MARINE DISTRICT
Sexual Assault
On 8/6/09, EnCon Police Officer Schreiner, while on patrol of Hammonasset Beach State Park, received a complaint of an attempted sexual assault in the park. Officer Schreiner met with the complainant who stated that a male subject had invited him into his motor home in one of the day use areas of the park. While inside the motor home, the owner fondled the complainant who escaped from the motor home. The complainant got the registration of the motor home, which was registered out of Florida, but it could not be located inside the park. A BOLO was put out to surrounding Troops. The last known Connecticut address of the registered owner was in Branford and Capt. Overturf had the Branford Police Dept. respond to that address to see if the motor home was there. Branford Police Dept. confirmed the motor home was at the residence and Capt. Overturf and Officer Reilly responded to Branford. Capt. Overturf interviewed the registered owner who admitted to being in the park and admitted that the complainant was inside his motor home. He claimed he never touched the complainant. Officers Schreiner and Lewin transported the complainant to Branford who positively identified the subject as the person who assaulted him. The subject was taken into custody and transported to Troop F where he was charged with Sexual Assault in the fourth degree. He was released on a promise to appear.
BUI/Interfering
On 08/15/09 at approximately 1830, EnCon Police Officer Samorajczyk and Acting Sergeant Kane were conducting boating safety checks as part of a Boating Enforcement Initiative at the Devon State Access Area on the Housatonic River in Milford. The officers observed a vessel approach the boat ramp with four persons on board. The operator of the vessel appeared intoxicated and was uncooperative. As Officer Samorajczyk and Acting Sergeant Kane attempted to obtain information from the operator and attempt to conduct the standardized field sobriety tests, the operator became combative. After a brief struggle and assistance from officers from the Milford Police Dept., the operator was taken into custody and placed under arrest. A criminal history check revealed the operator was a convicted felon with 19 prior arrests. The subject was transported to Milford Police Dept. for processing. He was charged with operating a vessel while under the influence and interfering with a police officer.
Scup Violations
On 8/31/09, EnCon Police Officer Chickos was patrolling Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. While on patrol he observed two individuals fishing from the jetty at Meigs Point. He watched the subjects for a period of time and saw them catch and keep several scup which Officer Chickos believed were less than the minimum length of 10.5 inches. Officer Chickos approached the fishermen and found them to be in possession of twenty-five scup, five over the daily creel limit and seven that were less than the minimum length. Officer Chickos escorted the subjects back to their vehicle to retrieve their identification and saw a bag of fish in plain view in their vehicle. The bag contained twenty-seven more scup, twenty of which were less than the minimum legal length. The subjects were issued infractions for the violations and the fish seized.
EASTERN DISTRICT
Boating Accidents
Eastern District Officers responded to seven boating accidents in August. On 8/1, Sgt. Lundin, Officers Vroman, Pyznar, Johnson and seasonal Officers Graves and Thompson were dispatched to a boating accident on Quaddick Reservoir in Thompson. Two vessels that were approaching each other from opposite directions tried to evade collision and in doing so a female who was being towed on a tube was struck by the approaching bass boat. The unconscious victim was transported to UMass Medical Center in Worchester by Life Star helicopter where she was admitted with blunt trauma injuries to her head and a collapsed lung. She died one week later from complications. The EnCon Police Boating Accident Reconstruction Unit is investigating the accident.
On 8/23, a tuber was involved in an accident on the Connecticut River. Valley Shore EMS transported the victim with non life threatening injuries and Acting Sgt. Dwyer and Officers Golet and Ruggiero responded. The investigation is ongoing.
There were two other boating accidents involving injuries where both vessels struck rocks while underway. The accident on the 8/13 in Hamburg Cove in Lyme is being investigated by Officer Ruggiero and the accident in the Thames River in Montville is being investigated by Officer Rose. Another accident involving an injury happened on the 8/30 on Coventry Lake where Officer Danielson responded to a jet skier who suffered a broken leg.
Narcotics Arrests
There were two narcotics arrests in Eastern District State Parks in August. EnCon Police Officer Johnson arrested an individual in Mansfield Hollow on the 8/3 for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia and turned the individual over to the Willimantic Police for an active arrest warrant. On the 8/15, EnCon Police Officer Ruggiero arrested an individual at Miller’s Pond who was in the act of smoking a “blunt” marijuana cigar. He was also found to be in possession of 25 small packaged bags of suspected marijuana and was charged with intent to sell narcotics as well as other related charges.
Drowning
On 8/14/09, EnCon Police responded to a drowning at Green Falls Pond in Pachaug State Forest. The victim and his two companions were swimming outside the regulated swim area when the victim had trouble breathing and was unable to swim back to shore. Officer Williams was nearby with a vessel in tow and launched within minutes of the emergency call prior to EMS arrival. Capt. O’Connell, Acting Sgt. Begley and Officers Rose and Lindo also responded and aided the numerous local fire departments and dive teams with the recovery of the victim, who was airlifted to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence where he was pronounced dead.
Disorderly Conduct/Breach of Peace
EnCon Police Officers in the Eastern District responded to an unusually high number of incidents involving unruly patrons in recreational activities in August. Approximately 60 incidents of disorderly conduct and breach of peace were reported in campgrounds and beaches. A majority of those were at Hopeville Pond State Park in Griswold. Officer Arsenault handled an incident at Hopeville Pond Campground on the 8/13 where a male was described as argumentative, intoxicated and bloody and had a dispute at the camp office. The male was arrested for Disorderly Conduct, Threatening and Criminal Mischief among other charges and was processed at Troop E in Montville. On the 8/15, Officer Golet was involved in numerous incidents at Hopeville Pond. Troopers from Troop E in Montville assisted in arresting an individual for Assault so that Officer Golet could return to the campground for multiple complaints of disorderly conduct and noise. On the 8/26, Officer Arsenault and Ruggiero responded to Hopeville Pond beach to a report of a large fight in progress. Upon their arrival they were greeted by Troopers who also responded. The outcome of the melee was two arrested for Assault 2nd Degree and one arrested for Interfering with an Officer. The weapons involved were a belt buckle and a spatula and the injuries sustained were numerous lacerations to the head of both victims/combatants who had to be transported to Troop E from Backus Hospital after emergency medical attention. The two combatants failed to make arrangements for bond and were arraigned the next day in court.
WESTERN DISTRICT
Abandoned Caiman
On 8/9/09, EnCon Police were notified of a 1 ½ foot long Caiman (relative of crocodiles/alligators) found in a driveway at a home in Hamden. The Caiman was secured and turned over to a reptile rehabilitator in Massachusetts. Officers were not able to determine who left the abandoned Caiman in the complainant’s driveway.
Evading Boat Accident
On 8/16/09, EnCon Police Officer Ray Ramos responded to a complaint of a boating accident involving a pontoon boat striking a moored vessel at a dock. After the pontoon boat struck the moored vessel it left the scene of the accident. Officer Ramos was able to develop enough information to identify the pontoon boat and its operator. The operator of the pontoon boat was located and arrested for Failure to avoid a collision and for failing to stand by after a collision.
Injuries in State Parks & Forests
On 8/6/09, EnCon Police Officer Dean Wojcik responded to Talcott Mountain State Park in Simsbury for a report of a person falling off of the cliff. A 19 year old had been climbing on the cliff face attempting to gain access to the King Phillip cave when he fell approximately 20 feet onto rocks below, suffering severe injuries. The victim was transported to Hartford Hospital for treatment by Life Star Helicopter. Officer Wojcik determined that the subject was under the influence of and in possession of drugs at the time of the accident. After the subject was treated for his injuries, Officer Wojcik arrested him for possession of a controlled substance.
On 8/24/09, EnCon Police Officer Erin Crossman responded to Enders State Forest in Granby for a report of an injured person. Officer Crossman determined that a 14 year old male who had been swimming in the stream at Enders had jumped off the waterfall and suffered head and neck injuries. The injured person was transported to Hartford Hospital by Life Star helicopter for treatment.
Drowning
On 8/31/09, EnCon Police Officer Sean Buckley and Special Conservation Officer Willy Williams were on duty at Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield when a call was received regarding a missing 8 year old boy. The boy was eventually located in the swim area in approximately 4 to 5 feet of water. The boy was pulled from the water and transported to Danbury Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Officer Buckley determined that the victim had left his family who were picnicking at the park and without parental supervision, entered the swim area where he had been playing with other children earlier.
__________________
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
Captain Raul Camejo raul.camejo@ct.gov
Sexual Assault
On 8/6/09, EnCon Police Officer Schreiner, while on patrol of Hammonasset Beach State Park, received a complaint of an attempted sexual assault in the park. Officer Schreiner met with the complainant who stated that a male subject had invited him into his motor home in one of the day use areas of the park. While inside the motor home, the owner fondled the complainant who escaped from the motor home. The complainant got the registration of the motor home, which was registered out of Florida, but it could not be located inside the park. A BOLO was put out to surrounding Troops. The last known Connecticut address of the registered owner was in Branford and Capt. Overturf had the Branford Police Dept. respond to that address to see if the motor home was there. Branford Police Dept. confirmed the motor home was at the residence and Capt. Overturf and Officer Reilly responded to Branford. Capt. Overturf interviewed the registered owner who admitted to being in the park and admitted that the complainant was inside his motor home. He claimed he never touched the complainant. Officers Schreiner and Lewin transported the complainant to Branford who positively identified the subject as the person who assaulted him. The subject was taken into custody and transported to Troop F where he was charged with Sexual Assault in the fourth degree. He was released on a promise to appear.
BUI/Interfering
On 08/15/09 at approximately 1830, EnCon Police Officer Samorajczyk and Acting Sergeant Kane were conducting boating safety checks as part of a Boating Enforcement Initiative at the Devon State Access Area on the Housatonic River in Milford. The officers observed a vessel approach the boat ramp with four persons on board. The operator of the vessel appeared intoxicated and was uncooperative. As Officer Samorajczyk and Acting Sergeant Kane attempted to obtain information from the operator and attempt to conduct the standardized field sobriety tests, the operator became combative. After a brief struggle and assistance from officers from the Milford Police Dept., the operator was taken into custody and placed under arrest. A criminal history check revealed the operator was a convicted felon with 19 prior arrests. The subject was transported to Milford Police Dept. for processing. He was charged with operating a vessel while under the influence and interfering with a police officer.
Scup Violations
On 8/31/09, EnCon Police Officer Chickos was patrolling Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. While on patrol he observed two individuals fishing from the jetty at Meigs Point. He watched the subjects for a period of time and saw them catch and keep several scup which Officer Chickos believed were less than the minimum length of 10.5 inches. Officer Chickos approached the fishermen and found them to be in possession of twenty-five scup, five over the daily creel limit and seven that were less than the minimum length. Officer Chickos escorted the subjects back to their vehicle to retrieve their identification and saw a bag of fish in plain view in their vehicle. The bag contained twenty-seven more scup, twenty of which were less than the minimum legal length. The subjects were issued infractions for the violations and the fish seized.
EASTERN DISTRICT
Boating Accidents
Eastern District Officers responded to seven boating accidents in August. On 8/1, Sgt. Lundin, Officers Vroman, Pyznar, Johnson and seasonal Officers Graves and Thompson were dispatched to a boating accident on Quaddick Reservoir in Thompson. Two vessels that were approaching each other from opposite directions tried to evade collision and in doing so a female who was being towed on a tube was struck by the approaching bass boat. The unconscious victim was transported to UMass Medical Center in Worchester by Life Star helicopter where she was admitted with blunt trauma injuries to her head and a collapsed lung. She died one week later from complications. The EnCon Police Boating Accident Reconstruction Unit is investigating the accident.
On 8/23, a tuber was involved in an accident on the Connecticut River. Valley Shore EMS transported the victim with non life threatening injuries and Acting Sgt. Dwyer and Officers Golet and Ruggiero responded. The investigation is ongoing.
There were two other boating accidents involving injuries where both vessels struck rocks while underway. The accident on the 8/13 in Hamburg Cove in Lyme is being investigated by Officer Ruggiero and the accident in the Thames River in Montville is being investigated by Officer Rose. Another accident involving an injury happened on the 8/30 on Coventry Lake where Officer Danielson responded to a jet skier who suffered a broken leg.
Narcotics Arrests
There were two narcotics arrests in Eastern District State Parks in August. EnCon Police Officer Johnson arrested an individual in Mansfield Hollow on the 8/3 for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia and turned the individual over to the Willimantic Police for an active arrest warrant. On the 8/15, EnCon Police Officer Ruggiero arrested an individual at Miller’s Pond who was in the act of smoking a “blunt” marijuana cigar. He was also found to be in possession of 25 small packaged bags of suspected marijuana and was charged with intent to sell narcotics as well as other related charges.
Drowning
On 8/14/09, EnCon Police responded to a drowning at Green Falls Pond in Pachaug State Forest. The victim and his two companions were swimming outside the regulated swim area when the victim had trouble breathing and was unable to swim back to shore. Officer Williams was nearby with a vessel in tow and launched within minutes of the emergency call prior to EMS arrival. Capt. O’Connell, Acting Sgt. Begley and Officers Rose and Lindo also responded and aided the numerous local fire departments and dive teams with the recovery of the victim, who was airlifted to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence where he was pronounced dead.
Disorderly Conduct/Breach of Peace
EnCon Police Officers in the Eastern District responded to an unusually high number of incidents involving unruly patrons in recreational activities in August. Approximately 60 incidents of disorderly conduct and breach of peace were reported in campgrounds and beaches. A majority of those were at Hopeville Pond State Park in Griswold. Officer Arsenault handled an incident at Hopeville Pond Campground on the 8/13 where a male was described as argumentative, intoxicated and bloody and had a dispute at the camp office. The male was arrested for Disorderly Conduct, Threatening and Criminal Mischief among other charges and was processed at Troop E in Montville. On the 8/15, Officer Golet was involved in numerous incidents at Hopeville Pond. Troopers from Troop E in Montville assisted in arresting an individual for Assault so that Officer Golet could return to the campground for multiple complaints of disorderly conduct and noise. On the 8/26, Officer Arsenault and Ruggiero responded to Hopeville Pond beach to a report of a large fight in progress. Upon their arrival they were greeted by Troopers who also responded. The outcome of the melee was two arrested for Assault 2nd Degree and one arrested for Interfering with an Officer. The weapons involved were a belt buckle and a spatula and the injuries sustained were numerous lacerations to the head of both victims/combatants who had to be transported to Troop E from Backus Hospital after emergency medical attention. The two combatants failed to make arrangements for bond and were arraigned the next day in court.
WESTERN DISTRICT
Abandoned Caiman
On 8/9/09, EnCon Police were notified of a 1 ½ foot long Caiman (relative of crocodiles/alligators) found in a driveway at a home in Hamden. The Caiman was secured and turned over to a reptile rehabilitator in Massachusetts. Officers were not able to determine who left the abandoned Caiman in the complainant’s driveway.
Evading Boat Accident
On 8/16/09, EnCon Police Officer Ray Ramos responded to a complaint of a boating accident involving a pontoon boat striking a moored vessel at a dock. After the pontoon boat struck the moored vessel it left the scene of the accident. Officer Ramos was able to develop enough information to identify the pontoon boat and its operator. The operator of the pontoon boat was located and arrested for Failure to avoid a collision and for failing to stand by after a collision.
Injuries in State Parks & Forests
On 8/6/09, EnCon Police Officer Dean Wojcik responded to Talcott Mountain State Park in Simsbury for a report of a person falling off of the cliff. A 19 year old had been climbing on the cliff face attempting to gain access to the King Phillip cave when he fell approximately 20 feet onto rocks below, suffering severe injuries. The victim was transported to Hartford Hospital for treatment by Life Star Helicopter. Officer Wojcik determined that the subject was under the influence of and in possession of drugs at the time of the accident. After the subject was treated for his injuries, Officer Wojcik arrested him for possession of a controlled substance.
On 8/24/09, EnCon Police Officer Erin Crossman responded to Enders State Forest in Granby for a report of an injured person. Officer Crossman determined that a 14 year old male who had been swimming in the stream at Enders had jumped off the waterfall and suffered head and neck injuries. The injured person was transported to Hartford Hospital by Life Star helicopter for treatment.
Drowning
On 8/31/09, EnCon Police Officer Sean Buckley and Special Conservation Officer Willy Williams were on duty at Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield when a call was received regarding a missing 8 year old boy. The boy was eventually located in the swim area in approximately 4 to 5 feet of water. The boy was pulled from the water and transported to Danbury Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Officer Buckley determined that the victim had left his family who were picnicking at the park and without parental supervision, entered the swim area where he had been playing with other children earlier.
__________________
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
Captain Raul Camejo raul.camejo@ct.gov