EASTERN DISTRICT
Narcotics/Prostitution Arrests
On 6/9/07, EnCon Police Officer Eric Johnson was on patrol at Mansfield Hollow State Park. As he drove in to the main park area, a vehicle with two occupants quickly started the vehicle and left the area. Officer Johnson stopped the vehicle for a seat belt violation and observed a male driver and female passenger. The female had numerous open sores on her face and arms, which Officer Johnson recognized as signs of possible illegal intravenous drug use. He separated the vehicle occupants and his investigation revealed that the 53 year-old man had picked up the 27 year-old female in Willimantic and had driven her to the park and given her $20 for an act of prostitution. The female was using the money to pay for her two a day heroin addiction. She was in possession of several pieces of drug paraphernalia. The man was charged with Patronizing a Prostitute and the woman was charged with Prostitution and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Criminal Mischief
On 5/26/07, Special Conservation Officer John Graves received a complaint from the maintenance staff at Hopeville Pond SP in Griswold. A park maintainer had observed a man enter a bathroom building and suspected that he wrote pornographic messages on the wall with a magic marker. This had been an on-going problem at the park so maintainers have been closely monitoring the activity there. At 4:30 p.m. Officer Graves and EnCon Police Officer Dean Wojcik located the suspect on Rte. 201 in Griswold. The officers questioned the 53 year-old suspect, who admitted to writing the pornographic messages. He was arrested and charged with Criminal Mischief.
Boating Accident
On 6/12/07, EnCon Police Officer Hans Danielson received a complaint that a boating accident had occurred at Gardner Lake in Salem. He arrived at the boat launch and learned that two personal watercraft were involved in the accident. Two men had been operating on the lake together when one of the watercraft struck the other. One of the vessel operators was transported to Backus Hospital with chest and leg pain. The other operator was not injured. There was minor damage to the watercraft. One of the men was charged with Operating an Unregistered Personal Watercraft and Towing an Unregistered Trailer and the other was charged with Reckless Boating 2nd and Illegal Operation of a Personal Watercraft.
Short Blue Crabs
On June 24 at 3:40 p.m., EnCon Police Officer Tony Rose was on patrol at the Thames River in Ledyard where he encountered a 28-year old woman fishing along the river. She was in possession of seven undersize blue crabs and charged for the violation. On June 26 at 6:45 p.m. EnCon Police Officer Hans Danielson was on patrol on the Thames River in Norwich. He encountered a mother and daughter ages 50 and 17 fishing. They had ten undersize blue crabs in their possession and were charged for the violation.
Motor Vehicle Arrest
On June 25 at 1:20 a.m., EnCon Police Officer Ed Yescott was following a vehicle from I-84 to Main St. in Farmington. The vehicle was being operated in an erratic manner while weaving across the centerline and breakdown lane. Officer Yescott stopped the vehicle, suspecting that the operator may have been intoxicated, but determined that he was watching a movie on a DVD player attached to the passenger side visor. He was charged with Failure to Drive Right and Distracted Driving and then turned over to the State Police for an outstanding warrant.
Narcotics/Alcohol Arrests
On June 24 at 9:45 p.m., EnCon Police Officer Ed Yescott was on patrol at Meshomasic State Forest in Portland where he stopped to check on a vehicle, which was parked in the forest after closing. As he walked up to the vehicle, the passenger reached down as if to hide or retrieve an item. Officer Yescott observed marijuana in the vehicle and his investigation determined that the two teens were using a metal grinder to prepare marijuana for smoking. Officer Yescott recovered two grinders, two pipes with marijuana residue, a bottle of rum, a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of Jagermeister alcohol. The 17 year-old and 18 year-old teens were charged with Illegal Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of Alcohol by a Minor and then released to their parents.
MARINE DISTRICT
Lobster Arrest
On 6/9/2007, EnCon Police Sgt. Ryan Healy and Officer Jim Kane were patrolling the Thames River by vessel when they observed a vessel hauling lobster gear without displaying a lobster buoy as required. The officers proceeded to the vessel’s location and Officer Kane conducted a boarding of the vessel. Officer Kane found two lobsters in a live well and found one to be a female bearing eggs, which is illegal to possess. The other lobster was found to be less than the minimum legal length. Officer Kane found four other lobsters in an adjacent live well that were legal length. The operator of the vessel was issued a summons for the violations and released on scene. The two illegal lobsters were photographed and released.
Boating Under the Influence Arrests
On 6/15/2007, EnCon Police Officer Jim Kane was patrolling the Stonington area by vessel when he observed a vessel operating erratically in the area of Sandy Point. The vessel was traveling at a high rate of speed in a narrow channel, which is a slow, no wake zone. Officer Kane stopped the vessel and spoke with the operator, who was the only person on board. As Officer Kane questioned the operator, he noticed the operator had slurred speech, bloodshot watery eyes and smelled strongly of alcoholic beverages. Officer Kane noticed a half full bottle of vodka on the vessel and the operator stated he had several shots of vodka. Officer Kane took the subject onto the patrol vessel and towed the other vessel to the Barn Island Access Area. At the access area, Officer Kane conducted a series of field sobriety tests, which the operator failed. Officer Stan Mieldzioc arrived on scene to secure the vessel and Stonington Police Dept. transported the subject and Officer Kane to the Stonington P.D. The subject took two breath tests at the police department, which he failed. He was released on a promise to appear.
On 6/16/2007, EnCon Police Sgt. Eric Lundin was patrolling the Housatonic River State Access Area in Milford. At approximately 4:45 a.m., Sgt. Lundin saw a small open vessel come into the access area with two persons on board. Sgt. Lundin approached the vessel and saw that the operator was having difficulty getting out of the boat. Sgt. Lundin asked the operator for his boating safety certificate. The operator had difficulty finding either one, was slurring his words and smelled strongly of alcoholic beverages. Sgt. Lundin conducted a series of standardized field sobriety tests on the operator. The operator failed them all and was placed under arrest. Sgt. Lundin transported the operator to the Milford Police Dept. where the operator was given a breath test. Both tests revealed that the operator’s blood alcohol level was over twice the legal limit. The operator was released on a promise to appear.
On 6/29/2007 at 9:00 p.m., EnCon Police Officer Jim Kane and SCO Christiana were patrolling the Connecticut River in Old Lyme when they observed a small open vessel traveling on the river at a high rate of speed with no navigation lights displayed. The area is a slow, no wake zone. The officers stopped the vessel and spoke with the operator, who seemed disoriented. The officers could immediately smell a strong odor of alcoholic beverages and his eyes were bloodshot, his face flushed and he was slurring his words. There were empty beer cans on the floor of the vessel. The officers towed the vessel to the DEP dock and had the operator perform a battery of field sobriety tests, which he failed. The subject was placed under arrest and transported to the Old Saybrook Police Dept. where Officer Kane administered a breath test. The results of the breath test indicated the subject’s blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit. The subject was released on a promise to appear.
Assault
On 6/2/2007, Special Conservation Officer’s (SCO’s) Schmidt and Christiana were called to a campsite at Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme on a complaint of two females being assaulted. Upon arriving, two females at the site stated that a friend that had been camping at the site with them had gone crazy and assaulted them. The victims had been bitten and grabbed by the subject who then ran off into the woods. An ambulance was dispatched to the scene and the victims were transported to an area hospital. EnCon Police Officer Rob Monday, East Lyme Police Dept. and the State Police also responded and began searching the area for the suspect. During this time, the suspect attempted to break into another tent in the campground. Officer Monday spotted the suspect in the campground and after a brief foot chase, the subject was apprehended. He was taken into custody and transported to Troop E in Montville. He was charged with Assault, Breach of Peace, Simple Trespass and Interfering with an officer. He was held on a $1000.00 bond.
WESTERN DISTRICT
Recreational Fishing Enforcement
During June, EnCon Police officers in the Western District handled 60 incidents regarding illegal fishing. Officers made arrests in 24 of the incidents, in some cases there were multiple arrests for the incident. One in particular occurred on 6/9/07 at the Thomaston Dam where 3 young males and an adult male were found in possession of 30 trout. The adult was arrested for the Taking more than the Daily Limit of Trout violation.
Late Night DUI
On 6/10/07 at 2:30am, EnCon Police Officers Ed Yescott and Matt Tomassone stopped a suspected drunk driver on I-84 in Hartford. The officers determined that the operator was under the influence and arrested him for that charge along with a number of other motor vehicle charges including operating without a license.
Narcotics Arrest
On 6/12/07, EnCon Police officer Chris Dwyer was on patrol in Naugatuck State Forest, Naugatuck. He observed a pickup truck in an area where motorized vehicles were not permitted. Officer Dwyer approached the vehicle and observed a male and female in the vehicle along with a large German Shepard dog. Officer Dwyer requested the operator to exit the vehicle and when doing so Officer Dwyer observed the operator trying to hide something in his hand. Officer Dwyer secured the operator and determined that he was attempting to hide narcotics. While attempting the subdue the operator the dog jumped out of the truck and came at Officer Dwyer, bumping but not biting him. The Naugatuck Police responded to back up Officer Dwyer with the narcotics arrest and the Naugatuck Animal Control Officer seized the dog.
Bears
In June Western District EnCon officers received 556 black bear sighting reports and complaints.
__________________
Captain Raul Camejo
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
Narcotics/Prostitution Arrests
On 6/9/07, EnCon Police Officer Eric Johnson was on patrol at Mansfield Hollow State Park. As he drove in to the main park area, a vehicle with two occupants quickly started the vehicle and left the area. Officer Johnson stopped the vehicle for a seat belt violation and observed a male driver and female passenger. The female had numerous open sores on her face and arms, which Officer Johnson recognized as signs of possible illegal intravenous drug use. He separated the vehicle occupants and his investigation revealed that the 53 year-old man had picked up the 27 year-old female in Willimantic and had driven her to the park and given her $20 for an act of prostitution. The female was using the money to pay for her two a day heroin addiction. She was in possession of several pieces of drug paraphernalia. The man was charged with Patronizing a Prostitute and the woman was charged with Prostitution and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Criminal Mischief
On 5/26/07, Special Conservation Officer John Graves received a complaint from the maintenance staff at Hopeville Pond SP in Griswold. A park maintainer had observed a man enter a bathroom building and suspected that he wrote pornographic messages on the wall with a magic marker. This had been an on-going problem at the park so maintainers have been closely monitoring the activity there. At 4:30 p.m. Officer Graves and EnCon Police Officer Dean Wojcik located the suspect on Rte. 201 in Griswold. The officers questioned the 53 year-old suspect, who admitted to writing the pornographic messages. He was arrested and charged with Criminal Mischief.
Boating Accident
On 6/12/07, EnCon Police Officer Hans Danielson received a complaint that a boating accident had occurred at Gardner Lake in Salem. He arrived at the boat launch and learned that two personal watercraft were involved in the accident. Two men had been operating on the lake together when one of the watercraft struck the other. One of the vessel operators was transported to Backus Hospital with chest and leg pain. The other operator was not injured. There was minor damage to the watercraft. One of the men was charged with Operating an Unregistered Personal Watercraft and Towing an Unregistered Trailer and the other was charged with Reckless Boating 2nd and Illegal Operation of a Personal Watercraft.
Short Blue Crabs
On June 24 at 3:40 p.m., EnCon Police Officer Tony Rose was on patrol at the Thames River in Ledyard where he encountered a 28-year old woman fishing along the river. She was in possession of seven undersize blue crabs and charged for the violation. On June 26 at 6:45 p.m. EnCon Police Officer Hans Danielson was on patrol on the Thames River in Norwich. He encountered a mother and daughter ages 50 and 17 fishing. They had ten undersize blue crabs in their possession and were charged for the violation.
Motor Vehicle Arrest
On June 25 at 1:20 a.m., EnCon Police Officer Ed Yescott was following a vehicle from I-84 to Main St. in Farmington. The vehicle was being operated in an erratic manner while weaving across the centerline and breakdown lane. Officer Yescott stopped the vehicle, suspecting that the operator may have been intoxicated, but determined that he was watching a movie on a DVD player attached to the passenger side visor. He was charged with Failure to Drive Right and Distracted Driving and then turned over to the State Police for an outstanding warrant.
Narcotics/Alcohol Arrests
On June 24 at 9:45 p.m., EnCon Police Officer Ed Yescott was on patrol at Meshomasic State Forest in Portland where he stopped to check on a vehicle, which was parked in the forest after closing. As he walked up to the vehicle, the passenger reached down as if to hide or retrieve an item. Officer Yescott observed marijuana in the vehicle and his investigation determined that the two teens were using a metal grinder to prepare marijuana for smoking. Officer Yescott recovered two grinders, two pipes with marijuana residue, a bottle of rum, a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of Jagermeister alcohol. The 17 year-old and 18 year-old teens were charged with Illegal Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of Alcohol by a Minor and then released to their parents.
MARINE DISTRICT
Lobster Arrest
On 6/9/2007, EnCon Police Sgt. Ryan Healy and Officer Jim Kane were patrolling the Thames River by vessel when they observed a vessel hauling lobster gear without displaying a lobster buoy as required. The officers proceeded to the vessel’s location and Officer Kane conducted a boarding of the vessel. Officer Kane found two lobsters in a live well and found one to be a female bearing eggs, which is illegal to possess. The other lobster was found to be less than the minimum legal length. Officer Kane found four other lobsters in an adjacent live well that were legal length. The operator of the vessel was issued a summons for the violations and released on scene. The two illegal lobsters were photographed and released.
Boating Under the Influence Arrests
On 6/15/2007, EnCon Police Officer Jim Kane was patrolling the Stonington area by vessel when he observed a vessel operating erratically in the area of Sandy Point. The vessel was traveling at a high rate of speed in a narrow channel, which is a slow, no wake zone. Officer Kane stopped the vessel and spoke with the operator, who was the only person on board. As Officer Kane questioned the operator, he noticed the operator had slurred speech, bloodshot watery eyes and smelled strongly of alcoholic beverages. Officer Kane noticed a half full bottle of vodka on the vessel and the operator stated he had several shots of vodka. Officer Kane took the subject onto the patrol vessel and towed the other vessel to the Barn Island Access Area. At the access area, Officer Kane conducted a series of field sobriety tests, which the operator failed. Officer Stan Mieldzioc arrived on scene to secure the vessel and Stonington Police Dept. transported the subject and Officer Kane to the Stonington P.D. The subject took two breath tests at the police department, which he failed. He was released on a promise to appear.
On 6/16/2007, EnCon Police Sgt. Eric Lundin was patrolling the Housatonic River State Access Area in Milford. At approximately 4:45 a.m., Sgt. Lundin saw a small open vessel come into the access area with two persons on board. Sgt. Lundin approached the vessel and saw that the operator was having difficulty getting out of the boat. Sgt. Lundin asked the operator for his boating safety certificate. The operator had difficulty finding either one, was slurring his words and smelled strongly of alcoholic beverages. Sgt. Lundin conducted a series of standardized field sobriety tests on the operator. The operator failed them all and was placed under arrest. Sgt. Lundin transported the operator to the Milford Police Dept. where the operator was given a breath test. Both tests revealed that the operator’s blood alcohol level was over twice the legal limit. The operator was released on a promise to appear.
On 6/29/2007 at 9:00 p.m., EnCon Police Officer Jim Kane and SCO Christiana were patrolling the Connecticut River in Old Lyme when they observed a small open vessel traveling on the river at a high rate of speed with no navigation lights displayed. The area is a slow, no wake zone. The officers stopped the vessel and spoke with the operator, who seemed disoriented. The officers could immediately smell a strong odor of alcoholic beverages and his eyes were bloodshot, his face flushed and he was slurring his words. There were empty beer cans on the floor of the vessel. The officers towed the vessel to the DEP dock and had the operator perform a battery of field sobriety tests, which he failed. The subject was placed under arrest and transported to the Old Saybrook Police Dept. where Officer Kane administered a breath test. The results of the breath test indicated the subject’s blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit. The subject was released on a promise to appear.
Assault
On 6/2/2007, Special Conservation Officer’s (SCO’s) Schmidt and Christiana were called to a campsite at Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme on a complaint of two females being assaulted. Upon arriving, two females at the site stated that a friend that had been camping at the site with them had gone crazy and assaulted them. The victims had been bitten and grabbed by the subject who then ran off into the woods. An ambulance was dispatched to the scene and the victims were transported to an area hospital. EnCon Police Officer Rob Monday, East Lyme Police Dept. and the State Police also responded and began searching the area for the suspect. During this time, the suspect attempted to break into another tent in the campground. Officer Monday spotted the suspect in the campground and after a brief foot chase, the subject was apprehended. He was taken into custody and transported to Troop E in Montville. He was charged with Assault, Breach of Peace, Simple Trespass and Interfering with an officer. He was held on a $1000.00 bond.
WESTERN DISTRICT
Recreational Fishing Enforcement
During June, EnCon Police officers in the Western District handled 60 incidents regarding illegal fishing. Officers made arrests in 24 of the incidents, in some cases there were multiple arrests for the incident. One in particular occurred on 6/9/07 at the Thomaston Dam where 3 young males and an adult male were found in possession of 30 trout. The adult was arrested for the Taking more than the Daily Limit of Trout violation.
Late Night DUI
On 6/10/07 at 2:30am, EnCon Police Officers Ed Yescott and Matt Tomassone stopped a suspected drunk driver on I-84 in Hartford. The officers determined that the operator was under the influence and arrested him for that charge along with a number of other motor vehicle charges including operating without a license.
Narcotics Arrest
On 6/12/07, EnCon Police officer Chris Dwyer was on patrol in Naugatuck State Forest, Naugatuck. He observed a pickup truck in an area where motorized vehicles were not permitted. Officer Dwyer approached the vehicle and observed a male and female in the vehicle along with a large German Shepard dog. Officer Dwyer requested the operator to exit the vehicle and when doing so Officer Dwyer observed the operator trying to hide something in his hand. Officer Dwyer secured the operator and determined that he was attempting to hide narcotics. While attempting the subdue the operator the dog jumped out of the truck and came at Officer Dwyer, bumping but not biting him. The Naugatuck Police responded to back up Officer Dwyer with the narcotics arrest and the Naugatuck Animal Control Officer seized the dog.
Bears
In June Western District EnCon officers received 556 black bear sighting reports and complaints.
__________________
Captain Raul Camejo
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police