Illegal Lobster Harvest
On 10/14/2006, Environmental Conservation Police Sgt. Ryan Healy and Officer Jim Kane were on vessel patrol in Fishers Island Sound off of Groton. While on patrol, they observed a subject tending lobster pots from a vessel that was not displaying a lobster buoy or license plate as required. As the officers approached the vessel, the subject that was tending the lobster pot noticed the officers' presence and yelled to a passenger on the vessel. The passenger reached into a compartment in the vessel and took out a buoy which the passenger placed on the helm of the boat. There were three lobster pots on board and the subject was asked for his lobster license. The subject produced a license belonging to his father who was not on the vessel. The officers determined that the subject did not have a lobster license as required.
The subject was issued a summons for the violations and released.
Striper/Bluefish Arrest
Environmental Conservation Police Officer Bruce Gagliardi arrested two subjects on 10/12/2006 on numerous charges relating to the possession and sale of striped bass and bluefish. Assisted by Sgt. Ryan Healy and Officer Jim Kane, Officer Gagliardi arrested the two subjects at the Pine Island Marina in Groton as they returned from fishing. The subjects were in possession of twenty-six striped bass, which is twenty-two over the daily limit, eleven of which were less than the legal length. They were also in possession of twenty-three bluefish, which were three over the daily legal limit. A total of forty-nine fish were seized by the officers. During questioning, the subjects admitted that they were planning to sell the fish. The subjects did not have commercial licenses necessary to sell bluefish and the sale of striped bass caught from Connecticut waters is illegal. The subjects were released on a promise to appear at New London Superior Court on November 6, 2006. After being photographed, the fish were given to an area food kitchen.
Reckless Boating Arrest
On 10/16/2006, Environmental Conservation Police Officer Mike Tavares responded to a boating complaint from the U.S. Coast Guard at Six Mile Reef in Long Island Sound off of Old Saybrook. He met with the complainant who stated that he had been fishing off the reef when he got his line caught on a lobster pot line. A lobster boat came up to his location and pulled the gear up, freeing the line. After the line was freed, the lobster boat turned and cut across the back of the fishing vessel that was trolling, causing the lines off the back of the fishing boat to be cut off. The operator of the lobster boat allegedly swore at the fishermen, and then steamed off. Officer Tavares took statements from the people on the fishing boat, then went and located the lobster boat. The operator of the lobster boat was issued a summons for Reckless Boating in the second degree and Breach of Peace.
Hunter Shoots Dog
On 10/9/06, Environmental Conservation Police Officers received a call from the Connecticut State Police Troop A regarding a hunter shooting a dog. Officer Tate Begley and Sgt Mark Shaw responded and determined that 71year-old hunter who was turkey hunting shot a dog. The dog's owners were walking with their yellow Lab when the dog jumped over a stonewall and was shot. When questioned, the hunter said he saw a coyote or wolf "standing 5 feet high" come over the stone wall about 40 feet away and heading in his direction. The hunter felt threatened and fired his shotgun at the dog hitting it in the face, head and body. The dog was treated at a local veterinarian and is expected to recover. The hunter was arrested for Negligent Hunting 3rd degree.
Rabid Coyote Attacks
On 10/17/06, Environmental Conservation Police Officer Paul Hilli and Captain Raul Camejo responded to a report of a jogger being attacked by a coyote near the Steep Rock Preserve in Washington. Sergeant Mark Shaw met the jogger at New Milford Hospital and determined that at approximately 6AM while jogging on West Church Hill Road, a coyote came out of the underbrush, attacking and biting the jogger several times. The jogger sustained a number of lacerations and puncture wounds, but was able to fight off the coyote. The jogger then drove himself to the hospital. Officer Hilli and Captain Camejo conducted several sweeps of the wooded areas surrounding the incident in an attempt to locate the coyote. At approximately 11AM another call was received a short distance away from a man walking his dog on the road. He had been attacked by a coyote that he fought off by striking it with a rock that he picked up from a stonewall. The coyote retreated into the woods and was not seen anymore that day. The next morning a coyote approached and attempted to attack a man cutting wood that defended himself by killing the coyote with a log peavey. The coyote was transported to the State Health Lab by Officer Keith Schneider where it was tested and determined to be rabid. All of the victims involved were treated for exposure to the rabies virus.
Hiker Located on Appalachian Trail
On 10/4/06 at 8PM, the Connecticut State Police Troop B called the EnCon Police Dispatch to request their assistance with locating an overdue hiker on the Appalachian Trail. The subject was four days overdue at a meeting with a family member. It was determined that the subject had a number of medical conditions.
EnCon Police Officers Keith Schneider and Paul Hilli responded to the Salisbury section of the Appalachian Trail an hour later and began a nighttime search of the trail. At around midnight Officer Schneider and Hilli checked the Bear Mountain Ridge Runner cabin and spoke with a woman spending the night. She was provided with a description of the missing hiker and was requested to contact authorities if she saw the subject. At 12PM on 10/5 the woman that Officers Schneider and Hilli spoke with the night before came across the subject in the Sages Ravine section of the trail, just over the state line in Massachusetts. The subject was not in any danger and was taking his time on his hike. The police were notified that the subject was located and was not in any jeopardy.
Narcotics Arrest
On 10/11/06, Environmental Conservation Police Officer Eric Johnson was on patrol at the Mansfield Hollow State Park Boat Launch where he observed a van with four occupants. One of the occupants made several furtive movements as the officer approached. Officer Johnson spoke to the operator, who admitted that there was a marijuana pipe in the vehicle. The pipe and a bag of marijuana were retrieved and a passenger admitted to being the owner. He was arrested and charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of less that 4 oz. of Marijuana. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of seven additional bags of marijuana. The operator of the vehicle was charged with Possession with Intent to Sell.
Illegal Dumping
On 10/13/06, Environmental Conservation Police Officer Chris Dwyer and Seasonal Officer Dave Blanchette were on patrol at Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown where they discovered a pile of 88 tires and rims illegally dumped in the forest. The next day, Officer Blanchette found four other areas of illegally dumped tires, three on state land and one on private land. Officer Blanchette and Seasonal Officer John Graves were able to locate the site where the tires were excavated and removed and learned the names of the suspects who were hired to dispose of the tires. The two men were located and each was charged with eight counts of Illegal Dumping with penalties of about $2,500 each. They also had to remove the illegally dumped tires.
Under The Influence
On 10/20/06, Environmental Conservation Police Officers Eric Johnson and Holly Bernier were on patrol at Eagleville Dam in Mansfield where they drove into the parking lot and observed a lone passenger in a vehicle that appeared to be startled by their presence. The officers walked up to the vehicle and observed a marijuana cigarette in plain view. When the operator was told to shut off the vehicle and get out, he answered "No", and sped out of the area. The officers proceeded in the direction of the fleeing vehicle and observed the vehicle traveling towards them. The operator stopped and apologized for his actions. He admitted to taking a narcotic pain killer and smoking marijuana. He failed field sobriety tests and was arrested and charged with Operating under the Influence, Possession of less than 4 oz. of Marijuana, and Interfering with an Officer.
Illegal Deer Hunting
Environmental Conservation Police Officer Eric Johnson found an illegal deer hunting tree stand on private property in Stafford in September and made it a point to check it weekly. On 10/25/06, he observed a vehicle parked in the general area of the stand. Officer Johnson walked into the woods and encountered a hunter carrying a tree stand and archery equipment. After initially telling the officer that he had been hunting on nearby State land, he admitted to hunting on private land without the land owners' permission. He was charged with that violation.
Operating ATV's under the Influence
On the evening of 10/21/06, Environmental Conservation Police Officers Chris Dwyer and Dean Wojcik accompanied by Seasonal Police Officers John Graves and Dave Blanchette were on patrol at Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown where they observed several all terrain vehicles being operated on Great Meadows Dam in the Forest. Two of the ATVs were stopped after fleeing a short distance and two were stopped after they fled the first officers. Two of the operators were charged with Operating under the Influence, Operating an Unregistered ATV, Failure to Stop, and Operating an ATV with the written permission of the landowner. The other two ATV operators were charged with Failure to Stop, Littering, Illegal Fire, and Operating an ATV on State Property. These operators were part of a larger group that had built a large camp fire and had consumed a large amount of alcohol at an Adirondack shelter in the State Forest.
Interstate Deer Arrest
On 10/31/06, Environmental Conservation Police Officer Ed Yescott responded to an illegal deer hunting complaint in Somers. He met with a hunter who had permission to be on the property. The hunter said that he had encountered a person who had shot and killed a deer with archery equipment that morning. The hunter had recorded the vehicle registration plate of the illegal hunter. Officer Yescott contacted the illegal hunter who had returned to Massachusetts. The hunter returned to the scene in Connecticut and said that he had permission to hunt adjoining property in Massachusetts and had put up a tree stand in Connecticut where he had shot the deer. Officer Yescott charged him with Criminal Trespass and Illegal Deer Hunting. Officer Yescott also contacted the Mass. Environmental Police who charged the illegal hunter with Unlawful Possession of Deer and Unlawful Transportation of Deer.