Eastern District
Boating Enforcement
On 6/12/2010 at 9:00 AM, Eastern District EnCon Police Officers responded to Pachaug Pond in Griswold to a complaint of an intoxicated boater operating a Personal Water Craft (PWC) that struck a dock. Investigators determined the subject was stopped from leaving the scene by the dock owner who pulled the safety lanyard out of the PWC, thus making it inoperable. The registered owner of the PWC arrived and took possession of the vessel and placed the operator in another vessel. Officers conducted field sobriety tests and placed the subject under arrest for operating under the influence, reckless operation of a vessel, insufficient PFD’s, and operating a PWC without a certificate. The dock did not receive any damage.
On 6/12/2010 at 12:00 PM, EnCon Police Officer Ruggiero responded to a complaint of a boating accident off of the Salmon River Boat Launch in East Haddam. Upon arrival it was determined the boat operator hit a large wake and his 40 year-old female passenger was slammed to the vessel floor and was complaining of lower back pain. The injured party was transported to the hospital for treatment. Officer Ruggiero is investigating the incident.
On 6/22/2010 at 11:30 PM, EnCon Police Officers responded to a complaint of a boating accident on Ashland Pond in Griswold. It was determined a 31 year-old male was operating a PWC on the lake when it struck an island. The subjects PFD was recovered but he was missing. CSP Dive Team located the deceased subject at 6:45 AM. EnCon Police Officer Arsenault is investigating the accident with the assistance of the EnCon Police Boating Accident Reconstruction Unit (BARU).
Park and Forest Enforcement
On 6/14/2010, EnCon Police Officers responded to a complaint of an unresponsive 23 year-old male in a vehicle at Gulf Road parking lot in Salmon River State Forest. Upon arrival of medical personnel, it was determined that the subject was deceased. EnCon Police Officer Arsenault and the Connecticut State Police Major Crime Squad are investigating.
On 6/19/2010, EnCon Police Officers responded to a complaint of an 18 year-old female who fell off the cliffs at Ross Pond State Park in Killingly. It was determined she was hiking with three other subjects when she lost her footing and fell 25 feet onto the rocks below. Killingly Fire /EMS removed her from the area by vessel and she was flown by Lifestar helicopter to Providence Hospital. She sustained minor injuries.
On 6/25/2010, EnCon Police Officer Pettus received a complaint that a subject alleges he was the victim of a robbery the night before at the Little Pond State Boat Launch in Thompson. The subject claims an individual threatened him with a knife and then took $7,600 from him. Officer Pettus is investigating with help from the Connecticut State Police in Danielson.
In the month of June, Eastern District officers issued 32 infractions and 20 written warnings for parking violations at State Boat Launch facilities and adjoining State Park properties.
Western District
Fatal Boating Accident
On June 4, 2010, EnCon Police responded to a report of a capsized canoe in Crest Brook Park in Watertown. It was determined there were three people in the canoe fishing when the canoe capsized. Two of the people made it to shore, however the third person did not. Dive teams were called from area fire departments and located the drowned victim the next morning. The victim was not wearing a life jacket.
Exotic Cat Seized
On June 10, 2010, EnCon Police Sergeant Cynthia Schneider developed information from a complainant that a person in Bethel had a tiger kept in his basement. Sgt. Schneider and several other officers from the Western District met with the homeowner who eventually allowed the officers into his home. He finally surrendered a Serval Cat he was keeping as a pet. Servals are medium sized African wild cats that can grow to 50 lbs. Servals are not permitted as pets in Connecticut. The owner of the cat was arrested for illegal possession of a wild quadruped. The Serval cat was shipped to a game preserve in Florida for permanent placement.
Illegal Dumping Arrest
On June 15, 2010, EnCon Police Officer Sean Buckley received a complaint of a large quantity of building materials being dumped at the Lake Kenosia State Boat Launch in Danbury. Through his investigation, Officer Buckley was able to determine who had dumped the material. Officer Buckley arrested the individual involved for illegal dumping.
Bobcat Seized from Simsbury Resident
On June 19, 2010 EnCon Police Officer Ed Yescott received information from the Simsbury Police Department that an individual in their town had possession of a kitten that appeared to be a bobcat. Officer Yescott determined that the kitten was in fact a young bobcat. Due to the fact that bobcats have been known to carry rabies, Officer Yescott was forced to euthanize the bobcat. Rabies testing was performed on the bobcat because many people came into physical contact with it throughout the day.
Off duty officer initiates Boating Under the Influence (BUI) arrest
On June 29, 2010, EnCon Police Sergeant Keith Schneider was off duty, fishing on Bantam Lake in his personal boat with his two children. While operating his personal boat, Sgt. Schneider saw a ski boat approaching him from the opposite direction. As the two boats passed the operator of the ski boat made an obscene gesture and pointed at Sgt. Schneider. Sgt. Schneider and his children continued over to the east side of Deer Island, anchored and began to fish. Another small boat with two friends of Sgt. Schneider’s son approached and began to have a conversation with them. At that point the same ski boat that had earlier passed Sgt. Schneider approached again. The operator of the ski boat looked right at Sgt. Schneider and began shouting obscenities which were heard by Sgt. Schneider and by all the children in the two fishing boats. Sgt. Schneider contacted DEP dispatch and requested that an on-duty officer respond. EnCon Police Officer Erin Crossman arrived and apprehended the ski boat operator who was in the process of tying up his boat at a marina on Bantam Lake. Officer Crossman conducted a field sobriety test on the ski boat operator. The subject failed the test and was placed under arrested. The ski boat operator was transported to Connecticut State Police Troop L where he refused to submit to any type of sobriety test. The subject was arrested for Breach of Peace and Boating Under the Influence. He was held overnight as he was not able to make bond and was transported to Superior Court Part B in Bantam on 6/30/10 for arraignment.
Marine District
Park and Forest
On June 6, Officer Chickos was dispatched to Rocky Neck State Park to a report of a female being harassed by a male park patron. Apparently a confrontation began when the male berated the female for not leashing her dog. The incident escalated when the male blocked the female from leaving the parking lot by barricading the exit with his vehicle. As a result, she was forced to leave via the entrance to the parking lot with the male following her to a nearby restaurant, when she called for law enforcement assistance. The male park patron was familiar to law enforcement personnel and was found at his residence where he was arrested for Breach of Peace. He was transported and processed at Connecticut State Police Troop “F” in Westbrook and released on a promise to appear.
Officer Chickos was called into service on the 7th of June at Rocky Neck State Park to a report of an unconscious female on the beach. This was the second incident involving an unconscious female within 90 minutes. In the first incident Captain O’Connell and Sgt. Lundin had responded to a complaint of female on the beach who had passed out due to alcohol intoxication and transported to Lawrence and Memorial Hospital. The second incident involved another female who passed out due to alcohol intoxication with the same group of underage youths. The volunteer who offered to drive one of the victim’s car consented to a search of the vehicle. A backpack in the vehicle, which the volunteer driver claimed ownership, was searched and Officer Chickos found 16 bags of marijuana packaged for sale. The individual was arrested for possession of and intent to sell marijuana and was processed at Connecticut State Police Troop “E” in Montville and released on a $500.00 non surety bond
In the early morning hours of June 12th Officer’s Chemacki and Ruggiero responded to Hammonasett Beach State Park to a report of domestic violence in the campground. Upon their arrival they were met by two Troopers from nearby Troop “F” in Westbrook. They already had in their custody the suspect who allegedly assaulted his girlfriend in the campground. The 24 year old female victim had been beaten in the face and head and had numerous bruises and swelling. The 30 year old suspect was arrested for Breach of Peace and Assault 3rd and transported to Troop “F” in Westbrook. He remained at Troop “F” until he was able to post a $2,500.00 bond later that day.
Shell fishing Arrest
On June 11th Officer Samorajczyk responded to the fourth report in recent days of a commercial clam dredger that was operating off of their leased shell fishing grounds in the town of Milford. The “Angela Marie” was observed by Officer Samorajczyk and Sgt. Kane commercially harvesting shell fish off their leased grounds and was photographed in the act. They also notified Sgt. Lundin who was conducting aerial shell fish patrols who was able to “log” the GPS coordinates of the “Angela Marie” illegally harvesting shellfish. Officer Samorajczyk and Sgt. Kane boarded a Coast Guard vessel and navigated to the “Angela Marie” from the New Haven area, boarding the offending vessel and arresting the Captain.
Boating
On June 7th Officer Logiodice was dispatched to a boating accident in Branford involving two vessels that collided at approximately 10:00 PM near Branford Point. A 23’ Searay and a 17’ Boston Whaler were involved in a boating accident. United States Coast Guard, Branford Police Department, Branford Fire Department and DEP Environmental Conservation Police were on scene.
Officer Stanko was dispatched to a boating accident on the 12th of the month in East Haven where a 16’ vessel collided with rocks near Round Rock in Long Island Sound. There were no injuries and the boater was towed by contractor to New Haven.
On June 19th Officer Chemacki arrested an individual on a court issued warrant that concluded a 9 month investigation of a fatal boat accident that occurred on September 3, 2009 in Guilford. The individual was arrested for Manslaughter 2nd Degree, Manslaughter 2nd Degree with a Vessel, Assault 2nd Degree (2 counts), Reckless Endangerment 1st Degree, and Reckless Operation of a Vessel While Under the Influence. The charges stemmed from an accident where two victims were injured and one victim was killed when their vessel ran into a rock seawall at night. Sgt. Lundin and Officer Hilli of The D.E.P. Boating Accident Reconstruction Unit performed the reconstruction of the vessel accident.
On June 26th Officers from the Marine District and the Eastern District participated in “Operation Drywater”, a national effort that emphasized Boating Under the Influence (BUI) Enforcement. The operation was held on the lower Connecticut River and was coordinated by the National Association of Boating Law Administrators. Connecticut State Police, Old Saybrook Police, United States Coast Guard and Chester Police participated as well and the effort resulted in the arrest of two individuals for Boating Under the Influence.
_________________
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
Boating Enforcement
On 6/12/2010 at 9:00 AM, Eastern District EnCon Police Officers responded to Pachaug Pond in Griswold to a complaint of an intoxicated boater operating a Personal Water Craft (PWC) that struck a dock. Investigators determined the subject was stopped from leaving the scene by the dock owner who pulled the safety lanyard out of the PWC, thus making it inoperable. The registered owner of the PWC arrived and took possession of the vessel and placed the operator in another vessel. Officers conducted field sobriety tests and placed the subject under arrest for operating under the influence, reckless operation of a vessel, insufficient PFD’s, and operating a PWC without a certificate. The dock did not receive any damage.
On 6/12/2010 at 12:00 PM, EnCon Police Officer Ruggiero responded to a complaint of a boating accident off of the Salmon River Boat Launch in East Haddam. Upon arrival it was determined the boat operator hit a large wake and his 40 year-old female passenger was slammed to the vessel floor and was complaining of lower back pain. The injured party was transported to the hospital for treatment. Officer Ruggiero is investigating the incident.
On 6/22/2010 at 11:30 PM, EnCon Police Officers responded to a complaint of a boating accident on Ashland Pond in Griswold. It was determined a 31 year-old male was operating a PWC on the lake when it struck an island. The subjects PFD was recovered but he was missing. CSP Dive Team located the deceased subject at 6:45 AM. EnCon Police Officer Arsenault is investigating the accident with the assistance of the EnCon Police Boating Accident Reconstruction Unit (BARU).
Park and Forest Enforcement
On 6/14/2010, EnCon Police Officers responded to a complaint of an unresponsive 23 year-old male in a vehicle at Gulf Road parking lot in Salmon River State Forest. Upon arrival of medical personnel, it was determined that the subject was deceased. EnCon Police Officer Arsenault and the Connecticut State Police Major Crime Squad are investigating.
On 6/19/2010, EnCon Police Officers responded to a complaint of an 18 year-old female who fell off the cliffs at Ross Pond State Park in Killingly. It was determined she was hiking with three other subjects when she lost her footing and fell 25 feet onto the rocks below. Killingly Fire /EMS removed her from the area by vessel and she was flown by Lifestar helicopter to Providence Hospital. She sustained minor injuries.
On 6/25/2010, EnCon Police Officer Pettus received a complaint that a subject alleges he was the victim of a robbery the night before at the Little Pond State Boat Launch in Thompson. The subject claims an individual threatened him with a knife and then took $7,600 from him. Officer Pettus is investigating with help from the Connecticut State Police in Danielson.
In the month of June, Eastern District officers issued 32 infractions and 20 written warnings for parking violations at State Boat Launch facilities and adjoining State Park properties.
Western District
Fatal Boating Accident
On June 4, 2010, EnCon Police responded to a report of a capsized canoe in Crest Brook Park in Watertown. It was determined there were three people in the canoe fishing when the canoe capsized. Two of the people made it to shore, however the third person did not. Dive teams were called from area fire departments and located the drowned victim the next morning. The victim was not wearing a life jacket.
Exotic Cat Seized
On June 10, 2010, EnCon Police Sergeant Cynthia Schneider developed information from a complainant that a person in Bethel had a tiger kept in his basement. Sgt. Schneider and several other officers from the Western District met with the homeowner who eventually allowed the officers into his home. He finally surrendered a Serval Cat he was keeping as a pet. Servals are medium sized African wild cats that can grow to 50 lbs. Servals are not permitted as pets in Connecticut. The owner of the cat was arrested for illegal possession of a wild quadruped. The Serval cat was shipped to a game preserve in Florida for permanent placement.
Illegal Dumping Arrest
On June 15, 2010, EnCon Police Officer Sean Buckley received a complaint of a large quantity of building materials being dumped at the Lake Kenosia State Boat Launch in Danbury. Through his investigation, Officer Buckley was able to determine who had dumped the material. Officer Buckley arrested the individual involved for illegal dumping.
Bobcat Seized from Simsbury Resident
On June 19, 2010 EnCon Police Officer Ed Yescott received information from the Simsbury Police Department that an individual in their town had possession of a kitten that appeared to be a bobcat. Officer Yescott determined that the kitten was in fact a young bobcat. Due to the fact that bobcats have been known to carry rabies, Officer Yescott was forced to euthanize the bobcat. Rabies testing was performed on the bobcat because many people came into physical contact with it throughout the day.
Off duty officer initiates Boating Under the Influence (BUI) arrest
On June 29, 2010, EnCon Police Sergeant Keith Schneider was off duty, fishing on Bantam Lake in his personal boat with his two children. While operating his personal boat, Sgt. Schneider saw a ski boat approaching him from the opposite direction. As the two boats passed the operator of the ski boat made an obscene gesture and pointed at Sgt. Schneider. Sgt. Schneider and his children continued over to the east side of Deer Island, anchored and began to fish. Another small boat with two friends of Sgt. Schneider’s son approached and began to have a conversation with them. At that point the same ski boat that had earlier passed Sgt. Schneider approached again. The operator of the ski boat looked right at Sgt. Schneider and began shouting obscenities which were heard by Sgt. Schneider and by all the children in the two fishing boats. Sgt. Schneider contacted DEP dispatch and requested that an on-duty officer respond. EnCon Police Officer Erin Crossman arrived and apprehended the ski boat operator who was in the process of tying up his boat at a marina on Bantam Lake. Officer Crossman conducted a field sobriety test on the ski boat operator. The subject failed the test and was placed under arrested. The ski boat operator was transported to Connecticut State Police Troop L where he refused to submit to any type of sobriety test. The subject was arrested for Breach of Peace and Boating Under the Influence. He was held overnight as he was not able to make bond and was transported to Superior Court Part B in Bantam on 6/30/10 for arraignment.
Marine District
Park and Forest
On June 6, Officer Chickos was dispatched to Rocky Neck State Park to a report of a female being harassed by a male park patron. Apparently a confrontation began when the male berated the female for not leashing her dog. The incident escalated when the male blocked the female from leaving the parking lot by barricading the exit with his vehicle. As a result, she was forced to leave via the entrance to the parking lot with the male following her to a nearby restaurant, when she called for law enforcement assistance. The male park patron was familiar to law enforcement personnel and was found at his residence where he was arrested for Breach of Peace. He was transported and processed at Connecticut State Police Troop “F” in Westbrook and released on a promise to appear.
Officer Chickos was called into service on the 7th of June at Rocky Neck State Park to a report of an unconscious female on the beach. This was the second incident involving an unconscious female within 90 minutes. In the first incident Captain O’Connell and Sgt. Lundin had responded to a complaint of female on the beach who had passed out due to alcohol intoxication and transported to Lawrence and Memorial Hospital. The second incident involved another female who passed out due to alcohol intoxication with the same group of underage youths. The volunteer who offered to drive one of the victim’s car consented to a search of the vehicle. A backpack in the vehicle, which the volunteer driver claimed ownership, was searched and Officer Chickos found 16 bags of marijuana packaged for sale. The individual was arrested for possession of and intent to sell marijuana and was processed at Connecticut State Police Troop “E” in Montville and released on a $500.00 non surety bond
In the early morning hours of June 12th Officer’s Chemacki and Ruggiero responded to Hammonasett Beach State Park to a report of domestic violence in the campground. Upon their arrival they were met by two Troopers from nearby Troop “F” in Westbrook. They already had in their custody the suspect who allegedly assaulted his girlfriend in the campground. The 24 year old female victim had been beaten in the face and head and had numerous bruises and swelling. The 30 year old suspect was arrested for Breach of Peace and Assault 3rd and transported to Troop “F” in Westbrook. He remained at Troop “F” until he was able to post a $2,500.00 bond later that day.
Shell fishing Arrest
On June 11th Officer Samorajczyk responded to the fourth report in recent days of a commercial clam dredger that was operating off of their leased shell fishing grounds in the town of Milford. The “Angela Marie” was observed by Officer Samorajczyk and Sgt. Kane commercially harvesting shell fish off their leased grounds and was photographed in the act. They also notified Sgt. Lundin who was conducting aerial shell fish patrols who was able to “log” the GPS coordinates of the “Angela Marie” illegally harvesting shellfish. Officer Samorajczyk and Sgt. Kane boarded a Coast Guard vessel and navigated to the “Angela Marie” from the New Haven area, boarding the offending vessel and arresting the Captain.
Boating
On June 7th Officer Logiodice was dispatched to a boating accident in Branford involving two vessels that collided at approximately 10:00 PM near Branford Point. A 23’ Searay and a 17’ Boston Whaler were involved in a boating accident. United States Coast Guard, Branford Police Department, Branford Fire Department and DEP Environmental Conservation Police were on scene.
Officer Stanko was dispatched to a boating accident on the 12th of the month in East Haven where a 16’ vessel collided with rocks near Round Rock in Long Island Sound. There were no injuries and the boater was towed by contractor to New Haven.
On June 19th Officer Chemacki arrested an individual on a court issued warrant that concluded a 9 month investigation of a fatal boat accident that occurred on September 3, 2009 in Guilford. The individual was arrested for Manslaughter 2nd Degree, Manslaughter 2nd Degree with a Vessel, Assault 2nd Degree (2 counts), Reckless Endangerment 1st Degree, and Reckless Operation of a Vessel While Under the Influence. The charges stemmed from an accident where two victims were injured and one victim was killed when their vessel ran into a rock seawall at night. Sgt. Lundin and Officer Hilli of The D.E.P. Boating Accident Reconstruction Unit performed the reconstruction of the vessel accident.
On June 26th Officers from the Marine District and the Eastern District participated in “Operation Drywater”, a national effort that emphasized Boating Under the Influence (BUI) Enforcement. The operation was held on the lower Connecticut River and was coordinated by the National Association of Boating Law Administrators. Connecticut State Police, Old Saybrook Police, United States Coast Guard and Chester Police participated as well and the effort resulted in the arrest of two individuals for Boating Under the Influence.
_________________
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police