Marijuana Arrest
On 5/21/2006, Environmental Conservation Police Officers Ryan Healy and Luke Yacovou were patrolling Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford where they saw two male subjects seated on a bench passing a cigarette between them. The officers approached the subjects and smelled the odor of burning marijuana. As the officers became visible to the subjects, the subjects attempted to hide several items from the officers. One subject had a metal container in his hand that contained three marijuana cigarettes. The other subject had a metal container in his pocket, which contained one marijuana cigarette. The two accused were placed under arrest for Possession of Marijuana. One subject was from Connecticut and was released on a promise to appear. The other subject was from Arizona and was released after posting a cash bond.
DWI Arrest
On 5/26/2006, EnCon Police Officer Raul Ramos and Jeff Samorajczyk were patrolling Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. While on patrol they observed a van driving through the park in an erratic manner. The van was swerving from lane to lane and drove onto the center median. The officers stopped the van in the west beach parking lot. When the van stopped, the operator got out and immediately began urinating in the parking lot in front a numerous park patrons. The officers approached the subject who continued to urinate. The subject's speech was slurred and he was having difficulty standing. The officers had the subject perform several field sobriety tests, which he failed. The subject was taken into custody and transported to Madison Police Dept. where he was administered an intoxilizer breath test, which he failed. The subject was arrested for Reckless Driving, Driving Under the Influence and Public Indecency. He was released on a $500.00 non-surety bond.
Stolen Vehicle Recovered
On 5/6/06, EnCon Police Officer Joe Ruggiero was checking turkey-hunting activity at Cockaponset State Forest in Middletown when he noticed a car parked and blocking a dirt road in the forest. The vehicle appeared to have been left there overnight. A check of the registration and VIN number revealed that the car had been stolen from Wallingford two days earlier. The owner was contacted and was able to retrieve his car with no apparent damage. Officer Ruggiero's investigation is ongoing.
Illegal Turkey Hunting From Vehicle
On 5/10/06, EnCon Police Officer Eric Johnson received a complaint from a citizen who was driving on Moose Meadow Road in Willington and stated that as he crested a hill on the road he observed a vehicle parked in the road and the driver wearing ear plugs and holding a shotgun pointing out of the driver's window. The driver then shot across the southbound travel lane at a turkey. The complainant had to stop his vehicle to keep from driving into the line of fire. Officer Johnson and EnCon Sgt. Mike Enright went to the residence of the suspected shooter and he admitted to committing the offenses. His shotgun was seized as evidence and he was arrested for Reckless Endangerment 2nd degree, Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm, Hunting from a Highway, Possession of a Loaded Weapon in a Motor Vehicle, and Hunting with 500 ft. of a Building.
Off Duty Officer Assists In Sex Crime Arrest
On 5/5/06, EnCon Police Officer Erin Crossman was operating her personal vehicle while off duty on RT 8 in Winsted. Officer Crossman (who was in civilian clothing at the time) was in the right lane and noted that a vehicle that had pulled along side of her in the left lane slowed and maintained a steady speed alongside her vehicle. When Officer Crossman looked to her left into the other vehicle, she observed a male with his trousers pulled down who was looking at Officer Crossman, smiling at her and masturbating. Officer Crossman immediately contacted State Police Troop B via cell phone to advise them of what was occurring. When the male saw Officer Crossman on the cell phone he immediately accelerated away from her vehicle. As the vehicle accelerated away, Officer Crossman relayed the vehicle description and license number to the Trooper on the phone at Troop B. The vehicle got off of RT 8 in Torrington and was located by State Police Troopers at the registered address for that vehicle in Torrington. Officer Crossman was then able to provide a positive identification of the subject. The State Police as a result of Officer Crossman's actions arrested the accused.
Naked Sunbather
On 5/7/06, EnCon Police Officers Paul Hilli, Keith Schneider and Luke Yacovou were checking anglers at the Bulls Bridge area of the Housatonic River in Kent. They were approached by an angler who was there with his family complaining about a nude sunbather on top of the dam. Upon investigation, the officers discovered a lone male on top of one of the dams naked. The male admitted to being a convicted felon and having previous arrests for public nudity. The subject was arrested for Breach of Peace. Officer Hilli investigated further and determined that the same person had been sunbathing in the nude two weeks earlier and was observed by a DEP fisheries worker. The subject was identified by use of photographs. As a result of that information the State's Attorney included an additional charge for the incident in April.
Off Duty Response Captures Burglars.
During the evening of 5/22/06, while off duty at his home, Officer Tim Hill observed a vehicle enter Algonquin State Forest after sunset. Officer Hill put on his uniform and went into the forest on foot and observed what appeared to be two males in the vehicle with interior vehicle dome light on. As Officer Hill approached on foot, the vehicle started up and started exiting the forest. Officer Hill, motioned the driver to stop with his flashlight. The vehicle slowed down and Officer Hill could see that the passenger side window was down, yelled "Police, stop and turn off vehicle". When the driver saw Officer Hill he accelerated the vehicle and drove at a high rate of speed to try and exit the State Forest. Officer Hill notified the State Police of the vehicle marker plate and description. A few minutes later Officer Hill observed the vehicle abandoned in another section of the forest. Officer Hill waited for a State Police K-9 officer and requested the assistance of another EnCon Officer. Several minutes later the State Police K-9 officer and Officer Hill located two occupants of the vehicle hiding in the forest. It was determined that the driver was a convicted felon and had two outstanding arrest warrants from Middletown and Portland Police Departments. The driver stated that he was a heroin addict and needles were found inside the vehicle. According to personnel from State Police Troop B, the driver was a suspect in burglaries in the towns of Norfolk and Colebrook. It was determined that the passenger had two outstanding arrest warrants with Troop B. Upon questioning by the State Police the passenger confessed to at least one burglary, which occurred in Norfolk and was a suspect in many more burglaries in the towns of Norfolk and Colebrook. Both subjects stated that they have been camping on and off in the State Forest. Officer Hill arrested both subjects for DEP related charges prior to turning them over to the State Police and Judicial Marshals on the arrest warrants.
Rabid fox attack
On Saturday, 5/27/06, EnCon Police Officer Keith Schneider received numerous calls regarding a possible rabid fox that had attacked and bitten two people in Washington. It was determined that the fox had been living on a local property for about two years. During that time period the fox was seen in yards and acting normally. On Saturday morning a resident was in her garden and felt something bite her leg from behind. She looked back and saw the fox biting her. The fox let go of her leg and stayed in the area for a few minutes growling before running away. Later on Saturday, a woman was sitting in a hammock with her son outside their home when she felt something brush under her and nudge her neck. She looked down and saw a fox. She and her son went into her house before any of them were bitten. At approximately 8:00 p.m. on Saturday another woman went to her mailbox to retrieve her mail. She felt what she thought was a dog walking between her legs. But when she looked down she saw it was a fox. The fox bit the inside of her leg twice and ran away after the woman threw her mail at it. Officer Schneider and the Washington Animal Control Officer were able to locate the fox, which Officer Schneider observed to be acting abnormal. Officer Schneider euthanized the fox and it was transported to the state health lab for testing. Health lab testing determined that the fox was rabid. All the people who had been bitten by the fox are receiving rabies shots.
Swimmer Injured
On 5/29/06, EnCon Police officers responded to a report of a severely injured swimmer at the Mohawk Pond State Boat Access Area in Cornwall. Officers determined that a female had used an illegal rope swing to dive into the pond and fractured her leg so severely that she had to be transported by LifeStar helicopter to Hartford Hospital. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. There are no approved swimming areas at the pond.