MARINE DISTRICT
Hunting Related Shooting Investigation
On 1/24/09, EnCon Police Sgt. Healy and Officer Lindo were dispatched to Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London for a report of two men with gunshot wounds to their hands sustained in a hunting related shooting. Upon arriving at the hospital, the officers found one of the men being treated for a gunshot wound to the hand and the other a minor laceration to his finger. The men stated that they were hunting geese in the Pattagansett River in East Lyme from a canoe. While firing at several geese that were flying overhead, the canoe capsized and the two men fell into the water. As the canoe was capsizing, one of the shotguns discharged, striking one of the hunters in the hand. The hunters waded to shore and drove themselves to the hospital. Officer Dean Wojcik, who recently attended hunting accident investigation training, was dispatched to the hospital to assist with the investigation, which is ongoing.
Evading Accident Arrest
On 1/26/09, EnCon Police Officer Esteban served an arrest warrant on a subject wanted in connection with an evading motor vehicle accident that occurred at West Rock State Park in September of 2008. On 9/19/08, the principal from the Dixwell New Light High School suffered severe injuries when he was struck by a motor vehicle while walking in the park. The vehicle that struck him fled the scene. Witnesses gave a description of the vehicle and a partial marker plate. After an extensive investigation, Officer Esteban was able to ascertain the identity of the driver of the vehicle. A warrant was prepared and submitted by Officer Esteban then served on 1/26/09. The subject was charged with Assault in the second degree, Reckless Endangerment, Reckless Driving, Evading Responsibility, Operating with a Suspended License and Operating a Motor Vehicle without Insurance. The subject is scheduled to appear in New Haven Court in February.
EASTERN DISTRICT
Illegal Deer Hunting Arrests
On 1/25/09, EnCon Police Sgt. Zabilansky and Officer Wojcik were working on a complaint of an illegally killed deer in Lebanon. Officer Wojcik back tracked the suspect’s tracks and deer’s blood trail approximately 2.5 miles to the scene of the crime where he encountered the homeowner exiting his residence with knife in hand ready to butcher the deer. The deer had been killed the previous day out of season, over bait and was picked up by the suspect in the neighborhood where the blood trail ended. The suspect was arrested and his compound bow, the suspect weapon, and a large automatic feeder that was loaded with corn were confiscated with the deer.
On 1/23/09, EnCon Police Officer Pyznar was called to a complaint of a possible illegally killed 10 point Buck in East Hartford. He back tracked the suspect’s tracks and deer’s blood trail leading to the rear of a house that backed up to Pratt and Whitney property. Through investigation and interviews, Officer Pyznar was able to develop enough information to arrest a suspect who had been arrested three times in the past for similar offenses. The deer was shot with a crossbow, from a stepladder, over a chain link fence, out of season, without tags, without consent and over bait. The suspect’s crossbow and deer were confiscated.
Trespass Arrests
On 1/3/09 Officer Myers was patrolling in the town of Lebanon and arrested two rabbit hunters for trespass who did not have permission from the landowner. That same day Officer Johnson was investigating a complaint in Andover and arrested an individual for trespass charges related to illegal deer hunting.
Illegal Fishing
In January, EnCon Police Officers were busy on numerous bodies of water throughout the Eastern District issuing infractions and written warnings for Sport fishing without a license, Failure to carry license and gear violations for ice fishing. Water bodies included but were not limited to Gardner Lake-Salem, Lake Pocotopaug-East Hampton, Crystal Lake-Ellington, Thames River-Norwich and Black Pond-Middlefield.
On 1/25/09, EnCon Police Sgt. Zabilansky and Officer Wojcik were leaving the Eastern District evidence lockup after processing items from an illegal deer arrest in Lebanon when they observed a vehicle, with the operator slumped in the seat, parked in front of the District Headquarters in Marlborough, partially in the driveway and partially in the travel lane of Route 66. When asked what he was doing, the driver stated he was “dropping off a buddy”, only to look around to discover he was alone in the car. Upon further examination they were able to determine that the operator had been ice fishing and was possibly intoxicated. Though the suspect couldn’t remember where he had been fishing he was willing to display his “catch” to the officers and proudly showed off his 16” Walleye, which is under the legal limit of 18” along with the numerous empty beer cans that were in the cooler. The suspect was arrested and transported to Connecticut State Police Troop K in Colchester where he was processed for Driving under the Influence and Illegal Possession of Walleye. Intoxilyzer results revealed the suspect to be almost two times over the legal limit for alcohol.
Untimely Death
On 1/5/09, numerous EnCon Police Officers were summoned to Voluntown by Connecticut State Police where they were involved in the search and recovery of an elderly woman’s body that had allegedly been murdered and dumped in Pachaug State Forest. The suspect, the son of the victim, had been hospitalized after a failed attempt to commit suicide by dousing his residence with gasoline and igniting the house. He was blown out of the house when it exploded and fled the scene in a vehicle that subsequently crashed. The suicide note that was left in the mailbox divulged the location of the murder victim in Pachaug State Forest. A search by Officers led to the victim’s body as described in the note. The suspect was arrested for arson charges that day, and subsequent investigation led to arrest at a later date by warrant for the murder charge.
Search and Rescue
On 1/17/09, EnCon Police Officers Dwyer, Arsenault and Wojcik were called to Meshomasic State Forest in East Hampton to conduct a search and rescue of a New Hampshire resident who became lost when hiking in the forest. The 62 year old victim was found unharmed well after dark after EnCon Officers and a Connecticut State Trooper with K-9 entered the State forest and located him.
Narcotics Arrest
On 1/16/09, EnCon Police Officer Johnson was patrolling Little Pond in Thompson when he encountered four individuals in a vehicle. On his approach to the car he noticed furtive movement as though they were hiding something. Upon further examination two of the individuals were found to be in possession of marijuana and paraphernalia and were arrested for Prohibited Acts in a State Boat Launch and narcotics charges, while the other two were issued infractions for Prohibited Acts.
WESTERN DISTRICT
Illegal Deer Hunting
On 1/2/09, EnCon Police Officer Tate Begley received a complaint from a caller, requesting to remain anonymous, that a subject was illegally hunting on property owned by the Olmstead Water Company in New Fairfield. Officer Begley located a climbing tree stand, corn bait feeder and trail camera at the location the complainant described. On 1/10/09, DEP Emergency Dispatch received another complaint that the subject had returned and was in the tree stand. Officer Begley located the subject adjacent to the tree stand wearing camouflage. When asked about his hunting activities the subject provided a written statement that all the gear was his and that he was hunting with his bow & arrow. When asked for his current hunting license and archery deer tags the subject stated “I didn't get any this year".
The subject was arrested by Officer Begley for Illegal Deer Hunting and released on a promise to appear in court.
On 1/6/09, EnCon Police Officer Steve Stanko was advised by a complainant of a recent possible illegal deer hunting / trespassing issue on a large wooded property off of Norton Road in Berlin. The complainant stated he and his wife own 140 acres of woods north of their home and that while walking his dog in those woods that morning, he observed deer tracks with blood stains in the snow and boot prints. Officer Stanko responded to the location where he observed fresh looking deer tracks and shoe prints. The deer tracks were from a single deer. Along with those tracks there was a blood trail indicative of a wounded animal bleeding while walking or running. Officer Stanko continued following the trail directly to the rear of house in the area. Just into the wooded property behind house, Officer Stanko observed two large bait piles of fresh hay and cracked corn. The area where the bait piles were located was browsed heavily by deer and Officer Stanko observed numerous deer tracks around the area bordering the bait piles. Officer Stanko observed the same tracks and foot prints from the complainant’s property in the snow in the backyard the residence with the bait. He followed the larger tracks with the arrow head pattern directly from the woods to garage door at that residence.
Officer Stanko made contact with the owner of the home who admitted to shooting a four point buck with his compound bow from the back porch of the residence. The subject said he has been an avid hunter and was always been legal but that he just got overly excited when he saw a deer feeding at the bait he leaves out for them in the back of the yard. Officer Stanko arrested the subject for Hunting deer over bait; Hunting deer out of season; Simple Trespass and Sunday Hunting.
__________________
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
Captain Raul Camejo
raul.camejo@po.state.ct.us
Hunting Related Shooting Investigation
On 1/24/09, EnCon Police Sgt. Healy and Officer Lindo were dispatched to Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London for a report of two men with gunshot wounds to their hands sustained in a hunting related shooting. Upon arriving at the hospital, the officers found one of the men being treated for a gunshot wound to the hand and the other a minor laceration to his finger. The men stated that they were hunting geese in the Pattagansett River in East Lyme from a canoe. While firing at several geese that were flying overhead, the canoe capsized and the two men fell into the water. As the canoe was capsizing, one of the shotguns discharged, striking one of the hunters in the hand. The hunters waded to shore and drove themselves to the hospital. Officer Dean Wojcik, who recently attended hunting accident investigation training, was dispatched to the hospital to assist with the investigation, which is ongoing.
Evading Accident Arrest
On 1/26/09, EnCon Police Officer Esteban served an arrest warrant on a subject wanted in connection with an evading motor vehicle accident that occurred at West Rock State Park in September of 2008. On 9/19/08, the principal from the Dixwell New Light High School suffered severe injuries when he was struck by a motor vehicle while walking in the park. The vehicle that struck him fled the scene. Witnesses gave a description of the vehicle and a partial marker plate. After an extensive investigation, Officer Esteban was able to ascertain the identity of the driver of the vehicle. A warrant was prepared and submitted by Officer Esteban then served on 1/26/09. The subject was charged with Assault in the second degree, Reckless Endangerment, Reckless Driving, Evading Responsibility, Operating with a Suspended License and Operating a Motor Vehicle without Insurance. The subject is scheduled to appear in New Haven Court in February.
EASTERN DISTRICT
Illegal Deer Hunting Arrests
On 1/25/09, EnCon Police Sgt. Zabilansky and Officer Wojcik were working on a complaint of an illegally killed deer in Lebanon. Officer Wojcik back tracked the suspect’s tracks and deer’s blood trail approximately 2.5 miles to the scene of the crime where he encountered the homeowner exiting his residence with knife in hand ready to butcher the deer. The deer had been killed the previous day out of season, over bait and was picked up by the suspect in the neighborhood where the blood trail ended. The suspect was arrested and his compound bow, the suspect weapon, and a large automatic feeder that was loaded with corn were confiscated with the deer.
On 1/23/09, EnCon Police Officer Pyznar was called to a complaint of a possible illegally killed 10 point Buck in East Hartford. He back tracked the suspect’s tracks and deer’s blood trail leading to the rear of a house that backed up to Pratt and Whitney property. Through investigation and interviews, Officer Pyznar was able to develop enough information to arrest a suspect who had been arrested three times in the past for similar offenses. The deer was shot with a crossbow, from a stepladder, over a chain link fence, out of season, without tags, without consent and over bait. The suspect’s crossbow and deer were confiscated.
Trespass Arrests
On 1/3/09 Officer Myers was patrolling in the town of Lebanon and arrested two rabbit hunters for trespass who did not have permission from the landowner. That same day Officer Johnson was investigating a complaint in Andover and arrested an individual for trespass charges related to illegal deer hunting.
Illegal Fishing
In January, EnCon Police Officers were busy on numerous bodies of water throughout the Eastern District issuing infractions and written warnings for Sport fishing without a license, Failure to carry license and gear violations for ice fishing. Water bodies included but were not limited to Gardner Lake-Salem, Lake Pocotopaug-East Hampton, Crystal Lake-Ellington, Thames River-Norwich and Black Pond-Middlefield.
On 1/25/09, EnCon Police Sgt. Zabilansky and Officer Wojcik were leaving the Eastern District evidence lockup after processing items from an illegal deer arrest in Lebanon when they observed a vehicle, with the operator slumped in the seat, parked in front of the District Headquarters in Marlborough, partially in the driveway and partially in the travel lane of Route 66. When asked what he was doing, the driver stated he was “dropping off a buddy”, only to look around to discover he was alone in the car. Upon further examination they were able to determine that the operator had been ice fishing and was possibly intoxicated. Though the suspect couldn’t remember where he had been fishing he was willing to display his “catch” to the officers and proudly showed off his 16” Walleye, which is under the legal limit of 18” along with the numerous empty beer cans that were in the cooler. The suspect was arrested and transported to Connecticut State Police Troop K in Colchester where he was processed for Driving under the Influence and Illegal Possession of Walleye. Intoxilyzer results revealed the suspect to be almost two times over the legal limit for alcohol.
Untimely Death
On 1/5/09, numerous EnCon Police Officers were summoned to Voluntown by Connecticut State Police where they were involved in the search and recovery of an elderly woman’s body that had allegedly been murdered and dumped in Pachaug State Forest. The suspect, the son of the victim, had been hospitalized after a failed attempt to commit suicide by dousing his residence with gasoline and igniting the house. He was blown out of the house when it exploded and fled the scene in a vehicle that subsequently crashed. The suicide note that was left in the mailbox divulged the location of the murder victim in Pachaug State Forest. A search by Officers led to the victim’s body as described in the note. The suspect was arrested for arson charges that day, and subsequent investigation led to arrest at a later date by warrant for the murder charge.
Search and Rescue
On 1/17/09, EnCon Police Officers Dwyer, Arsenault and Wojcik were called to Meshomasic State Forest in East Hampton to conduct a search and rescue of a New Hampshire resident who became lost when hiking in the forest. The 62 year old victim was found unharmed well after dark after EnCon Officers and a Connecticut State Trooper with K-9 entered the State forest and located him.
Narcotics Arrest
On 1/16/09, EnCon Police Officer Johnson was patrolling Little Pond in Thompson when he encountered four individuals in a vehicle. On his approach to the car he noticed furtive movement as though they were hiding something. Upon further examination two of the individuals were found to be in possession of marijuana and paraphernalia and were arrested for Prohibited Acts in a State Boat Launch and narcotics charges, while the other two were issued infractions for Prohibited Acts.
WESTERN DISTRICT
Illegal Deer Hunting
On 1/2/09, EnCon Police Officer Tate Begley received a complaint from a caller, requesting to remain anonymous, that a subject was illegally hunting on property owned by the Olmstead Water Company in New Fairfield. Officer Begley located a climbing tree stand, corn bait feeder and trail camera at the location the complainant described. On 1/10/09, DEP Emergency Dispatch received another complaint that the subject had returned and was in the tree stand. Officer Begley located the subject adjacent to the tree stand wearing camouflage. When asked about his hunting activities the subject provided a written statement that all the gear was his and that he was hunting with his bow & arrow. When asked for his current hunting license and archery deer tags the subject stated “I didn't get any this year".
The subject was arrested by Officer Begley for Illegal Deer Hunting and released on a promise to appear in court.
On 1/6/09, EnCon Police Officer Steve Stanko was advised by a complainant of a recent possible illegal deer hunting / trespassing issue on a large wooded property off of Norton Road in Berlin. The complainant stated he and his wife own 140 acres of woods north of their home and that while walking his dog in those woods that morning, he observed deer tracks with blood stains in the snow and boot prints. Officer Stanko responded to the location where he observed fresh looking deer tracks and shoe prints. The deer tracks were from a single deer. Along with those tracks there was a blood trail indicative of a wounded animal bleeding while walking or running. Officer Stanko continued following the trail directly to the rear of house in the area. Just into the wooded property behind house, Officer Stanko observed two large bait piles of fresh hay and cracked corn. The area where the bait piles were located was browsed heavily by deer and Officer Stanko observed numerous deer tracks around the area bordering the bait piles. Officer Stanko observed the same tracks and foot prints from the complainant’s property in the snow in the backyard the residence with the bait. He followed the larger tracks with the arrow head pattern directly from the woods to garage door at that residence.
Officer Stanko made contact with the owner of the home who admitted to shooting a four point buck with his compound bow from the back porch of the residence. The subject said he has been an avid hunter and was always been legal but that he just got overly excited when he saw a deer feeding at the bait he leaves out for them in the back of the yard. Officer Stanko arrested the subject for Hunting deer over bait; Hunting deer out of season; Simple Trespass and Sunday Hunting.
__________________
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
Captain Raul Camejo
raul.camejo@po.state.ct.us