Child Endangerment in State Park
On 6/16/06, Environmental Conservation Police Officer Erin Crossman responded to Black Rock State Park in Watertown regarding a complaint of two young toddlers wandering unsupervised in the park. Officer Crossman determined that two 17 month-old children (twin brother and sister) were walking in the park access road and playing in a vehicle unsupervised by any adults. Officer Crossman's investigation determined that the children's parents were living out of their vehicle and a tent at Black Rock State Park. The parents were located sleeping in a tent. Information was gathered from witnesses that the children had been left alone overnight with the father, who appeared intoxicated, while the mother went to work. The father had also been witnessed striking the female child. The children were examined and it was found that they had numerous insect bites, small cuts and bruises and had not been bathed or had their diapers changed in a timely manner resulting in what appeared to be various skin rashes. The Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) was contacted and social workers were dispatched to the park. The social workers from DCF took custody of the children and turned them over to their maternal grandmother who had custody of the couples other children. Both parents were arrested for Risk of Injury to a minor and scheduled for a court appearance at GA#4 in Waterbury on 6/19/06.
Alligator and Reptiles Seized
On 6/22/06, Environmental Conservation Police Officers Laura Gregonis and Matt Tomassone received a report of an alligator being kept in an apartment in Danbury. The officers determined that the subject involved had a 4 ½ to 5 foot long American Alligator in a closet in his apartment. The subject had been evicted from the apartment the previous day and had not fed or provided water for the alligator for at least a week. There were also 36 other live snakes consisting of various members of the boa and python species, an anaconda and a number of other non-venomous snakes, turtles, frogs, salamanders and lizards being kept in the apartment. There were two dead lizards found and the subject left the remaining reptiles in extremely dirty and unhealthy conditions. All of the animals were confined in boxes or fish tanks and were lying in their own feces with no food or water. The alligator was seized as contraband as it is illegal to possess an alligator in Connecticut without a permit. All of the other reptiles and amphibians that were still alive were seized for health and safety reasons. The reptiles and amphibians were turned over to a professional rehabilitator in Massachusetts to assess their health and for safekeeping. The case is being reviewed at the State's Attorney's office to determine if the subject who owned the animals will be charged for numerous counts of cruelty to animals in addition to the charge of illegal possession of an alligator.
Aggressive Black Bear Tranquilized
On 6/23/06, Environmental Conservation Police Officers responded to a call for assistance in Enders State Forest in Granby from a Wildlife Division employee. The employee, a wildlife assistant, was checking the status of a female bear that was caught in a culvert trap that DEP had set out in the forest to gather biological data. While checking on the status of the female bear, the employee was charged by a large male bear that was guarding the trap. EnCon Police Sgt Paul O'Connell, and Officers Matt Tomassone and Paul Hilli responded. They provided protection for the Wildlife employee until the female bear could be tranquilized, tagged and released from the trap. The EnCon officers and Wildlife Division personnel then tranquilized and tagged the male bear. The male bear weighed in excess of 400 pounds. Both bears were released unharmed to return to the forest after tagging.
Burglary at DEP Facility Solved
On 5/22/06, Environmental Conservation Police Officer Chris Dwyer responded to a report of a burglary at the DEP Southford Falls State Park maintenance facility. A large quantity of copper pipe and brass fittings had been stolen from the building. Officer Dwyer continued his investigation during the month of June and was able to identify the persons responsible for the theft. Two brothers had entered the facility 5 times over a 5-day period and removed the copper and brass, then sold it to a scrap dealer. One of the brothers was a DEP employee and had knowledge of how to access the building without forcibly entering. Officer Dwyer had applied for arrest warrants for both brothers for 5 counts of Burglary 3rd degree, 5 counts of Criminal Trespass 2nd degree, 2 counts of Criminal Mischief 3rd degree and 1 count of Larceny 3rd degree.
Plane Crash Response
On 6/2/2006, Environmental Conservation Police Officers responded to a report of a plane crash in Baker's Cove in Groton in the vicinity of the Groton/New London Airport. Officer Stan Mieldzioc and Luke Yacovou were the first EnCon officers to arrive on scene aboard a 25' Sea Ark patrol vessel where they learned that a Lear Jet had crashed in the water with five persons on board. They assisted securing the scene and transporting emergency personnel from shore to the crash site. The 27' EnCon Police Safeboat also responded from Old Lyme Headquarters with a crew of three on board and assisted with scene security. The 25' Sea Arc was used by the State Police Dive team as a dive platform during the operation. Three passengers on board the jet were rescued but the pilot and co-pilot died in the crash. Officer Mieldzioc and Officer Tony Rose returned the next day on the 25'Sea Arc and assisted the State Police Major Crime Squad. They also escorted the barge carrying the plane wreckage to the State Pier in New London where it was secured.
Coldwater Survival Training
On 6/9/2006, five Environmental Conservation Police Officers from the Marine District participated in training on proper use of coldwater immersion suits and life rafts at Old Lyme Headquarters. The newly acquired 42' Wesmac (Guardian) and 36' JC are both equipped with life rafts as required by Coast Guard regulations for commercial fishing vessels. Officers Ryan Healy, Jim Kane, Mike Tavares, Todd Chemacki and Jeff Samorajczyk were trained by a representative from Life Raft and Survival Equipment Inc. out of Portsmouth Rhode Island on the proper use and deployment of coldwater immersion suits and life rafts. The officers were trained on how to properly put on the suits, and then timed as a group putting them on. The officers then jumped from the bow of the Guardian into the Connecticut River simulating that the vessel was sinking. They were also trained in methods to maximize the chances of survival in the water. The officers were then trained on how to deploy and get into a life raft while in the water.
Public Safety Initiative
On 6/10 and 6/11, 2006, Environmental Conservation Police Officers conducted a public safety patrol initiative at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. Twenty-six people were arrested or issued infraction tickets for various charges ranging from Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Alcohol by a Minor and motor vehicle charges. On 6/10, two youths, ages sixteen and seventeen were charged with Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Officers doing a foot patrol arrested them in the campground. On 6/11 six subjects were charged with Possession of Alcohol by a Minor. Also on 6/11, a male subject was taken into custody for a warrant from the Hamden Police Dept. He was wanted for Failure to Appear and Larceny and was turned over to officers from that department. Additionally, sixteen written warnings were issued for motor vehicle violations.
Narcotics Arrest
On 6/5/06, Environmental Conservation Police Officer Tony Rose was patrolling the Four Mile River Access Area in Old Lyme where he observed a vehicle with two occupants parked in the launch area. As he approached the vehicle, Officer Rose observed one of the occupants, a female, holding a rolled up paper to her nose. Officer Rose recognized this as probable illegal drug activity and approached the car. The female that was holding the paper dumped what appeared to be white powder on the floor of the car as Officer Rose approached. Officer Rose questioned the accused that admitted snorting Ritalin to get high. A search of the suspect also revealed the subject was in possession of a marijuana- smoking pipe. A small quantity of the powder was seized and the subject was placed under arrest. She was charged with Failure to Keep Narcotics in the Original Container, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Narcotics and Prohibited Acts in a State Access Area. She was transported to Rocky Neck for processing and released on a promise to appear.
Camper Severely Burned
On 5/27/06, Environmental Conservation Police Officer Bill Myers was dispatched to the campground at Devil's Hopyard State Park in East Haddam. At the campground the officer learned that a 49 year-old male had spilled some gasoline near a campfire, which caused the victims clothes to catch on fire, as well as a picnic table and ground nearby. Other campers went to his assistance and extinguished the fire with blankets. The victim was transported to the Bridgeport Hospital Burn Unit with serious injuries.
Uncooperative Encounter
On the evening of 5/28/06, Special EnCon Police Officer Richard Grimaldi was conducting a vessel patrol on Coventry Lake where he approached a vessel that was not displaying navigation lights. He asked the operator of the vessel, who was fishing, to produce his vessel registration and fishing license. The operator could not produce either document. The vessel was then escorted to the boat launch area where the subject entered his vehicle and backed down the boat launch ramp to retrieve his vessel. A check of the vehicle registration revealed that it had been cancelled. The 48 year-old subject was subsequently issued an infraction for Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle, Operating a Vehicle without the Required Insurance, Fishing without a License and Improper Vessel lights. His vehicle was towed from the scene and the registration plate was seized and returned to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The subject was uncooperative throughout the encounter. A criminal history check revealed that he is a convicted felon with 18 arrests, including Attempted Murder.
Fisheries Enforcement
During the month of June, Eastern District Environmental Conservation Police Officers responded to 59 incidents involving fisheries violations and issued 70 infractions/written warnings. The majority of violations were related to striped bass enforcement.