Monthly Highlights - June 2011
WESTERN DISTRICT
DEP Fisheries personnel threatened
During the evening of June 7, 2011, DEP Inland Fisheries biologists and technicians were conducting electrofishing samples of Lake Quassapaug in Middlebury . The DEP fisheries biologists were on a vessel at the time and where moving along the shoreline when a subject came out of a house and started walking towards the boat. One of the DEP personnel called out to the subject advising him that they were from the DEP and were doing fish sampling. At that point the subject began swearing and threatening the biologists and raised what appeared to be a rifle with a laser scope pointing it directly at them. The Fisheries Biologists immediately navigated the boat away from the area and observed that the subject continued pointing the rifle and laser at them for a period of time. Officer Jeff Bruno was assigned to investigate the complaint along with Officer Holly Bernier. Officer Bruno was able to identify the subject who claimed that the rifle was an unloaded pellet gun and he had a laser flashlight that he pointed at the boat because he claimed someone had trespassed on his property the previous evening. Officer Bruno obtained an arrest warrant and charged the subject with Threatening 2nd degree, Breach of Peace 2nd degree, Reckless Endangerment 2nd degree and Prohibited use of Laser Pointer.
EnCon Police assist after major storm in NW Connecticut
On June 9, 2011 a line of fast moving severe thunderstorms and a number of reported tornados passed through western Connecticut causing extensive damage and downed trees. EnCon Police officers provided assistance to state and local police in directing traffic around blocked roads and accessing areas with four wheel drive vehicles in areas that were inaccessable for public safety responses.
EnCon Police locate lost hiker on Appalachian Trail
On June 21, 2011 State Police Troop L responded to a report of a lost hiker on the Appalachian Trail in the area of Schaghticoke Mountain. Troopers on scene called for tracking dogs and the Kent Fire Department to try and locate the individual. EnCon Police officers Paul Hilli, Ed Yescott and Tim Hill responded to the scene. Officer Hilli was able to obtain the GPS coordinates of the lost hiker from the hiker’s cell phone. Due to their familiarity with the rugged terrain in that area the EnCon officers were able to quickly locate the lost hiker and escorted him safely off of the mountain and reunited him with his parents.
EASTERN DISTRICT
Park and Forest
On June 18th, 2011, around midnight, while on routine patrol of Shenipsit State Forest in Stafford, EnCon Officer Pettus observed an ATV operating on public roads, as well as State Forest roads. She stopped the ATV and during her investigation she determined the ATV had been stolen out of the Town of Vernon in April of 2011. The operator was charged with multiple offenses, including Second Degree Larceny by Possession, was processed at Troop C in Tolland and released on a $7,500 bond.
Boating
On June 25th, 2011 a Boating Safety Enforcement initiative was conducted at Coventry Lake in the Town of Coventry. This occurred during the town annual fireworks event at the Lake which had a large number of vessels on the water and people in the Boating Access Area. Officers from Coventry Police Department and Officers from State EnCon Police participated at the boat ramp. Approximately 50 vessels were checked and with an estimated 300 contacts made between all officers for the evening. A total of five warnings and three infractions were issued throughout the evening.
Wildlife
On June 30 2011 a large tortoise weighing approximately 50 pounds was found in the area of the Aetna building in Middletown. The tortoise, later identified as an African Spur Tortoise was captured by the Middletown Animal control officer and turned over to Officer Ruggiero of the State EnCon Police. The Tortoise was then turned over to Rainforest Reptiles in Massachusetts and was reportedly in good health.
MARINE DISTRICT
Park and Forest
On the 1st of June Officer Reilly arrested an individual at Hammonassett Beach State Park after receiving reports of a disturbance in the campground. The suspect was involved in a domestic violence incident, for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. He was processed at Troop “F” in Westbrook for Assault in the 3rd degree and Breach of Peace and was unable to post the cash bond. He was arraigned the next day in New Haven Superior Court.
On the 9th of June, EnCon Officers from the Marine and Eastern Districts responded to a plane crash in Cockaponsett State Forest in Westbrook. A two passenger plane whose flight originated in Long Island, New York crashed after sending a distress signal. Luckily, a nearby military C-130 cargo aircraft saw the plane crash and activated a GPS and gave the exact latitude and longitude coordinates. It then circled the crash scene allowing responding rescuers a reference to find the aircraft until it ran low on fuel and departed. Responding Connecticut State Troopers from Troop “F” and Officer Stanko arrived at the crash scene simultaneously to find that one victim was deceased and the other was critically injured, but conscious and alert. Officer Stanko was able to cut the surviving victims seat belt off at his request, but, was unable to free him from the twisted wreckage. Numerous volunteer Fire Departments from the area were able to extricate the victim with the “jaws of life” and he was transported by Lifestar Helicopter to Yale/New Haven Hospital in critical condition. Other Officers that responded and assisted at the scene included Colonel Overturf, Captain O’Connell, Sgt. Tomassone and Officers Chemacki, Ruggiero and Samorajczyk.
Fishing
On June 1st, Officer Ulkus was conducting a patrol in Westport when he checked a fisherman who was found not to have a fishing license. During the investigation it was also discovered that the individual was wanted on an arrest warrant from Shelton Police for Breach of Peace and Criminal Trespass and he was transported to their lockup facility.
Wildlife
In the early morning hours of June 11th, Officer Chemacki recovered the carcass of a mature male Mountain Lion that weighed 140 pounds. It had been struck by a car on an access ramp to the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. The animal is believed to be the same one that was sighted in Greenwich earlier in the month. EnCon Police and Wildlife biologists conducted a Necropsy as part of the investigation.
Narcotics
While travelling to his work location for an evening shift on the 9th of June, Officer Stanko overheard a Connecticut State Police radio transmission from Troop “F” regarding a possible intoxicated driver on Route 9 in Haddam. The broadcast advised that the offending vehicle had nearly caused an accident. Officer Stanko was in the immediate area and spotted the complainant who was following the offending vehicle. Officer Stanko stopped the vehicle after witnessing the driver’s erratic operation. While “patting down” the suspect and securing several knives in his possession, the suspect attempted to conceal items in his pocket. Officer Stanko was able to handcuff the suspect after a brief struggle and found a folding knife and plastic bag with numerous glassine bags inside. Further inspection revealed a total of 72 “bundles” of heroin and $2249.00 in cash. Also found in the vehicle were 17 oxycontin pills, 3 methadone pills, 3 prescription Motrin pills and 1 Viagra pill. The suspect was charged with numerous violations including; Possession of Narcotics, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Sale of Narcotics and Possession of drug Paraphernalia.
Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
Captain Raul Camejo raul.camejo@ct.gov
WESTERN DISTRICT
DEP Fisheries personnel threatened
During the evening of June 7, 2011, DEP Inland Fisheries biologists and technicians were conducting electrofishing samples of Lake Quassapaug in Middlebury . The DEP fisheries biologists were on a vessel at the time and where moving along the shoreline when a subject came out of a house and started walking towards the boat. One of the DEP personnel called out to the subject advising him that they were from the DEP and were doing fish sampling. At that point the subject began swearing and threatening the biologists and raised what appeared to be a rifle with a laser scope pointing it directly at them. The Fisheries Biologists immediately navigated the boat away from the area and observed that the subject continued pointing the rifle and laser at them for a period of time. Officer Jeff Bruno was assigned to investigate the complaint along with Officer Holly Bernier. Officer Bruno was able to identify the subject who claimed that the rifle was an unloaded pellet gun and he had a laser flashlight that he pointed at the boat because he claimed someone had trespassed on his property the previous evening. Officer Bruno obtained an arrest warrant and charged the subject with Threatening 2nd degree, Breach of Peace 2nd degree, Reckless Endangerment 2nd degree and Prohibited use of Laser Pointer.
EnCon Police assist after major storm in NW Connecticut
On June 9, 2011 a line of fast moving severe thunderstorms and a number of reported tornados passed through western Connecticut causing extensive damage and downed trees. EnCon Police officers provided assistance to state and local police in directing traffic around blocked roads and accessing areas with four wheel drive vehicles in areas that were inaccessable for public safety responses.
EnCon Police locate lost hiker on Appalachian Trail
On June 21, 2011 State Police Troop L responded to a report of a lost hiker on the Appalachian Trail in the area of Schaghticoke Mountain. Troopers on scene called for tracking dogs and the Kent Fire Department to try and locate the individual. EnCon Police officers Paul Hilli, Ed Yescott and Tim Hill responded to the scene. Officer Hilli was able to obtain the GPS coordinates of the lost hiker from the hiker’s cell phone. Due to their familiarity with the rugged terrain in that area the EnCon officers were able to quickly locate the lost hiker and escorted him safely off of the mountain and reunited him with his parents.
EASTERN DISTRICT
Park and Forest
On June 18th, 2011, around midnight, while on routine patrol of Shenipsit State Forest in Stafford, EnCon Officer Pettus observed an ATV operating on public roads, as well as State Forest roads. She stopped the ATV and during her investigation she determined the ATV had been stolen out of the Town of Vernon in April of 2011. The operator was charged with multiple offenses, including Second Degree Larceny by Possession, was processed at Troop C in Tolland and released on a $7,500 bond.
Boating
On June 25th, 2011 a Boating Safety Enforcement initiative was conducted at Coventry Lake in the Town of Coventry. This occurred during the town annual fireworks event at the Lake which had a large number of vessels on the water and people in the Boating Access Area. Officers from Coventry Police Department and Officers from State EnCon Police participated at the boat ramp. Approximately 50 vessels were checked and with an estimated 300 contacts made between all officers for the evening. A total of five warnings and three infractions were issued throughout the evening.
Wildlife
On June 30 2011 a large tortoise weighing approximately 50 pounds was found in the area of the Aetna building in Middletown. The tortoise, later identified as an African Spur Tortoise was captured by the Middletown Animal control officer and turned over to Officer Ruggiero of the State EnCon Police. The Tortoise was then turned over to Rainforest Reptiles in Massachusetts and was reportedly in good health.
MARINE DISTRICT
Park and Forest
On the 1st of June Officer Reilly arrested an individual at Hammonassett Beach State Park after receiving reports of a disturbance in the campground. The suspect was involved in a domestic violence incident, for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. He was processed at Troop “F” in Westbrook for Assault in the 3rd degree and Breach of Peace and was unable to post the cash bond. He was arraigned the next day in New Haven Superior Court.
On the 9th of June, EnCon Officers from the Marine and Eastern Districts responded to a plane crash in Cockaponsett State Forest in Westbrook. A two passenger plane whose flight originated in Long Island, New York crashed after sending a distress signal. Luckily, a nearby military C-130 cargo aircraft saw the plane crash and activated a GPS and gave the exact latitude and longitude coordinates. It then circled the crash scene allowing responding rescuers a reference to find the aircraft until it ran low on fuel and departed. Responding Connecticut State Troopers from Troop “F” and Officer Stanko arrived at the crash scene simultaneously to find that one victim was deceased and the other was critically injured, but conscious and alert. Officer Stanko was able to cut the surviving victims seat belt off at his request, but, was unable to free him from the twisted wreckage. Numerous volunteer Fire Departments from the area were able to extricate the victim with the “jaws of life” and he was transported by Lifestar Helicopter to Yale/New Haven Hospital in critical condition. Other Officers that responded and assisted at the scene included Colonel Overturf, Captain O’Connell, Sgt. Tomassone and Officers Chemacki, Ruggiero and Samorajczyk.
Fishing
On June 1st, Officer Ulkus was conducting a patrol in Westport when he checked a fisherman who was found not to have a fishing license. During the investigation it was also discovered that the individual was wanted on an arrest warrant from Shelton Police for Breach of Peace and Criminal Trespass and he was transported to their lockup facility.
Wildlife
In the early morning hours of June 11th, Officer Chemacki recovered the carcass of a mature male Mountain Lion that weighed 140 pounds. It had been struck by a car on an access ramp to the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford. The animal is believed to be the same one that was sighted in Greenwich earlier in the month. EnCon Police and Wildlife biologists conducted a Necropsy as part of the investigation.
Narcotics
While travelling to his work location for an evening shift on the 9th of June, Officer Stanko overheard a Connecticut State Police radio transmission from Troop “F” regarding a possible intoxicated driver on Route 9 in Haddam. The broadcast advised that the offending vehicle had nearly caused an accident. Officer Stanko was in the immediate area and spotted the complainant who was following the offending vehicle. Officer Stanko stopped the vehicle after witnessing the driver’s erratic operation. While “patting down” the suspect and securing several knives in his possession, the suspect attempted to conceal items in his pocket. Officer Stanko was able to handcuff the suspect after a brief struggle and found a folding knife and plastic bag with numerous glassine bags inside. Further inspection revealed a total of 72 “bundles” of heroin and $2249.00 in cash. Also found in the vehicle were 17 oxycontin pills, 3 methadone pills, 3 prescription Motrin pills and 1 Viagra pill. The suspect was charged with numerous violations including; Possession of Narcotics, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Sale of Narcotics and Possession of drug Paraphernalia.
Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
Captain Raul Camejo raul.camejo@ct.gov