March 2011 highlights
Western District
FLOOD RESCUE
On March 7th, western Connecticut received an extremely heavy rainfall which coupled with melting snow caused widespread flooding. In Southbury the Pomperaug River jumped it’s banks overnight and trapped people in their home off of Floodbridge Rd.
The State Police contacted the EnCon Police and requested assistance in rescuing the stranded homeowners. EnCon Police Officer Jeff Samorajczyk and Sean Buckley responded with one of the EnCon Police flood rescue boats and safely extricated the
two people from their home.
RECKLESS DRIVING
On March 20th EnCon Police Officer Erin Crossman was on patrol in the town of Colebrook. Officer Crossman observed an SUV traveling in the opposite direction with a 17 year old male riding on top of the roof of the SUV. Officer Crossman also observed that the SUV appeared to be operating at a high rate of speed.
Officer Crossman activated her emergency lights and stopped the vehicle. The young male that was riding on the roof of the SUV jumped off and got into the back seat of the vehicle which was being operated by another 17 year old male and had two 17 year old
females as passengers. Officer Crossman arrested the operator of the vehicle for Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangerment.
DRUNK DRIVER
On March 21st at 10pm, EnCon Police Officer Erin Crossman was patrolling Mohawk State Forest in Cornwall. When exiting the forest onto Route 4, Officer Crossman observed a vehicle parked and running at the intersection of the forest entrance road
and Route 4. When Officer Crossman drove up to the vehicle she observed a lone female slumped over the steering wheel.
Officer Crossman knocked on the window several times before the female slowly raised her head in a confused manner. Officer Crossman observed both of the female’s thumbs on her phone and it appeared that she had fallen asleep while texting. Officer
Crossman had the female exit the vehicle and conducted field sobriety tests which the female operator failed. Officer Crossman arrested the female for Operating Under the Influence and transported her to State Police Troop L where a breath test indicated that the female operator had a blood alcohol level of .168, almost twice the legal limit in Connecticut.
MARINE DISTRICT MARCH
SEAFOOD DEALERS INITIATIVE
Marine District Officers conducted an initiative to inspect Seafood Dealers throughout Connecticut in March by cooperating with Inland District Officers. Teams of Officers inspected Seafood Dealers throughout areas of Connecticut and found several minor violations over the course of the month. They also found a noteworthy violation of illegal possession of short lobsters. Officers Yescott and Reilly cited a major seafood distributor in Wethersfield that was found to have more than 90 short lobsters in their
possession ready for sale.
COOPERATIVE HARBOR PORPOISE INITIATIVE
Marine Officers performed a cooperative initiative with National Marine Fisheries Service Agents and Rhode Island Environmental Police for two days in March. Sergeant Kane and Officer’s Tavares, Stanko and Ulkus patrolled Long Island Sound, Block Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean on the Patrol vessel Guardian. The purpose of the operation was to check for compliance with marine fisheries regulations for closed areas and for illegal gill nets that can inadvertently catch marine mammals. Specific gear
restrictions and area closures have been put in place to protect the marine mammals during certain months.
FISHING ACTIVITY
Law enforcement fishing activity is on the rise with the advent of better weather. Officers Stanko, Chickos, Vroman, Chemacki, Miofsky, Samorajczyk and Logiodice all had arrests for either fishing without a license or fishing during the closed season, on the Saugatuck River, Mianus River, Branford River, Connecticut River, Hammonassett River, Dodge Pond, Messerschmidt’s Pond and Branford Supply Pond. Officer Chickos also arrested an individual wanted on an active arrest warrant as a result of finding him and a friend found illegally fishing without licenses on the Mianus River in Greenwich.
WILDLIFE
Wildlife complaints during March included an individual that was attacked by a Red Fox on the 13th in Old Lyme that was handled by Officer Persico which turned out to be rabid. Officers Chemacki and Samorajczyk responded to a Bobcat in Branford on the 20t~ that chased two youths while protecting a deer carcass on which it had been feeding, and a Harbor Seal that weighed approximately 300 Ibs. was found resting on the beach at Hammonassett Beach State Park in Madison on the 24t". Officer’s
Logiodice, Chemacki and Samorajczyk monitored the seal for two days with the help of personnel from Mystic Marine Life Aquarium.
Eastern District
On March 19, 2011 Officer Matt Stone was on routine patrol in the area of Natchaug State Forest - Pumpkin Hill Section when he spotted two men cutting wood. Officer Stone approached the two and it was determined that they had been attempting to take a large amount o[ firewood without a permit.
They were ordered to empty the wood off their trailer and were issued infractions tickets for their efforts.
On March 20, 2011 Officer Hans Danielson was patrolling the State areas in Stafford, CT. Upon checking the Ellithorpe Wildlife Management Area he came across two ATV’s operating in the W.M.A. and also on public highways surrounding the area. Officer Danielson stopped the ATV’s and issued infraction tickets to the operators. The operators pushed their ATV’s to their homes.
Also on March 20, 2011 during Officer Danielson’s check of State areas, he found five young men that had driven their 4 wheel drive trucks around gates and into Shenipsit State Forest where they are not allowed. Officer Danielson found the men had gone in for some 4 wheeting and to eat their McDonalds lunch but left all their garbage on the ground. They were ordered to clean the area and issued infractions tickets before being ordered to leave the area Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
Captain Raul Camejo raul.camejo@ct.gov Edit Post Reply With Quote .
Western District
FLOOD RESCUE
On March 7th, western Connecticut received an extremely heavy rainfall which coupled with melting snow caused widespread flooding. In Southbury the Pomperaug River jumped it’s banks overnight and trapped people in their home off of Floodbridge Rd.
The State Police contacted the EnCon Police and requested assistance in rescuing the stranded homeowners. EnCon Police Officer Jeff Samorajczyk and Sean Buckley responded with one of the EnCon Police flood rescue boats and safely extricated the
two people from their home.
RECKLESS DRIVING
On March 20th EnCon Police Officer Erin Crossman was on patrol in the town of Colebrook. Officer Crossman observed an SUV traveling in the opposite direction with a 17 year old male riding on top of the roof of the SUV. Officer Crossman also observed that the SUV appeared to be operating at a high rate of speed.
Officer Crossman activated her emergency lights and stopped the vehicle. The young male that was riding on the roof of the SUV jumped off and got into the back seat of the vehicle which was being operated by another 17 year old male and had two 17 year old
females as passengers. Officer Crossman arrested the operator of the vehicle for Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangerment.
DRUNK DRIVER
On March 21st at 10pm, EnCon Police Officer Erin Crossman was patrolling Mohawk State Forest in Cornwall. When exiting the forest onto Route 4, Officer Crossman observed a vehicle parked and running at the intersection of the forest entrance road
and Route 4. When Officer Crossman drove up to the vehicle she observed a lone female slumped over the steering wheel.
Officer Crossman knocked on the window several times before the female slowly raised her head in a confused manner. Officer Crossman observed both of the female’s thumbs on her phone and it appeared that she had fallen asleep while texting. Officer
Crossman had the female exit the vehicle and conducted field sobriety tests which the female operator failed. Officer Crossman arrested the female for Operating Under the Influence and transported her to State Police Troop L where a breath test indicated that the female operator had a blood alcohol level of .168, almost twice the legal limit in Connecticut.
MARINE DISTRICT MARCH
SEAFOOD DEALERS INITIATIVE
Marine District Officers conducted an initiative to inspect Seafood Dealers throughout Connecticut in March by cooperating with Inland District Officers. Teams of Officers inspected Seafood Dealers throughout areas of Connecticut and found several minor violations over the course of the month. They also found a noteworthy violation of illegal possession of short lobsters. Officers Yescott and Reilly cited a major seafood distributor in Wethersfield that was found to have more than 90 short lobsters in their
possession ready for sale.
COOPERATIVE HARBOR PORPOISE INITIATIVE
Marine Officers performed a cooperative initiative with National Marine Fisheries Service Agents and Rhode Island Environmental Police for two days in March. Sergeant Kane and Officer’s Tavares, Stanko and Ulkus patrolled Long Island Sound, Block Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean on the Patrol vessel Guardian. The purpose of the operation was to check for compliance with marine fisheries regulations for closed areas and for illegal gill nets that can inadvertently catch marine mammals. Specific gear
restrictions and area closures have been put in place to protect the marine mammals during certain months.
FISHING ACTIVITY
Law enforcement fishing activity is on the rise with the advent of better weather. Officers Stanko, Chickos, Vroman, Chemacki, Miofsky, Samorajczyk and Logiodice all had arrests for either fishing without a license or fishing during the closed season, on the Saugatuck River, Mianus River, Branford River, Connecticut River, Hammonassett River, Dodge Pond, Messerschmidt’s Pond and Branford Supply Pond. Officer Chickos also arrested an individual wanted on an active arrest warrant as a result of finding him and a friend found illegally fishing without licenses on the Mianus River in Greenwich.
WILDLIFE
Wildlife complaints during March included an individual that was attacked by a Red Fox on the 13th in Old Lyme that was handled by Officer Persico which turned out to be rabid. Officers Chemacki and Samorajczyk responded to a Bobcat in Branford on the 20t~ that chased two youths while protecting a deer carcass on which it had been feeding, and a Harbor Seal that weighed approximately 300 Ibs. was found resting on the beach at Hammonassett Beach State Park in Madison on the 24t". Officer’s
Logiodice, Chemacki and Samorajczyk monitored the seal for two days with the help of personnel from Mystic Marine Life Aquarium.
Eastern District
On March 19, 2011 Officer Matt Stone was on routine patrol in the area of Natchaug State Forest - Pumpkin Hill Section when he spotted two men cutting wood. Officer Stone approached the two and it was determined that they had been attempting to take a large amount o[ firewood without a permit.
They were ordered to empty the wood off their trailer and were issued infractions tickets for their efforts.
On March 20, 2011 Officer Hans Danielson was patrolling the State areas in Stafford, CT. Upon checking the Ellithorpe Wildlife Management Area he came across two ATV’s operating in the W.M.A. and also on public highways surrounding the area. Officer Danielson stopped the ATV’s and issued infraction tickets to the operators. The operators pushed their ATV’s to their homes.
Also on March 20, 2011 during Officer Danielson’s check of State areas, he found five young men that had driven their 4 wheel drive trucks around gates and into Shenipsit State Forest where they are not allowed. Officer Danielson found the men had gone in for some 4 wheeting and to eat their McDonalds lunch but left all their garbage on the ground. They were ordered to clean the area and issued infractions tickets before being ordered to leave the area Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
Captain Raul Camejo raul.camejo@ct.gov Edit Post Reply With Quote .