MARINE DISTRICT
DUI Arrest
On 7/2/2007, Special Conservation Officer Williams was patrolling Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. At approximately 2:30 a.m, he observed a vehicle exit the campground driving the wrong way. The vehicle then exited the park through the ticket booth the wrong way and traveled to the intersection of Rt. 1. Officer Williams stopped the vehicle and approached the operator. While speaking with the operator, Officer Williams noted a strong odor of alcoholic beverages coming from the driver. Officer Williams requested backup and EnCon Police Sgt. Tom Bull and Officer Todd Chemacki responded to the scene. Officer Williams performed a series of field sobriety tests on the operator, which he failed. The subject was placed under arrest for driving under the influence and transported to the Madison Police Dept. for processing. At the police department, the subject took a breath test and the results indicated the subject’s blood alcohol content was over the legal limit of .08. The subject was released on a written promise to appear.
BUI Arrest
On 7/7/2007, Officers from the State EnCon Police’s Marine District along with Old Saybrook Police Dept. and the Connecticut State Police conducted a boating enforcement initiative on the Connecticut River in Old Saybrook area. While conducting this initiative, EnCon Police Officer’s Mike Tavares and Stan Mieldzioc stopped a vessel north of the railroad bridge. While conducting a boarding of the vessel, Officer Tavares noticed that the operator smelled of alcoholic beverages, his eyes were watery and he was having trouble staying focused. The subject was brought to the Baldwin Bridge access area where Officer Tavares conducted a series of field sobriety tests. The subject failed the field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for operating under the influence. He was transported to Old Saybrook Police Dept. where he took a breath test. The test results indicated that his blood alcohol content was nearly twice the legal limit. The subject was released on a promise to appear. During the enforcement initiative, eleven infractions and two written warnings for boating violations were also issued.
Stealing Lobsters
On 7/7/2007, EnCon Police Officer Harold Lindo was dispatched to the Thames River in Groton to assist the U.S. Coast Guard with a boating accident. Upon arriving, he met with personnel from Coast Guard Station New London who were detaining two subjects that had been rescued from the Thames River after their rowboat capsized. Security officers from Electric Boat were also present. The security officers stated they had watched the two subjects on camera row across the Thames River from the New London to the area in front of Electric Boat. They watched the two subjects pull one lobster pot onto their vessel, look in it and then throw it overboard. The subjects went to another lobster pot, and as they were pulling the pot onto the stern of their vessel, the vessel capsized. A passing vessel rescued the two subjects. Electric Boat security provided Officer Lindo with a copy of their surveillance video. The two subjects were arrested for molesting lobster gear and released on a promise to appear.
Fatal Boating Accident
On 7/8/2007, EnCon Police Officers from the marine district responded to a report of a serious boating accident in the Connecticut River in Old Lyme just south of the Amtrack railroad bridge. Officers Mike Tavares and Jim Kane initially responded along with Old Saybrook Fire and Rescue, Old Saybrook Police Dept. and the State Police out of Troop F. Upon arriving, it was determined that a twenty-one foot center console powerboat had been traveling south on the river when the operator fell from the vessel. The unoccupied vessel was traveling at a high rate of speed and began to make large circles in the river. Minutes after the operator fell overboard, the unoccupied vessel struck a small sailboat with four persons on board. On of the occupants of the sailboat was killed and the other three were transported to area hospitals with varying degrees of injuries. Sgt. Ryan Healy arrived on the scene and determined that the operator of the powerboat appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Officer Ray Ramos conducted a series of field sobriety tests, which the subject failed. He was arrested for Reckless Operation Under the Influence First Degree and transported to the Old Saybrook Police Dept. for processing. The Division’s Boating Accident Reconstruction Unit was dispatched to assist with the investigation.
EASTERN DISTRICT
Vessel Takes on Water
On 7/7/2007, EnCon Police Officers Joe Ruggiero and Ed Pyznar were on boating patrol on the Connecticut River in Haddam where they overheard a radio distress call that a vessel was sinking on the river in Chester. They proceeded to the area and observed that a Chester Police vessel and a towboat had arrived. A 19’ vessel had taken on water over the stern and was partially submerged. A passenger had swum to shore and the owner/operator stayed with the vessel. He was taken to shore and the vessel was re-floated by the commercial towboat. The 23 year-old owner was charged with Operating an Unregistered Vessel.
Campground Arrest
On 7/14/2007, EnCon Police Officers Jason Williams, Dan O’Brien and Eric Johnson responded to Wolf Den Campground in Pomfret where they had received a complaint regarding a loud campsite and possible neglected children. They found two adults and two children at the site. Their investigation revealed that the 43 year- old mother had an outstanding arrest warrant for Failure to Appear. They also learned that the adult male at the site had a Protective Order against the mother. She was arrested and charged with Disorderly Conduct, Failure to Appear 2nd, and Violation of a Protective Order. The complaint of possible child neglect was referred to DCF.
Unmanned Vessel Strikes Docked Pontoon Boat
On 7/28/2007, EnCon Police Capt. John Smutnick and Officers Eric Johnson, Paul Hilli, and Ed Yescott responded to a boating accident on Coventry Lake. A 15 year- old had launched a 15’ Boston Whaler at the State Boat Launch and was taking it to the family rental cottage on the lake. As he accelerated the vessel, a towable tube on the bow of the vessel was blown into him, knocking him out of the vessel. The unmanned vessel continued across the lake and struck a pontoon boat anchored on shore, coming to rest on top of the vessel. There were no injuries and the accident is under investigation.
WESTERN DISTRICT
Seat Belt Enforcement Initiative
On 7/1/2007, Southwest Sector EnCon Police officers conducted a seat belt/child safety seat enforcement initiative on the roadway leading into Indian Well State Park.
As a result of the initiative, EnCon officers issued 8 written warnings for Seat Belt violations and 1 written warning for failure to display a license plate. In addition to the warnings, EnCon officers also arrested 14 other motor vehicle operators, some with multiple charges. 5 for operating without a license, 3 for no child restraint devices, 5 for operating under suspension, 2 for operating an unregistered motor vehicle and 4 for misuse of license plates. 6 vehicles were towed from the park, as they could not be legally operated.
Disturbance at Indian Well State Park
On 7/8/2007, a large disturbance broke out at Indian Well State Park among a group of park visitors involving sticks and knives. There were two EnCon Police officers on duty at the time in the park that were forced to deploy pepper spray against the crowd to stop the fight and disperse the people fighting. The persons involved in the fight ran back into the remaining crowd of park visitors preventing the officers from taking them into custody. The park was closed early and all park visitors were told to leave the park for safety reasons.
Squantz Pond State Park drownings
There were two drownings at Squantz Pond State Park during July. On 7/10/2007 a 19-year-old male jumped off the rocks on the west side of the park into the water. The victim was removed from the water by lifeguards and taken to Danbury Hospital where he died. EnCon Police officers investigating the drowning determined from friends that the victim did not know how to swim.
On 7/22/2007, a 27 year- old male was attempting to swim across Squantz Pond from the east side of the park and went underwater. The victim was pulled from the water and transported to Danbury Hospital where he was pronounced dead. EnCon Police officers investigating the drowning determined that the victim had been told not to swim in the area by park personnel but ignored their instructions before he attempted to swim across the pond.
Camper Arrested for Breach of Peace
On 7/22/2007, EnCon Police officers responded to a report of breach of peace with possible risk of injury to a four-year-old child at Kettletown State Park. Officers determined from other campers and park staff that three adults at one of the camp sites were intoxicated and being verbally abusive to officers, park staff and neighboring campers. One adult male was taken into custody for Interfering with Police and Breach of Peace. One adult female was issued an infraction for Disorderly Conduct. The Connecticut Department of Children and Families was notified of possible neglect to the four year-old male child who was with the group.
False Assault Report
On 7/27/2007 at approximately 8:30pm, a seasonal park ranger at Kettletown State Park in Southbury reported to DEP Emergency Dispatch that he had come across two males in the park who were in the process of injecting themselves with drugs.* The ranger reported that he had then been assaulted by the two individuals who also threw stones and a bottle at him then*ran into the woods.*EnCon Police officers responded to the park and requested that the Connecticut State Police respond with a tracking K-9 to search for the individuals.* Several Troopers and the State Police helicopter responded and along with the EnCon Police officers searched the wooded areas around the park for three hours.* The terrain where the search was conducted was heavily wooded and extremely rocky.* A number of campers in the park left as they were frightened by the police activity and the helicopter circling overhead, which also disturbed many of the area residents living near the park. EnCon Police officers searched the area were the ranger claimed the assault occurred and found evidence that his statement was not consistent with the evidence found.* Upon being interviewed again by EnCon Police officers the ranger admitted that he had fabricated the story, as he wanted to be a police officer and thought that being involved in police actions would assist him in obtaining a job as a police officer.
EnCon Police officers applied for and obtained an arrest warrant for the ranger charging him with Falsely Reporting an Incident 1ST Degree, Reckless Endangerment, Making a False Statement and Interfering with Police.* He was released on a written promise to appear in court at GA4 in Waterbury to answer to the charges.* In addition to the criminal charges, the ranger’s employment with the Department of Environmental Protection was terminated.
*
__________________
Captain Raul Camejo
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
DUI Arrest
On 7/2/2007, Special Conservation Officer Williams was patrolling Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. At approximately 2:30 a.m, he observed a vehicle exit the campground driving the wrong way. The vehicle then exited the park through the ticket booth the wrong way and traveled to the intersection of Rt. 1. Officer Williams stopped the vehicle and approached the operator. While speaking with the operator, Officer Williams noted a strong odor of alcoholic beverages coming from the driver. Officer Williams requested backup and EnCon Police Sgt. Tom Bull and Officer Todd Chemacki responded to the scene. Officer Williams performed a series of field sobriety tests on the operator, which he failed. The subject was placed under arrest for driving under the influence and transported to the Madison Police Dept. for processing. At the police department, the subject took a breath test and the results indicated the subject’s blood alcohol content was over the legal limit of .08. The subject was released on a written promise to appear.
BUI Arrest
On 7/7/2007, Officers from the State EnCon Police’s Marine District along with Old Saybrook Police Dept. and the Connecticut State Police conducted a boating enforcement initiative on the Connecticut River in Old Saybrook area. While conducting this initiative, EnCon Police Officer’s Mike Tavares and Stan Mieldzioc stopped a vessel north of the railroad bridge. While conducting a boarding of the vessel, Officer Tavares noticed that the operator smelled of alcoholic beverages, his eyes were watery and he was having trouble staying focused. The subject was brought to the Baldwin Bridge access area where Officer Tavares conducted a series of field sobriety tests. The subject failed the field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for operating under the influence. He was transported to Old Saybrook Police Dept. where he took a breath test. The test results indicated that his blood alcohol content was nearly twice the legal limit. The subject was released on a promise to appear. During the enforcement initiative, eleven infractions and two written warnings for boating violations were also issued.
Stealing Lobsters
On 7/7/2007, EnCon Police Officer Harold Lindo was dispatched to the Thames River in Groton to assist the U.S. Coast Guard with a boating accident. Upon arriving, he met with personnel from Coast Guard Station New London who were detaining two subjects that had been rescued from the Thames River after their rowboat capsized. Security officers from Electric Boat were also present. The security officers stated they had watched the two subjects on camera row across the Thames River from the New London to the area in front of Electric Boat. They watched the two subjects pull one lobster pot onto their vessel, look in it and then throw it overboard. The subjects went to another lobster pot, and as they were pulling the pot onto the stern of their vessel, the vessel capsized. A passing vessel rescued the two subjects. Electric Boat security provided Officer Lindo with a copy of their surveillance video. The two subjects were arrested for molesting lobster gear and released on a promise to appear.
Fatal Boating Accident
On 7/8/2007, EnCon Police Officers from the marine district responded to a report of a serious boating accident in the Connecticut River in Old Lyme just south of the Amtrack railroad bridge. Officers Mike Tavares and Jim Kane initially responded along with Old Saybrook Fire and Rescue, Old Saybrook Police Dept. and the State Police out of Troop F. Upon arriving, it was determined that a twenty-one foot center console powerboat had been traveling south on the river when the operator fell from the vessel. The unoccupied vessel was traveling at a high rate of speed and began to make large circles in the river. Minutes after the operator fell overboard, the unoccupied vessel struck a small sailboat with four persons on board. On of the occupants of the sailboat was killed and the other three were transported to area hospitals with varying degrees of injuries. Sgt. Ryan Healy arrived on the scene and determined that the operator of the powerboat appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Officer Ray Ramos conducted a series of field sobriety tests, which the subject failed. He was arrested for Reckless Operation Under the Influence First Degree and transported to the Old Saybrook Police Dept. for processing. The Division’s Boating Accident Reconstruction Unit was dispatched to assist with the investigation.
EASTERN DISTRICT
Vessel Takes on Water
On 7/7/2007, EnCon Police Officers Joe Ruggiero and Ed Pyznar were on boating patrol on the Connecticut River in Haddam where they overheard a radio distress call that a vessel was sinking on the river in Chester. They proceeded to the area and observed that a Chester Police vessel and a towboat had arrived. A 19’ vessel had taken on water over the stern and was partially submerged. A passenger had swum to shore and the owner/operator stayed with the vessel. He was taken to shore and the vessel was re-floated by the commercial towboat. The 23 year-old owner was charged with Operating an Unregistered Vessel.
Campground Arrest
On 7/14/2007, EnCon Police Officers Jason Williams, Dan O’Brien and Eric Johnson responded to Wolf Den Campground in Pomfret where they had received a complaint regarding a loud campsite and possible neglected children. They found two adults and two children at the site. Their investigation revealed that the 43 year- old mother had an outstanding arrest warrant for Failure to Appear. They also learned that the adult male at the site had a Protective Order against the mother. She was arrested and charged with Disorderly Conduct, Failure to Appear 2nd, and Violation of a Protective Order. The complaint of possible child neglect was referred to DCF.
Unmanned Vessel Strikes Docked Pontoon Boat
On 7/28/2007, EnCon Police Capt. John Smutnick and Officers Eric Johnson, Paul Hilli, and Ed Yescott responded to a boating accident on Coventry Lake. A 15 year- old had launched a 15’ Boston Whaler at the State Boat Launch and was taking it to the family rental cottage on the lake. As he accelerated the vessel, a towable tube on the bow of the vessel was blown into him, knocking him out of the vessel. The unmanned vessel continued across the lake and struck a pontoon boat anchored on shore, coming to rest on top of the vessel. There were no injuries and the accident is under investigation.
WESTERN DISTRICT
Seat Belt Enforcement Initiative
On 7/1/2007, Southwest Sector EnCon Police officers conducted a seat belt/child safety seat enforcement initiative on the roadway leading into Indian Well State Park.
As a result of the initiative, EnCon officers issued 8 written warnings for Seat Belt violations and 1 written warning for failure to display a license plate. In addition to the warnings, EnCon officers also arrested 14 other motor vehicle operators, some with multiple charges. 5 for operating without a license, 3 for no child restraint devices, 5 for operating under suspension, 2 for operating an unregistered motor vehicle and 4 for misuse of license plates. 6 vehicles were towed from the park, as they could not be legally operated.
Disturbance at Indian Well State Park
On 7/8/2007, a large disturbance broke out at Indian Well State Park among a group of park visitors involving sticks and knives. There were two EnCon Police officers on duty at the time in the park that were forced to deploy pepper spray against the crowd to stop the fight and disperse the people fighting. The persons involved in the fight ran back into the remaining crowd of park visitors preventing the officers from taking them into custody. The park was closed early and all park visitors were told to leave the park for safety reasons.
Squantz Pond State Park drownings
There were two drownings at Squantz Pond State Park during July. On 7/10/2007 a 19-year-old male jumped off the rocks on the west side of the park into the water. The victim was removed from the water by lifeguards and taken to Danbury Hospital where he died. EnCon Police officers investigating the drowning determined from friends that the victim did not know how to swim.
On 7/22/2007, a 27 year- old male was attempting to swim across Squantz Pond from the east side of the park and went underwater. The victim was pulled from the water and transported to Danbury Hospital where he was pronounced dead. EnCon Police officers investigating the drowning determined that the victim had been told not to swim in the area by park personnel but ignored their instructions before he attempted to swim across the pond.
Camper Arrested for Breach of Peace
On 7/22/2007, EnCon Police officers responded to a report of breach of peace with possible risk of injury to a four-year-old child at Kettletown State Park. Officers determined from other campers and park staff that three adults at one of the camp sites were intoxicated and being verbally abusive to officers, park staff and neighboring campers. One adult male was taken into custody for Interfering with Police and Breach of Peace. One adult female was issued an infraction for Disorderly Conduct. The Connecticut Department of Children and Families was notified of possible neglect to the four year-old male child who was with the group.
False Assault Report
On 7/27/2007 at approximately 8:30pm, a seasonal park ranger at Kettletown State Park in Southbury reported to DEP Emergency Dispatch that he had come across two males in the park who were in the process of injecting themselves with drugs.* The ranger reported that he had then been assaulted by the two individuals who also threw stones and a bottle at him then*ran into the woods.*EnCon Police officers responded to the park and requested that the Connecticut State Police respond with a tracking K-9 to search for the individuals.* Several Troopers and the State Police helicopter responded and along with the EnCon Police officers searched the wooded areas around the park for three hours.* The terrain where the search was conducted was heavily wooded and extremely rocky.* A number of campers in the park left as they were frightened by the police activity and the helicopter circling overhead, which also disturbed many of the area residents living near the park. EnCon Police officers searched the area were the ranger claimed the assault occurred and found evidence that his statement was not consistent with the evidence found.* Upon being interviewed again by EnCon Police officers the ranger admitted that he had fabricated the story, as he wanted to be a police officer and thought that being involved in police actions would assist him in obtaining a job as a police officer.
EnCon Police officers applied for and obtained an arrest warrant for the ranger charging him with Falsely Reporting an Incident 1ST Degree, Reckless Endangerment, Making a False Statement and Interfering with Police.* He was released on a written promise to appear in court at GA4 in Waterbury to answer to the charges.* In addition to the criminal charges, the ranger’s employment with the Department of Environmental Protection was terminated.
*
__________________
Captain Raul Camejo
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police