March Highlights
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MARINE DISTRICT
Motor Vehicle Stop
On 3/4/2010, EnCon Police Officer Reilly was patrolling Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. While on patrol she observed a vehicle operating in the park displaying an expired registration decal. Officer Reilly ran the vehicle’s registration through motor vehicle and confirmed that it was unregistered. The vehicle was stopped and the operator could not produce a valid registration. Officers Stanko and Chemacki arrived on the scene as backup. While speaking with the operator, the officers notices a bullet hanging from a key chain and after speaking with the operator, obtained consent to search the vehicle. The officer found a bag of suspected marijuana and a glass smoking pipe containing residue. The operator was placed under arrest and charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and operating an unregistered motor vehicle. He was released on a promise to appear.
Striped Bass
On 3/23/2010, EnCon Police Officer Stanko was patrolling the area of the Connecticut River in Old Saybrook. Officer Stanko observed a commercial gill netter unloading fish from his vessel into coolers and place them in a vehicle. Officer Stanko gathered information which lead him to believe that the subject had illegally taken striped bass in the gill net. The subject left the area in the truck which was subsequently stopped in Old Lyme with the assistance of Sgt. Kane and Officer Persico. The subject stated he had taken approximately 250 lbs of white perch. Upon further questioning, the subject admitted to taking striped bass in the gill net also which is illegal. The officers seized twenty striped bass, all of which were less than the minimum legal length of 28 inches. The subject was charged with possession of striped bass over daily creel limit, possession of striped bass less than the minimum legal length and commercialization of striped bass. The subject was released on a promise to appear and the striped bass seized as evidence.
Fishing/Narcotics Violations
On 3/28/2010, EnCon Police Officer Chemacki was checking fishing activity in the Trout Management Area of the Hammonasset River in Madison. Officer Chemacki encountered an individual that was fishing in the river with an expired fishing license. While speaking to the individual, Officer Chemacki noticed a strong odor of marijuana. The subject stated he did not have any marijuana on him but had smoked it earlier in the day. Officer Chemacki escorted the subject to his vehicle to obtain his driver’s license. At the vehicle, Officer Chemacki obtained consent to search the vehicle and when he entered the vehicle, immediately noticed the odor of marijuana. A search of the vehicle revealed four bags of marijuana. The subject was arrested and released on a promise to appear.
EASTERN DISTRICT
Fishing Violations
EnCon Police were extremely busy responding to fishing complaints in March. Officers issued infractions to more than 38 individuals for such violations as fishing without a license and fishing an area during the closed season. Some of the busiest waters were Thames River- Norwich, Black Pond-Middlefield/Meriden, Coventry Lake-Coventry and the Connecticut River.
On 3/19/2010, EnCon Police Officer Arsenault was checking fishermen in Norwich when he discovered an individual who admitted to fishing without a license. Further investigation revealed the individual had four active arrest warrants, three from Norwich P.D. and one from Connecticut State Police. Officer Arsenault escorted the individual to his vehicle where he met a Norwich officer who had arrived to serve the active warrants. At this time the accused fled on foot and was pursued by the officers into a parking garage where he was taken into custody.
On 3/20/2010, EnCon Police Officer Arsenault was patrolling Green Falls SP in Voluntown when he noticed an individual who was in a vehicle that was parked illegally. Upon further inspection, Officer Arsenault noticed the individual was drinking a beer with the keys in the ignition. After checking his identification, Officer Arsenault was advised that the individual was wanted on an active warrant with a $50,000 bond from Groton Town P.D. He was arrested and handed over to the Groton Town Police for charges of Unlawful Restraint and Breach of Peace.
Wildlife Violation
On 3/9/2010, EnCon Police Officer Williams went to a complaint of a captive deer in a yard in Brooklyn. The deer had been in captivity for approximately 2 years after it wandered into the area as a fawn. The deer was experiencing some hoof problems related to captivity and was transported to a rehabilitation facility where it will live out its normal life. The owners were warned about such activity if the future.
ATV Enforcement
Eastern District Officers were busy with ATV enforcement in March. There were over 17 violators arrested for Operating Unregistered, Trespass and related charges. Active areas included the Airline Trail in Andover, Yale Forest and Shenipsit State Forest.
Park and Forest Larceny
On 3/11/2010, EnCon Police Officer Vroman was able to conclude an investigation into firewood that was stolen from Nipmuck State Forest in Union. Utilizing a trail camera, Officer Vroman was able to establish probable cause to arrest three individuals for stealing firewood on numerous occasions. They were charged with several counts of criminal conduct including Larceny and Trespass and their bonds were set a $250.
WESTERN DISTRICT
Pistol Found in State Park
On 3/8/2010, EnCon Police Officer Ralph Concepcion responded to a report from a citizen that they found a pistol in West Rock State Park. Officer Concepcion determined that a hiker had found a .357 magnum revolver in a plastic bag. Initial checks of the pistol serial number determined that the firearm was not reported stolen. Officer Concepcion is working with the Connecticut State Police Firearms unit and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to trace the lineage and ownership of the firearm.
Assist CSP
On 3/26/2010, The Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad requested the assistance of EnCon Police officers from the Western District to conduct a search for a potential homicide victim in Southbury. Utilizing ATVs, EnCon officers searched a heavily wooded area of a town park in Southbury where evidence related to the homicide was recovered. The State Police located the victim at a different location and arrested a suspect in the case.
Pre-Season Fishing Enforcement
During the month of March, EnCon Police officers in the Western District investigated 49 pre-season fishing incidents, issued 18 summonses and 14 written warnings for violations.
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MARINE DISTRICT
Motor Vehicle Stop
On 3/4/2010, EnCon Police Officer Reilly was patrolling Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. While on patrol she observed a vehicle operating in the park displaying an expired registration decal. Officer Reilly ran the vehicle’s registration through motor vehicle and confirmed that it was unregistered. The vehicle was stopped and the operator could not produce a valid registration. Officers Stanko and Chemacki arrived on the scene as backup. While speaking with the operator, the officers notices a bullet hanging from a key chain and after speaking with the operator, obtained consent to search the vehicle. The officer found a bag of suspected marijuana and a glass smoking pipe containing residue. The operator was placed under arrest and charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and operating an unregistered motor vehicle. He was released on a promise to appear.
Striped Bass
On 3/23/2010, EnCon Police Officer Stanko was patrolling the area of the Connecticut River in Old Saybrook. Officer Stanko observed a commercial gill netter unloading fish from his vessel into coolers and place them in a vehicle. Officer Stanko gathered information which lead him to believe that the subject had illegally taken striped bass in the gill net. The subject left the area in the truck which was subsequently stopped in Old Lyme with the assistance of Sgt. Kane and Officer Persico. The subject stated he had taken approximately 250 lbs of white perch. Upon further questioning, the subject admitted to taking striped bass in the gill net also which is illegal. The officers seized twenty striped bass, all of which were less than the minimum legal length of 28 inches. The subject was charged with possession of striped bass over daily creel limit, possession of striped bass less than the minimum legal length and commercialization of striped bass. The subject was released on a promise to appear and the striped bass seized as evidence.
Fishing/Narcotics Violations
On 3/28/2010, EnCon Police Officer Chemacki was checking fishing activity in the Trout Management Area of the Hammonasset River in Madison. Officer Chemacki encountered an individual that was fishing in the river with an expired fishing license. While speaking to the individual, Officer Chemacki noticed a strong odor of marijuana. The subject stated he did not have any marijuana on him but had smoked it earlier in the day. Officer Chemacki escorted the subject to his vehicle to obtain his driver’s license. At the vehicle, Officer Chemacki obtained consent to search the vehicle and when he entered the vehicle, immediately noticed the odor of marijuana. A search of the vehicle revealed four bags of marijuana. The subject was arrested and released on a promise to appear.
EASTERN DISTRICT
Fishing Violations
EnCon Police were extremely busy responding to fishing complaints in March. Officers issued infractions to more than 38 individuals for such violations as fishing without a license and fishing an area during the closed season. Some of the busiest waters were Thames River- Norwich, Black Pond-Middlefield/Meriden, Coventry Lake-Coventry and the Connecticut River.
On 3/19/2010, EnCon Police Officer Arsenault was checking fishermen in Norwich when he discovered an individual who admitted to fishing without a license. Further investigation revealed the individual had four active arrest warrants, three from Norwich P.D. and one from Connecticut State Police. Officer Arsenault escorted the individual to his vehicle where he met a Norwich officer who had arrived to serve the active warrants. At this time the accused fled on foot and was pursued by the officers into a parking garage where he was taken into custody.
On 3/20/2010, EnCon Police Officer Arsenault was patrolling Green Falls SP in Voluntown when he noticed an individual who was in a vehicle that was parked illegally. Upon further inspection, Officer Arsenault noticed the individual was drinking a beer with the keys in the ignition. After checking his identification, Officer Arsenault was advised that the individual was wanted on an active warrant with a $50,000 bond from Groton Town P.D. He was arrested and handed over to the Groton Town Police for charges of Unlawful Restraint and Breach of Peace.
Wildlife Violation
On 3/9/2010, EnCon Police Officer Williams went to a complaint of a captive deer in a yard in Brooklyn. The deer had been in captivity for approximately 2 years after it wandered into the area as a fawn. The deer was experiencing some hoof problems related to captivity and was transported to a rehabilitation facility where it will live out its normal life. The owners were warned about such activity if the future.
ATV Enforcement
Eastern District Officers were busy with ATV enforcement in March. There were over 17 violators arrested for Operating Unregistered, Trespass and related charges. Active areas included the Airline Trail in Andover, Yale Forest and Shenipsit State Forest.
Park and Forest Larceny
On 3/11/2010, EnCon Police Officer Vroman was able to conclude an investigation into firewood that was stolen from Nipmuck State Forest in Union. Utilizing a trail camera, Officer Vroman was able to establish probable cause to arrest three individuals for stealing firewood on numerous occasions. They were charged with several counts of criminal conduct including Larceny and Trespass and their bonds were set a $250.
WESTERN DISTRICT
Pistol Found in State Park
On 3/8/2010, EnCon Police Officer Ralph Concepcion responded to a report from a citizen that they found a pistol in West Rock State Park. Officer Concepcion determined that a hiker had found a .357 magnum revolver in a plastic bag. Initial checks of the pistol serial number determined that the firearm was not reported stolen. Officer Concepcion is working with the Connecticut State Police Firearms unit and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to trace the lineage and ownership of the firearm.
Assist CSP
On 3/26/2010, The Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad requested the assistance of EnCon Police officers from the Western District to conduct a search for a potential homicide victim in Southbury. Utilizing ATVs, EnCon officers searched a heavily wooded area of a town park in Southbury where evidence related to the homicide was recovered. The State Police located the victim at a different location and arrested a suspect in the case.
Pre-Season Fishing Enforcement
During the month of March, EnCon Police officers in the Western District investigated 49 pre-season fishing incidents, issued 18 summonses and 14 written warnings for violations.