MARINE DISTRICT
Striped Bass Enforcement
On 5/5/09, EnCon Police Officer Esteban was dispatched to the area of Black Rock Harbor in Bridgeport on a complaint of a subject keeping undersized striped bass. Upon his arrival, Officer Esteban found the subject’s van and began watching it. As the subject approached the van, Officer Esteban stopped the subject who was carrying a bucket. Inside the bucket were five striped bass, all less than the minimum legal length. Inside the van, Officer Esteban found two additional striped bass that were less than the minimum legal length. The fish were seized the subject was issued a summons for the violations.
On 5/17/09, EnCon Police Sgt. Lundin was patrolling the area of Clinton Harbor when he observed a commercial style fishing vessel enter the harbor and dock at a marina. Sgt. Lundin conducted an inspection of the vessel and the two subjects on board stated they had been fishing for striped bass. On board the vessel were numerous 8” to 12” fillets that came from striped bass. It is illegal it possess fillets from striped bass in Connecticut unless the rack from the fish is also in possession or the fillets meet the minimum legal length for the fish. The subjects stated they had caught four striped bass and filleted them before returning to the dock. Both subjects were issued summons for the violation and released.
On 5/17/09, EnCon Police Officers Chemacki and DeFelice were working striped bass fishermen along the Connecticut River in Old Saybrook. Officer Chemacki saw a subject catch and keep what appeared to be a short striped bass then hide the bass in a plastic bag that was hidden. Officers Chemacki and DeFelice approached the subject who stated he had only caught a catfish. Officer Chemacki retrieved the plastic bag and found twelve striped bass measuring between nine and twenty-five inches in the bag. The minimum legal length is twenty-eight inches and the daily possession limit is two. The subject was issued a summons for possession striped bass less than the legal length and possession over daily creel limit of striped bass.
Interfering with Officer
On 5/17/09, EnCon Police Officer Persico was patrolling Rocky Neck State Park. At approximately 9:30 p.m., Officer Persico observed a subject pushing a bicycle into the park by the main gate. Officer Persico approached the individual to see if he was a camper and the individual immediately became verbally abusive and hostile toward the officer. The subject refused to show Officer Persico his identification and appeared intoxicated. The subject then became more hostile toward Officer Persico and came at him in a threatening manner. Officer Persico had to physically take the subject into custody and arrested him for Breach of Peace and Interfering with an Officer. While transporting the subject to Troop E in Montville, the subject kicked the windshield of Officer Persico’s patrol car, shattering it. The subject was held on a cash bond and appeared in New London superior court the next day.
Oyster Violation
On 5/7/09, EnCon Police Officer Samorajczyk received a complaint that a commercial seed oyster harvester had stored oysters unattended on his vessel in violation of his shell fishing license. Officer Samorajczyk responded to a boat yard on the Housatonic River and found the vessel in question. The vessel had 18 bushels of oysters on board. The oyster harvester was allowed to possess oysters less than two inches. Officer Samorajczyk believed over 50% of the oysters on board were larger than two inches. Personnel from the Dept. of Aquaculture responded to the scene and sorted through the catch and found approximately 80% of the oysters were larger than two inches. The license holder was issued a summons for the violation and the oversized oysters returned to the Housatonic River.
Narcotics Arrest
On 5/29/09, EnCon Police Officers Chemacki and Chickos were patrolling Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. While on patrol the officers encountered a large gathering of youths in the campground in possession of alcoholic beverages. None of the youths were the minimum age to be in possession of alcohol. During a consensual search of one of the youth’s backpacks, Officer Chemacki discovered several containers of suspected marijuana. The marijuana was in several different containers and packaged separately in small plastic baggies. Officer Chemacki also found a scale and a pill identified as a narcotic. From the officer’s training and experience, Officer Chemacki believed the marijuana was packaged for sale. The subject was arrested for possession of marijuana with intent to sell and possession of a prescription narcotic not in the original container. The subject was transported to Troop F and released on a non-surety bond.
EASTERN DISTRICT
Illegal Turkey Hunting
On 5/21/09, EnCon Police Officers Dwyer and Rose were dispatched to the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal property in North Stonington for a complaint of three individuals who had been hunting the property earlier in the morning. Though the suspects had left the area, the officers were able to develop leads resulting in their arrest for Hunting Turkey without Written Consent and Criminal Trespass. One individual who had been less than cooperative had his shotgun and ground blind seized.
Illegal Fishing
Eastern District Officers were busy in May with numerous illegal fishing complaints resulting in at least 38 written warnings and 32 arrests. Charges ranged from fishing without a license, exceeding creel limits, using alewives for bait, short Striped Bass on waterways including Pachaug Pond and River, Connecticut River, Salmon River, Quaddick Reservoir, French River, Thames River and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir.
EnCon Police Officer Ruggiero was busy with four separate incidents resulting in 4 arrests and 3 written warnings involving over bagging of trout in May. Three of the incidents were on the Salmon River and one was on the Coginchaug River.
On 5/20/09, EnCon Police Officer Dwyer received a report of fisherman taking short Striped Bass from the Thames River in Norwich. After a brief surveillance he approached the group of fisherman and four were arrested on charges ranging from fishing without a license, taking of short Striped Bass and Interfering with an Officer.
Narcotics Arrests
On 5/9/09, EnCon Police Officers Johnson and Williams were performing a routine license check of a couple of fisherman on the Quinnebaug River in Thompson when they smelled the odor of marijuana emanating from their vehicle. After investigating they were able to determine that the older individual was supplying marijuana to his juvenile cousin. His actions resulted in arrest for Risk of Injury to a Minor, Interfering with an Officer, Possession of Marijuana and Motor Vehicle charges and Fishing without a License.
On 5/25/09, EnCon Police Sergeant Wolfe and Officer Rose were on foot patrol of Green Falls Campground in Voluntown where they discovered two individuals in possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. They were both charged with those offenses and one was charged with possession of alcohol by a minor.
WESTERN DISTRICT
Striper Enforcement Initiative
During the month of May, EnCon Police officers in the Western District initiated enforcement action or responded to 44 incidents related to striped bass fishing complaints on the upper Connecticut River (above Middletown) and the Housatonic River between the Derby Dam and RT15. Officers made arrests in 24 incidents and issued written warnings for 12 of the incidents.
One incident on 5/10/09 initiated by Officers Stanko and Williams resulted in the seizure of 16 short striped bass. Officers Stanko and Williams observed a small boat on the Housatonic River in Shelton that was acting suspicious. Two men were in it and seemed to be just floating around and looking up towards the steep river bank in that area. Officers Stanko and Williams began watching the boat when a short time later the men in the boat hailed someone on the upper bank. An older woman made her way down the steep bank to the river. The boat pulled up to shore and one of the boat operator was observed handing two rice bags to his passenger who then placed them inside a black garbage bag and then carried it to the older woman. She then placed that into her cloth shopping bag she had with her. The officers approached the subjects and found the 16 short stripers in the bag. The fines for the violations totaled over $800.00.
Inland Recreational Fishing Enforcement
During the month of May EnCon Police officers in the Western District handled 105 recreational fishing complaints in the district. These complaints resulted in 43 summonses and 37 written warnings being issued.
Turkey Poachers
On 5/16/09, EnCon Police Officers Tomassone, Hilli, Begley and Sergeant K. Schneider arrested four New York residents on several charges related to illegal wild turkey hunting in the area around Cobble Rd. in Kent. Working with information they had developed on the illegal hunting ring, EnCon Police set up a surveillance operation that led to the arrest of the three men and one woman. Over the past year, EnCon Police officers had determined that an organized group of poachers was illegally killing a significant number of deer and wild turkey in northwestern Connecticut. Information was developed that the poachers were being dropped off by a vehicle which would return to pick them up once they had illegally killed deer and/or turkey.
On 5/16, EnCon Police Officers stopped the transport vehicle and driver and then entered a nearby wooded area and apprehended the other three poachers involved. They were able to determine that the three were linked to the transport vehicle and driver.
Upon being interviewed by EnCon Police officers, the suspects readily admitted to having killed numerous deer and turkey in Connecticut over the past year. They admitted that with the aid of a turkey call they would sometimes shoot turkey from their vehicle. When the suspects were arrested a video camera was found in their possession and seized along with their firearms and hunting equipment. The suspects admitted to videotaping their illegal activities and said they were hoping to supply the footage to a hunting show available on cable television.
Bears
During the month of May there were 307 sightings or complaints. EnCon Police responded to a number of the complaints and tranquilized and relocated 6 bears.
__________________
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
Captain Raul Camejo raul.camejo@ct.gov
Striped Bass Enforcement
On 5/5/09, EnCon Police Officer Esteban was dispatched to the area of Black Rock Harbor in Bridgeport on a complaint of a subject keeping undersized striped bass. Upon his arrival, Officer Esteban found the subject’s van and began watching it. As the subject approached the van, Officer Esteban stopped the subject who was carrying a bucket. Inside the bucket were five striped bass, all less than the minimum legal length. Inside the van, Officer Esteban found two additional striped bass that were less than the minimum legal length. The fish were seized the subject was issued a summons for the violations.
On 5/17/09, EnCon Police Sgt. Lundin was patrolling the area of Clinton Harbor when he observed a commercial style fishing vessel enter the harbor and dock at a marina. Sgt. Lundin conducted an inspection of the vessel and the two subjects on board stated they had been fishing for striped bass. On board the vessel were numerous 8” to 12” fillets that came from striped bass. It is illegal it possess fillets from striped bass in Connecticut unless the rack from the fish is also in possession or the fillets meet the minimum legal length for the fish. The subjects stated they had caught four striped bass and filleted them before returning to the dock. Both subjects were issued summons for the violation and released.
On 5/17/09, EnCon Police Officers Chemacki and DeFelice were working striped bass fishermen along the Connecticut River in Old Saybrook. Officer Chemacki saw a subject catch and keep what appeared to be a short striped bass then hide the bass in a plastic bag that was hidden. Officers Chemacki and DeFelice approached the subject who stated he had only caught a catfish. Officer Chemacki retrieved the plastic bag and found twelve striped bass measuring between nine and twenty-five inches in the bag. The minimum legal length is twenty-eight inches and the daily possession limit is two. The subject was issued a summons for possession striped bass less than the legal length and possession over daily creel limit of striped bass.
Interfering with Officer
On 5/17/09, EnCon Police Officer Persico was patrolling Rocky Neck State Park. At approximately 9:30 p.m., Officer Persico observed a subject pushing a bicycle into the park by the main gate. Officer Persico approached the individual to see if he was a camper and the individual immediately became verbally abusive and hostile toward the officer. The subject refused to show Officer Persico his identification and appeared intoxicated. The subject then became more hostile toward Officer Persico and came at him in a threatening manner. Officer Persico had to physically take the subject into custody and arrested him for Breach of Peace and Interfering with an Officer. While transporting the subject to Troop E in Montville, the subject kicked the windshield of Officer Persico’s patrol car, shattering it. The subject was held on a cash bond and appeared in New London superior court the next day.
Oyster Violation
On 5/7/09, EnCon Police Officer Samorajczyk received a complaint that a commercial seed oyster harvester had stored oysters unattended on his vessel in violation of his shell fishing license. Officer Samorajczyk responded to a boat yard on the Housatonic River and found the vessel in question. The vessel had 18 bushels of oysters on board. The oyster harvester was allowed to possess oysters less than two inches. Officer Samorajczyk believed over 50% of the oysters on board were larger than two inches. Personnel from the Dept. of Aquaculture responded to the scene and sorted through the catch and found approximately 80% of the oysters were larger than two inches. The license holder was issued a summons for the violation and the oversized oysters returned to the Housatonic River.
Narcotics Arrest
On 5/29/09, EnCon Police Officers Chemacki and Chickos were patrolling Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. While on patrol the officers encountered a large gathering of youths in the campground in possession of alcoholic beverages. None of the youths were the minimum age to be in possession of alcohol. During a consensual search of one of the youth’s backpacks, Officer Chemacki discovered several containers of suspected marijuana. The marijuana was in several different containers and packaged separately in small plastic baggies. Officer Chemacki also found a scale and a pill identified as a narcotic. From the officer’s training and experience, Officer Chemacki believed the marijuana was packaged for sale. The subject was arrested for possession of marijuana with intent to sell and possession of a prescription narcotic not in the original container. The subject was transported to Troop F and released on a non-surety bond.
EASTERN DISTRICT
Illegal Turkey Hunting
On 5/21/09, EnCon Police Officers Dwyer and Rose were dispatched to the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal property in North Stonington for a complaint of three individuals who had been hunting the property earlier in the morning. Though the suspects had left the area, the officers were able to develop leads resulting in their arrest for Hunting Turkey without Written Consent and Criminal Trespass. One individual who had been less than cooperative had his shotgun and ground blind seized.
Illegal Fishing
Eastern District Officers were busy in May with numerous illegal fishing complaints resulting in at least 38 written warnings and 32 arrests. Charges ranged from fishing without a license, exceeding creel limits, using alewives for bait, short Striped Bass on waterways including Pachaug Pond and River, Connecticut River, Salmon River, Quaddick Reservoir, French River, Thames River and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir.
EnCon Police Officer Ruggiero was busy with four separate incidents resulting in 4 arrests and 3 written warnings involving over bagging of trout in May. Three of the incidents were on the Salmon River and one was on the Coginchaug River.
On 5/20/09, EnCon Police Officer Dwyer received a report of fisherman taking short Striped Bass from the Thames River in Norwich. After a brief surveillance he approached the group of fisherman and four were arrested on charges ranging from fishing without a license, taking of short Striped Bass and Interfering with an Officer.
Narcotics Arrests
On 5/9/09, EnCon Police Officers Johnson and Williams were performing a routine license check of a couple of fisherman on the Quinnebaug River in Thompson when they smelled the odor of marijuana emanating from their vehicle. After investigating they were able to determine that the older individual was supplying marijuana to his juvenile cousin. His actions resulted in arrest for Risk of Injury to a Minor, Interfering with an Officer, Possession of Marijuana and Motor Vehicle charges and Fishing without a License.
On 5/25/09, EnCon Police Sergeant Wolfe and Officer Rose were on foot patrol of Green Falls Campground in Voluntown where they discovered two individuals in possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. They were both charged with those offenses and one was charged with possession of alcohol by a minor.
WESTERN DISTRICT
Striper Enforcement Initiative
During the month of May, EnCon Police officers in the Western District initiated enforcement action or responded to 44 incidents related to striped bass fishing complaints on the upper Connecticut River (above Middletown) and the Housatonic River between the Derby Dam and RT15. Officers made arrests in 24 incidents and issued written warnings for 12 of the incidents.
One incident on 5/10/09 initiated by Officers Stanko and Williams resulted in the seizure of 16 short striped bass. Officers Stanko and Williams observed a small boat on the Housatonic River in Shelton that was acting suspicious. Two men were in it and seemed to be just floating around and looking up towards the steep river bank in that area. Officers Stanko and Williams began watching the boat when a short time later the men in the boat hailed someone on the upper bank. An older woman made her way down the steep bank to the river. The boat pulled up to shore and one of the boat operator was observed handing two rice bags to his passenger who then placed them inside a black garbage bag and then carried it to the older woman. She then placed that into her cloth shopping bag she had with her. The officers approached the subjects and found the 16 short stripers in the bag. The fines for the violations totaled over $800.00.
Inland Recreational Fishing Enforcement
During the month of May EnCon Police officers in the Western District handled 105 recreational fishing complaints in the district. These complaints resulted in 43 summonses and 37 written warnings being issued.
Turkey Poachers
On 5/16/09, EnCon Police Officers Tomassone, Hilli, Begley and Sergeant K. Schneider arrested four New York residents on several charges related to illegal wild turkey hunting in the area around Cobble Rd. in Kent. Working with information they had developed on the illegal hunting ring, EnCon Police set up a surveillance operation that led to the arrest of the three men and one woman. Over the past year, EnCon Police officers had determined that an organized group of poachers was illegally killing a significant number of deer and wild turkey in northwestern Connecticut. Information was developed that the poachers were being dropped off by a vehicle which would return to pick them up once they had illegally killed deer and/or turkey.
On 5/16, EnCon Police Officers stopped the transport vehicle and driver and then entered a nearby wooded area and apprehended the other three poachers involved. They were able to determine that the three were linked to the transport vehicle and driver.
Upon being interviewed by EnCon Police officers, the suspects readily admitted to having killed numerous deer and turkey in Connecticut over the past year. They admitted that with the aid of a turkey call they would sometimes shoot turkey from their vehicle. When the suspects were arrested a video camera was found in their possession and seized along with their firearms and hunting equipment. The suspects admitted to videotaping their illegal activities and said they were hoping to supply the footage to a hunting show available on cable television.
Bears
During the month of May there were 307 sightings or complaints. EnCon Police responded to a number of the complaints and tranquilized and relocated 6 bears.
__________________
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
Captain Raul Camejo raul.camejo@ct.gov
