
Narcotics Arrest
On 2/26/06, Environmental Conservation Police Officer Eric Johnson was on patrol at Mansfield Hollow State Park where he observed a vehicle parked at the boat launch area with two male occupants. As Officer Johnson walked up to the vehicle he observed one of the men attempt to hide a drug pipe under his leg. A subsequent search revealed eleven bags of heroin, a quantity of marijuana along with the drug paraphernalia. The 54 year-old male was arrested and charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
ATV Accident
On 2/10/06, Environmental Conservation Police Officers and members of the Cromwell Police and Fire Departments responded to a report of an ATV accident at River Highlands State Park. The victim, who had taken his dog out for a walk in the park was walking his ATV up a steep narrow trail when his right foot got wedged in logs alongside the trail. While trying to dislodge his foot, the victim lost his grip on the ATV, which then rolled over on him, pinning his legs and hips. The victim was able to call for help with a cell-phone. The victim was rescued and transported by LifeStar helicopter to Hartford Hospital for treatment of burns and a sprained ankle. The victim received a written warning for Unauthorized Use of Trails.
Arson Arrest
On 12/3/05, a barn belonging to the DEP caught on fire and was destroyed. The State Fire Marshal's office determined that the fire was caused by an act of arson. Environmental Conservation Police Officer Stan Kucia, working with the State Fire Marshal's Office and the Barkhamsted Resident Trooper, developed information that led to a suspect in the fire. As a result of the investigation, Officer Kucia was able to determine that the fire was started by a 15 year-old juvenile from the area. Officer Kucia obtained an arrest warrant and arrested the juvenile on 2/12/06 for Arson in the 3rd Degree.
ATV Through the Ice
On 2/25/06, Environmental Conservation Police Officers responded to a report of an ATV through the ice on Highland Lake in Winchester. A juvenile operating the ATV drove onto thin ice in the "narrows" section of the lake. The ice gave way and the ATV plunged into the lake. The juvenile operator was able to pull himself onto the ice and contact his parents. The father of the juvenile was issued a summons for Allowing the Operation of an Unregistered ATV. The owner was able to remove the ATV from the lake with no known environmental impact to the watershed.
Negligent Hunting, Felon with a Firearm
On 2/25/06, Environmental Conservation Police Officers Keith Schneider and Erin Crossman were patrolling the Housatonic Wildlife Management area in Kent when they observed several individuals hunting. One of the individuals was not wearing fluorescent orange clothing. As Officers Schneider and Crossman approached the group, they noted that the two of the individuals that had been seen earlier were no longer with the other hunters. One of the hunters checked did not have a license. When questioned by the officers as to the location of the other two hunters, the individual was evasive and gave false information to the officers. Approximately 5 minutes later, the individual that the officers had seen without orange came out of the woods carrying a stick. When questioned by the officers the individual stated he was not hunting. Upon further questioning it was determined that the individual had hidden his shotgun in the woods before coming out. The officers then determined that another individual hunting with the group was also hiding in the woods. This individual, who was also not wearing orange, was eventually located. The hunter who was legal was allowed to continue on his way. The other three hunters were arrested for Negligent Hunting 4th Degree and Interfering with an Officer and released on $500 bonds. It was later determined that one of the individuals arrested has an extensive criminal history including a felony conviction. As a result, the charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon was added to the list of charges for the individual by the State's Attorney's Office at GA18 in Bantam.