October Highlights
MARINE DISTRICT
FISHING ARRESTS
On the 2nd of October Officer Persico encountered a father/son in New London whom he arrested in the past for fishing violations. This time the son was arrested for fishing Scup out of season. In previous encounters Officer Persico arrested both individuals in June for offloading a cooler with an illegal harvest of Bluefish and Scup which he was able to secure with the help of a Good Samaritan and in August the son had been arrested for short Scup and failing to standby when he dumped a cooler of illegal fish. The father had also been arrested for similar offenses in September of 2008.
Officer Samorajczyk was given a complaint of illegal fishing and found three individuals were in violation of regulations involving illegal possession of Scup during the closed season, undersize Blackfish and over the daily limit of Blackfish in Greenwich on the 17th of the month.
On the 16th of October Officer Hey and Sgt. Lundin were called to a complaint of an individual keeping short Striped Bass in the West River in New Haven. Upon their arrival they found the violator in possession of 11 short Striped Bass. He was given a summons to appear in court on the 9th of November.
HUNTING ARRESTS
On October 16th Officer Samorajczyk and Sergeant Kane were patrolling Aquarion Water Company in Stamford where they found an individual actively hunting deer from a tree stand with a crossbow. The immediate area around the illegal tree stand was baited with apples and a mineral/salt lick to which the individual admitted placing. The person had permission to hunt an adjacent three acre parcel and did not have permission to use a crossbow. His hunting gear was confiscated and he was given a court date to appear for Negligent Hunting on the 28th of the month.
PUBLIC SAFETY ASSISTS
On the 1st of October Officer Schreiner had a report of a male who threatened to commit suicide at Hammonassett Beach State Park. The notification from Hamden Police advised that the individual was known to carry firearms. Hamden Police Department later notified that the person was located in their town. In another incident at Hammonassett on the 11th of the month, Officers LaTerra and Stanko and Sergeant Lundin were requested by Branford Police Department to check the park for a suicidal female. The distraught female was located in the park and was transported to St. Raphael’s Hospital for an emergency committal for evaluation. Officer Persico also was notified on the 2nd of the month by Connecticut State Police Troop”E” of a male who threatened to jump off the Gold Star Bridge in New London. That individual was not located.
CRIMINAL/NARCOTICS ARREST
On the 20th of October Officer Stanko heard a broadcast over the Connecticut State Police Radio from Troop “F” regarding a suspect vehicle possibly in the Old Saybrook area wanted for involvement in a jewelry theft. He observed and detained the vehicle in a business in Old Saybrook and in the process he discovered narcotics paraphernalia in the vehicle. The individual was processed at Troop F in Westbrook for Possession of Narcotics Paraphernalia and released on a non-surety bond after confessing to involvement in a jewelry larceny. Old Saybrook Police will be applying for an arrest warrant.
On the 22nd of October, Marine District Officers Stanko and Ulkus were returning from training in Glastonbury when they heard a broadcast from Connecticut State Police, Troop “K” in Colchester regarding a possible public safety assist of an individual who was passed out behind the wheel of his vehicle in a business address in Marlborough. The Officers were nearby and the first to respond when they found an unresponsive male, unconscious, behind the wheel of his running vehicle. In plain view on the seat of the vehicle was a syringe and packaged narcotics which later was positively tested as heroin. The individual was roused and had severe difficulty performing field sobriety tests and was arrested for Driving Under the Influence and Possession of Narcotics and Paraphernalia.
In the late afternoon on the 26th of October there was a confrontation in Rocky Neck State Park between two groups of people involving gunplay. One group from Brooklyn, Connecticut confronted another from East Lyme regarding some stolen performance car parts. Before the Brooklyn, CT group left the Park they threatened the other with a shotgun and struck an individual in the head with the butt stock of the gun. A partial plate and description of the vehicle was broadcast to local Officers and Troopers and with the aid of cell phone technology the vehicle was located on I-95 in East Lyme. The vehicle was stopped at gunpoint on I-95 by Troopers from Troop “E” in a construction zone and the suspects were taken into custody without incident. Two of the guns in the vehicle had disappeared in the interim and were eventually recovered in a wooded area after some initial hesitancy by the suspects. Numerous felony weapon charges were filed against the individual who threatened the others with the shotgun. He has a prior criminal history and has previously spent time in jail. Two other suspects were also charged with numerous criminal offenses. Officers Logiodice and Reilly and Sergeant Healy responded and assisted Connecticut State Police, who are the lead agency in the investigation due to the evidence issues and the previous incident involving the stolen car parts in the Troop “D” area.
WESTERN DISTRICT
Double boating fatality on the Norwalk River
On 10/1/10 EnCon Police Officer Jeff Bruno and Sgt. Mark Shaw responded to a report of a kayak overturning in the Norwalk River in Wilton. It was determined that two individuals had been in the kayak at the time. One victim, who was deceased, was pulled from the water a short distance downstream from the accident. The second victim’s body was recovered the next day. EnCon Police and Wilton Police worked together on the investigation.
Illegal shooting in Morris
On 10/3/10, while off duty at his home at 11:30pm, Sgt. Keith Schneider heard a number of shots being fired in his neighborhood near his home. Thinking that it was someone deer jacking, Sgt. Schneider immediately responded and determined the location where the shot originated while contacting State Police Troop L for a backup. It was determined that two individuals who were allegedly intoxicated, had been firing shotguns outside one of the individual’s house. Both subjects were arrested by members of the State Police on criminal charges.
Dump truck into Bantam Lake
On 10/11/10 EnCon Police officers responded to Bantam Lake in Litchfield to a report of a tri-axle dump truck rolling into Bantam Lake. EnCon officers stood by and assisted DEP HazMat personnel and State Police personnel until the truck was removed and all hazardous materials were cleaned from the lake.
Deer Hunting enforcement
During the month of October EnCon Police officers in the Western District responded to 34 incidents regarding deer hunting. As a result of their investigations, officers made 9 arrests and issued 4 written warnings.
EASTERN DISTRICT
Hunting Enforcement
Acting on an anonymous complaint, EnCon Police Officer Wojcik found a bait pile of corn and apples in close proximity to a tree stand in the Town of Sprague. On 10/9/10, Officer Wojcik discovered a bow hunter in the same stand. The suspect was asked for his written consent to deer hunt the property at which point he replied that he had been hunting that property for 10 years without consent. The suspect was charged with hunting deer over bait and failure to have consent of the landowner.
On 10/14/10, EnCon Police Officer Vroman received a complaint of an archery deer hunter who had placed his tree stand on Conservation Property. Upon his arrival, Officer Vroman identified the subject as a Massachusetts resident and that the subject had hammered in over 15 metal pegs into the tree to gain access to his stand. The complainant stated that the area was going to be logged in the near futures. The subject was charged with hunting without consent of the landowner and given a verbal warning for the tree damage. The subject will be making restitution to the landowner for the damage.
Acting on a complaint of rifle shots after dark in Salem, EnCon Police Officer Wojcik determined where the shots were coming from and found a field baited w a mineral lick. On 10/29/10, Officer Wojcik apprehended the owner of the baited property with a loaded 30-06 rifle well after sunset. The owner admitted to the illegal hunting activity and stated that he also had been illegally hunting before the season.
Hunting Related Shooting
On 10/16/10, EnCon Police Officers, Sergeant Wolfe and Officer Golet, responded to Middlesex Hospital for a report of a hunter being struck in the face with bird shot. Upon their arrival, the officers found that the victim had received three pellet wounds to the face while hunting with friends in Higganum Meadows. The victim and his friends heard several shots but never saw a hunter. The investigation is ongoing.
Injured Fox Call
On 10/21/10, EnCon Police Officer Pyznar responded to a complaint from a subject that stated a car had struck a fox in Bolton and that she put a blanket around it and placed it in her vehicle. She stated that the fox was now awake and free inside the vehicle. Officer Pyznar captured the fox, which had no contact with the vehicle owner and transported it to a rehabilitation facility.
Dogs Abandoned in State Park
On 10/28/10, several EnCon Police Officers responded to Hurd State Park in East Hampton for the report of three bull mastiff dogs roaming around the pavilion. The dogs appeared to have been abandoned and someone was showing up after hours to leave food and water. Over the course of the next several days, two of the dogs were captured and the third was struck by a vehicle. Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
Captain Raul Camejo raul.camejo@ct.gov
MARINE DISTRICT
FISHING ARRESTS
On the 2nd of October Officer Persico encountered a father/son in New London whom he arrested in the past for fishing violations. This time the son was arrested for fishing Scup out of season. In previous encounters Officer Persico arrested both individuals in June for offloading a cooler with an illegal harvest of Bluefish and Scup which he was able to secure with the help of a Good Samaritan and in August the son had been arrested for short Scup and failing to standby when he dumped a cooler of illegal fish. The father had also been arrested for similar offenses in September of 2008.
Officer Samorajczyk was given a complaint of illegal fishing and found three individuals were in violation of regulations involving illegal possession of Scup during the closed season, undersize Blackfish and over the daily limit of Blackfish in Greenwich on the 17th of the month.
On the 16th of October Officer Hey and Sgt. Lundin were called to a complaint of an individual keeping short Striped Bass in the West River in New Haven. Upon their arrival they found the violator in possession of 11 short Striped Bass. He was given a summons to appear in court on the 9th of November.
HUNTING ARRESTS
On October 16th Officer Samorajczyk and Sergeant Kane were patrolling Aquarion Water Company in Stamford where they found an individual actively hunting deer from a tree stand with a crossbow. The immediate area around the illegal tree stand was baited with apples and a mineral/salt lick to which the individual admitted placing. The person had permission to hunt an adjacent three acre parcel and did not have permission to use a crossbow. His hunting gear was confiscated and he was given a court date to appear for Negligent Hunting on the 28th of the month.
PUBLIC SAFETY ASSISTS
On the 1st of October Officer Schreiner had a report of a male who threatened to commit suicide at Hammonassett Beach State Park. The notification from Hamden Police advised that the individual was known to carry firearms. Hamden Police Department later notified that the person was located in their town. In another incident at Hammonassett on the 11th of the month, Officers LaTerra and Stanko and Sergeant Lundin were requested by Branford Police Department to check the park for a suicidal female. The distraught female was located in the park and was transported to St. Raphael’s Hospital for an emergency committal for evaluation. Officer Persico also was notified on the 2nd of the month by Connecticut State Police Troop”E” of a male who threatened to jump off the Gold Star Bridge in New London. That individual was not located.
CRIMINAL/NARCOTICS ARREST
On the 20th of October Officer Stanko heard a broadcast over the Connecticut State Police Radio from Troop “F” regarding a suspect vehicle possibly in the Old Saybrook area wanted for involvement in a jewelry theft. He observed and detained the vehicle in a business in Old Saybrook and in the process he discovered narcotics paraphernalia in the vehicle. The individual was processed at Troop F in Westbrook for Possession of Narcotics Paraphernalia and released on a non-surety bond after confessing to involvement in a jewelry larceny. Old Saybrook Police will be applying for an arrest warrant.
On the 22nd of October, Marine District Officers Stanko and Ulkus were returning from training in Glastonbury when they heard a broadcast from Connecticut State Police, Troop “K” in Colchester regarding a possible public safety assist of an individual who was passed out behind the wheel of his vehicle in a business address in Marlborough. The Officers were nearby and the first to respond when they found an unresponsive male, unconscious, behind the wheel of his running vehicle. In plain view on the seat of the vehicle was a syringe and packaged narcotics which later was positively tested as heroin. The individual was roused and had severe difficulty performing field sobriety tests and was arrested for Driving Under the Influence and Possession of Narcotics and Paraphernalia.
In the late afternoon on the 26th of October there was a confrontation in Rocky Neck State Park between two groups of people involving gunplay. One group from Brooklyn, Connecticut confronted another from East Lyme regarding some stolen performance car parts. Before the Brooklyn, CT group left the Park they threatened the other with a shotgun and struck an individual in the head with the butt stock of the gun. A partial plate and description of the vehicle was broadcast to local Officers and Troopers and with the aid of cell phone technology the vehicle was located on I-95 in East Lyme. The vehicle was stopped at gunpoint on I-95 by Troopers from Troop “E” in a construction zone and the suspects were taken into custody without incident. Two of the guns in the vehicle had disappeared in the interim and were eventually recovered in a wooded area after some initial hesitancy by the suspects. Numerous felony weapon charges were filed against the individual who threatened the others with the shotgun. He has a prior criminal history and has previously spent time in jail. Two other suspects were also charged with numerous criminal offenses. Officers Logiodice and Reilly and Sergeant Healy responded and assisted Connecticut State Police, who are the lead agency in the investigation due to the evidence issues and the previous incident involving the stolen car parts in the Troop “D” area.
WESTERN DISTRICT
Double boating fatality on the Norwalk River
On 10/1/10 EnCon Police Officer Jeff Bruno and Sgt. Mark Shaw responded to a report of a kayak overturning in the Norwalk River in Wilton. It was determined that two individuals had been in the kayak at the time. One victim, who was deceased, was pulled from the water a short distance downstream from the accident. The second victim’s body was recovered the next day. EnCon Police and Wilton Police worked together on the investigation.
Illegal shooting in Morris
On 10/3/10, while off duty at his home at 11:30pm, Sgt. Keith Schneider heard a number of shots being fired in his neighborhood near his home. Thinking that it was someone deer jacking, Sgt. Schneider immediately responded and determined the location where the shot originated while contacting State Police Troop L for a backup. It was determined that two individuals who were allegedly intoxicated, had been firing shotguns outside one of the individual’s house. Both subjects were arrested by members of the State Police on criminal charges.
Dump truck into Bantam Lake
On 10/11/10 EnCon Police officers responded to Bantam Lake in Litchfield to a report of a tri-axle dump truck rolling into Bantam Lake. EnCon officers stood by and assisted DEP HazMat personnel and State Police personnel until the truck was removed and all hazardous materials were cleaned from the lake.
Deer Hunting enforcement
During the month of October EnCon Police officers in the Western District responded to 34 incidents regarding deer hunting. As a result of their investigations, officers made 9 arrests and issued 4 written warnings.
EASTERN DISTRICT
Hunting Enforcement
Acting on an anonymous complaint, EnCon Police Officer Wojcik found a bait pile of corn and apples in close proximity to a tree stand in the Town of Sprague. On 10/9/10, Officer Wojcik discovered a bow hunter in the same stand. The suspect was asked for his written consent to deer hunt the property at which point he replied that he had been hunting that property for 10 years without consent. The suspect was charged with hunting deer over bait and failure to have consent of the landowner.
On 10/14/10, EnCon Police Officer Vroman received a complaint of an archery deer hunter who had placed his tree stand on Conservation Property. Upon his arrival, Officer Vroman identified the subject as a Massachusetts resident and that the subject had hammered in over 15 metal pegs into the tree to gain access to his stand. The complainant stated that the area was going to be logged in the near futures. The subject was charged with hunting without consent of the landowner and given a verbal warning for the tree damage. The subject will be making restitution to the landowner for the damage.
Acting on a complaint of rifle shots after dark in Salem, EnCon Police Officer Wojcik determined where the shots were coming from and found a field baited w a mineral lick. On 10/29/10, Officer Wojcik apprehended the owner of the baited property with a loaded 30-06 rifle well after sunset. The owner admitted to the illegal hunting activity and stated that he also had been illegally hunting before the season.
Hunting Related Shooting
On 10/16/10, EnCon Police Officers, Sergeant Wolfe and Officer Golet, responded to Middlesex Hospital for a report of a hunter being struck in the face with bird shot. Upon their arrival, the officers found that the victim had received three pellet wounds to the face while hunting with friends in Higganum Meadows. The victim and his friends heard several shots but never saw a hunter. The investigation is ongoing.
Injured Fox Call
On 10/21/10, EnCon Police Officer Pyznar responded to a complaint from a subject that stated a car had struck a fox in Bolton and that she put a blanket around it and placed it in her vehicle. She stated that the fox was now awake and free inside the vehicle. Officer Pyznar captured the fox, which had no contact with the vehicle owner and transported it to a rehabilitation facility.
Dogs Abandoned in State Park
On 10/28/10, several EnCon Police Officers responded to Hurd State Park in East Hampton for the report of three bull mastiff dogs roaming around the pavilion. The dogs appeared to have been abandoned and someone was showing up after hours to leave food and water. Over the course of the next several days, two of the dogs were captured and the third was struck by a vehicle. Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
Captain Raul Camejo raul.camejo@ct.gov