The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer.
12/25/2021-1/8/2022
DISTRICT 1
Conservation Officer (CO) Zach Painter was on patrol in Gogebic County and conducted a traffic stop on a motor vehicle. Immediately upon contact with the operator of the vehicle, CO Painter observed several signs of intoxication. CO Painter conducted standard field sobriety tests (SFSTs) on the operator. The operator was placed under arrest for operating while intoxicated (OWI) with a high blood alcohol content.
CO Byron Parks was working a snowmobile patrol at a trail intersection in Gogebic County when a couple of snowmobiles on the trail could be heard approaching him. The first snowmobile to reach the intersection stopped at the stop sign and proceeded down the trail. Seconds later, the other snowmobiler approached the intersection and proceeded to drive right through the stop sign. CO Parks was able to catch the second snowmobiler before he crossed the highway at the next intersection and initiated a stop. The subject admitted he saw the stop sign and that he just didn’t stop. CO Parks issued the subject a citation for careless operation of a snowmobile.
COs Alex VanWagner and Phil Helminen observed a permanent ice shanty on a lake in Iron County with five tip-ups surrounding it. The COs approached the shanty and there was only one angler in it. The subject admitted all five tip-ups were his and he was issued a citation for fishing with too many lines.
CO Anna Viau was dispatched to conduct a wellbeing check in Iron County. The man’s family members had not heard from him for several days and his neighbors had not seen him in about the same amount of time. Several inches of snow had not been cleared from the driveway and porch. CO Viau was unable to contact the man, and all doors and windows were locked. Based on the circumstances, CO Viau, and a Michigan State Police (MSP) trooper forced entry into the home. Unfortunately, the man was found deceased.
CO Jeffrey Dell observed a man walking on a river in Menominee County while pulling an ice fishing sled. CO Dell observed a single truck, with a female occupant, parked at a nearby boat launch where the man had walked from. When he contacted the female, she stated that she was not with anyone and that the officer must have seen a stump or something. As it was apparent the female was being dishonest, CO Dell decided the man on the river might be worth watching, so he drove away and accessed the river from a different location. CO Dell observed the lone male bait and set five tip-ups and fish over a 2-hour period. The man then left the tip-ups and began walking back to the boat launch, approximately one mile away. CO Dell stopped the man before reaching the launch. The man stated he was going to get his daughter, who had gone to get bait with his mother. CO Dell noted that the man didn’t seem to have a bait problem as he had put out 5 tip-ups, and that two hours was a long time to take to get bait. A check of the man’s priors showed he had been cited for fishing with too many lines the previous year. CO Dell issued a citation for fishing with too many lines. The man was given a warning for leaving the lines unattended.
CO Phil Helminen was checking anglers ice fishing on Lake Antoine in Dickinson County. CO Helminen observed two anglers passing a fishing rod back and forth over a hole in the ice. CO Helminen contacted the two anglers, whom had both recently had birthdays and turned 17. Both anglers stated that they had not purchased a license after turning 17 as they had never bought one before and where unsure on the age requirement. Both individuals purchased license on their phones and were given a warning for fishing without a license.
COs Jeremy Sergey, Cody Smith and Detective Josh Boudreaux assisted local children with holiday shopping during Marquette’s “Shop with a Cop” event.
CO Cody Smith was starting his patrol when he was informed by Report All Poaching (RAP) dispatchers of an injured bald eagle. CO Smith reached out to the complainants by telephone as he patrolled to their residence. Upon arrival to the residence, CO Smith gathered the eagle from a dog crate the complainant had placed it in. The complainant stated that they found it laying on its back in their yard, which is on the shore of Lake Superior. CO Smith transported the juvenile eagle to U.P. Wildlife Rehabilitation for assessment and care. The eagle was given fluids and pain medication upon intake. An exam was performed, and the eagle appears to have internal damage affecting one of its legs. Care will be provided by the rehab group and rehabilitation will be attempted if the injuries are non-life threatening. It is assumed the bird was disoriented in the high winds and blowing snow and struck a tree in the complainant’s yard causing the injuries.
Sergeant (Sgt.) Mark Leadman was conducting a stationary radar patrol on the snowmobile trail in Chocolay Township. The trail is well posted with a 35 miles per hour (mph) speed limit for a seven mile stretch through a heavy residential area. Sgt. Leadman stopped a snowmobile travelling at 61 mph and asked if they had observed the speed limit signs. The operator stated they saw the signs but thought that it was meant for other traffic. They also stated they were trying to catch up with the rest of their group. The operator was advised that snowmobiles are required to follow all posted speed limits on roadways, but this trail was for snowmobiles only and the signs were specific to snowmobiles. The subject was issued a citation for speeding, 61mph in a posted 35 mph zone.
DISTRICT 2
CO Colton Gelinas was patrolling western Mackinac County when he observed a truck with two occupants exiting state land after shooting hours. A traffic stop was made, and he observed four fresh quarters of a deer, two backstraps, two hearts, and another freshly killed doe with no tag on it in the bed of the truck. Ultimately, CO Gelinas is requesting charges for taking deer closed season, destroy the identity of sex of a deer and failing to immediately attach/validate kill-tag. The quartered deer and rifle were seized.
COs Cole VanOosten, Justin Vinson, Michael Oleson, Brandon Maki, and Sgt. Calvin Smith performed a snowmobile patrol and sound meter testing in the Tahquamenon Falls area. The COs issued 10 citations for multiple violations consisting of exceeding noise level limits, operating a snowmobile with expired registration, and for failing to attach trail permits.
COs Justin Vinson and Cole VanOosten were on snowmobile patrol in Luce County when they encountered a large group of snowmobiles with several violations present. A traffic stop was initiated, and contact was made. One of the riders stated that he had just changed the body panels of his snowmobile, which is why he didn’t have registration stickers. The COs ran the vehicle identification number (VIN) on the snowmobile to determine that the snowmobile had never been registered and the operator made up the story. A citation was issued for operating an unregistered snowmobile.
CO Andrea Dani and acting Sgt. Mark Zitnik interviewed a mother and her 34-year-old son regarding borrowing of deer licenses. It was discovered that the son borrowed a deer license from his mother, who admitted she has never killed a deer. The son confessed to the same and stated he used his mother’s tag on a 5-point buck and later used his own tag on a spike-horn. A report is being submitted to the Alger County Prosecutor’s Office for loaning/borrowing a deer license and taking an over-limit of antlered deer.
CO Steve Butzin was on patrol in Delta County when a “Be on the Lookout” was issued for a vehicle traveling towards his direction. It was reported that the passenger had the driver at gunpoint while traveling through Escanaba. The call came in from a passerby who saw this occur. CO Butzin was the closest unit and in under a minute was able to locate the vehicle and began to follow at a distance. Once an additional unit was able to arrive, CO Butzin conducted a felony traffic stop on the vehicle. Once the passengers were ordered out of the vehicle it was found that they were four juveniles who thought it would be funny to hold an airsoft gun to the driver’s head allowing others to see. The airsoft gun did not have an orange plastic tip and at a distance did appear to be a real handgun. The juveniles were well educated on the seriousness of this incident and how a situation like this could have ended tragically. The incident was turned over to the MSP, who were able to contact the parents of the involved juveniles. Agencies involved included the MSP and Gladstone Public Safety.
CO Steve Butzin was conducting follow up from this past deer season when he encountered several violations which led to two separate cases. These violations involved four different individuals taking a total of six deer without licenses, loaning and borrowing licenses, taking an over-limit of bucks, as well as using a rifle to take deer during muzzleloader season. Reports have been submitted to the 94th District Court of Delta County pending charges. If convicted these individuals could face a total of $15,000.00 worth of reimbursement to the state.
CO Mike Evink was working an area of state highway in reference to local complaints of snowmobile trespassing and highway operation. Within ten minutes CO Evink encountered a snowmobile operating on the plowed portion of the state highway. CO Evink conducted a traffic stop on the snowmobile. The operator had failed to register the sled, had no trail permit, and was operating on the highway. He was given a ticket for the trail permit and warned for other violations.
DISTRICT 3
CO Nathan Beelman was checking snowmobilers in Charlevoix County when he observed a snowmobile operating towards his location. CO Beelman observed that the trail permit was expired on the front of the snowmobile and signaled for the operator to stop. The snowmobile came to a stop and CO Beelman noticed that the registration on the snowmobile was also expired and what looked like an expired snowmobile trail permit was a fall turkey license from 2020. It was also discovered that the subject failed to transfer the snowmobile into his name after purchasing the snowmobile over a year ago. CO Beelman ticketed the subject for failing to obtain a snowmobile trail permit.
CO Nathan Beelman assisted the Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Department with a suicidal subject who was believed to have left his residence and entered a wooded area with a knife. CO Beelman assisted deputies from Emmet and Charlevoix Counties and MSP troopers with securing the area and searching for the subject. The subject was later found in a nearby wooded area and was taken into protective custody for a mental evaluation. CO Beelman later assisted with securing witness statements and returning the female victim to her residence after it was discovered that the male had assaulted her prior to fleeing the residence and entering the wooded area.
CO Kyle Cherry was on patrol in Otsego County when central dispatch advised of a personal injury rollover accident with people trapped inside the car on I-75. CO Cherry responded, along with the MSP, fire, and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. Crews were able to successfully cut the subjects out of the vehicle. Only minor injuries were sustained.
CO Tim Rosochacki was the first on scene to an EMS call for a female who had overdosed on prescription pills. CO Rosochacki monitored the female’s medical state until EMS arrived on scene and took the subject to the hospital.
CO Tom Oberg conducted two separate interviews after inspecting deer and deer tags at a local processor. During the interviews, CO Oberg questioned the subjects about the date and time they shot the deer. It was found that both subjects shot a deer and then bought a deer license after the fact. CO Oberg seized evidence for both illegally taken deer, and reports were compiled and submitted to the Otsego County Prosecutor’s Office requesting charges.
CO Tom Oberg received a complaint from a landowner who located foot tracks and a blood trail on his property. CO Oberg responded to the area and followed the foot tracks and blood trail to a hunting blind located on another property. A hunter was in the blind when CO Oberg approached it. CO Oberg questioned the hunter about the trespass who denied the trespassing and stated he never shot a deer. After CO Oberg explained to the hunter that he followed the footprints and blood trail directly to his blind, the subject confessed to CO Oberg for the trespassing and admitted to tracking a deer he shot onto the private property. A report was compiled and submitted to the Otsego County Prosecutor’s Office requesting charges for recreational trespass.
CO Paul Fox received a complaint of turkeys being intentionally run over by a motor vehicle near Onaway. CO Fox responded to the area and contacted the complainant. Evidence on-scene confirmed that a vehicle had in fact run over several turkeys. No turkey carcasses remained on scene, and it was believed they had been removed by the suspect. Several leads have developed, and the investigation is ongoing.
CO Dan Liestenfeltz was conducting late night ice fishing checks on Fletchers Pond in Alpena County. Upon checking one of the groups, it was determined that two subjects did not have fishing licenses and one of the subjects was in possession of a 17-inch largemouth bass. Bass season is closed at this time. CO Liestenfeltz issued one of the subjects a ticket for fishing without a license and the other was issued a ticket for possessing the bass out of season.
CO Dan Liestenfeltz was patrolling Albert Township in Montmorency County when he observed a vehicle approach an intersection and began to drift and do rapid accelerations causing the driver to lose control of his vehicle. CO Liestenfeltz initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and when talking to the driver, CO Liestenfeltz determined that the driver had been drinking. After putting the subject through SFSTs, the driver was determined to be intoxicated. The driver refused the preliminary breath test. CO Liestenfeltz arrested the subject for OWI. After the subject was lodged, it was determined that the driver was almost two times the legal limit.
DISTRICT 4
CO William Kinney responded to a complaint on Old Mission Peninsula in Grand Traverse County. The complainant had two bucks that were locked together by the antlers in a wood lot next to the house. At first, it was reported that the deer just appeared to be fighting. It was later discovered that the deer were locked together by the antlers with a bound-up piece of netting material. With the assistance from the Traverse City wildlife staff, the deer were able to be secured long enough for the material to be cut away. Both deer were set free and appeared fine.
CO Richard Stowe was following a vehicle through state land in Grand Traverse County when the vehicle became stuck in a deep water/mud hole. While trying to assist the subjects and positively identify them, the subjects fled the scene on foot. They continued in a direction of a county patrol unit that CO Stowe had requested and directed to the rural location. A female subject was taken into custody on a felony warrant and the male subject was pursued with the use of a police K-9 unit but was not apprehended. It was later found that the male subject had warrants as well.
CO Josiah Killingbeck responded to a report of a snowmobile crash where the operator had been injured. CO Killingbeck determined that the injured person had been taken to a nearby residence where the 911 call was made. CO Killingbeck rendered first aid until EMS arrived. The subject was later airlifted to a downstate hospital. CO Killingbeck located the accident scene and it appeared speed was a factor in the accident.
While on patrol, CO Josiah Killingbeck observed a snowmobile operating at a high rate of speed in the center of the roadway through a residential area. CO Killingbeck attempted to catch up to the snowmobile and began thinking that the snowmobile may attempt to flee. Suddenly the operator of the snowmobile attempted to stop and turn onto another road and rolled the snowmobile. CO Killingbeck contacted the driver and checked for injuries. The driver and passenger denied any injuries and said they were just “out for a quick ride.” The subject admitted to operating at speeds over 70 mph on the roadway. The subject asked CO Killingbeck if a trail permit was needed to operate on the roadways. CO Killingbeck educated the subject on snowmobile regulations and the subject was cited for the violations.
CO Tim Barboza responded to a personal injury accident on a snowmobile trail where the operator suffered a compound fracture of his leg. The injured operator was transported off the trail in a sled to awaiting EMS.
CO Tim Barboza heard a call come out from dispatch of shots fired and with one victim hit. CO Barboza responded with the Newaygo County Sheriff's Department and MSP. While enroute, dispatch updated that a father had shot his 38-year-old son in the back. It was believed that someone had taken the weapon from him. When CO Barboza arrived, the father had been handcuffed and placed in a patrol car while a deputy was attempting life saving measures on the victim. CO Barboza hooked his Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to the victim which advised for no shock. CO Barboza, two deputies, and a trooper all worked on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and assisting in breathes with a bag valve mask for 30 minutes until the victim was deemed deceased. The father was taken to the Newaygo County Jail on homicide charges and outstanding warrants.
DISTRICT 5
COs Brad Bellville, Craig Neal, and Kyle Bader participated in the annual Ogemaw County “Shop with a Hero” event at Walmart in West Branch on December 15th. Over 120 kids from around the area got to go Christmas shopping with a first responder that evening.
COs Tyler Sabuda and Jon Warner participated in the annual “Shop with a Hero” event in Iosco County. The event took place at the Tawas City Walmart. Iosco County children were able to go Christmas shopping with local first responders.
COs Tyler Sabuda and Jesse Grzechowski responded to a complaint of an individual possibly hunting after hours between Alcona and Iosco Counties. The COs located a couple individuals in the woods tracking a deer. One of the individuals was known to have a warrant. Contact was made with the individuals after they were unable to recover the deer. The individual was arrested on the warrant and lodged in the Iosco County Jail.
COs James Garrett, Breanna Reed and Jeremy Cantrell responded to a snowmobile on fire complaint on Houghton Lake in Roscommon County. The snowmobile was fully engulfed in flames upon their arrival. The COs located the owner of the snowmobile and ensured there was no medical attention needed. The COs assisted with transporting Lake Township firefighters out onto the lake to extinguish the fire.
CO Breanna Reed assisted the Missaukee County Sheriff’s Department with the removal of around 40 dogs from a residence in Missaukee County. The Sheriff’s Department is investigating an animal abuse/neglect case.
DISTRICT 6
CO Adam Beuthin received a complaint of an individual hunting over bait in Midland County. When the CO arrived at the residence of the suspect, he walked behind the residence and was able to contact an individual hunting over a bait pile of corn with a crossbow. When asked about the baiting laws for deer, the individual told the CO he knew it was illegal to hunt deer over a bait pile this year. Enforcement action was taken, and the individual was issued a citation for hunting deer by the aid of bait.
CO Seth Rhodea patrolled the Shiawassee River State Game Area during the south zone waterfowl split season. During the patrol, most hunters were found to be legal with only a few minor violations located that were addressed with verbal warnings. One group of hunters that was contacted was found to have one or more violations from every member of the group. Two hunters were found to be using/possessing more than the allowed 25 rounds of ammunition, two hunters were unable to show CO Rhodea the proper hunting licenses when requested and one hunter did not have a personal floatation device (PFD) with him on his canoe. Enforcement action was taken for the violations.
CO Joshua Wright received a complaint regarding a suspect shooting a deer in Tuscola County after deer season was closed. The complaint stated that the suspect was a convicted felon and shot the deer with a firearm. CO Wright confirmed the suspect was a convicted felon and with the assistance of the MSP contacted the suspect at his residence. When contact was made, the suspect was willing to show the officers around the residence to prove that there was not any deer there. CO Wright spent some time alone talking to the suspect. Eventually the suspect admitted that he had shot a doe after the season with a firearm and that the deer along with the firearm were at his dad’s house next door. Evidence was seized and charges will be requested through the Tuscola County Prosecutor’s Office.
While on snowmobile patrol, COs Adam Schiller and Dan Robinson observed an individual on a quad operating in an area closed to ORVs. The COs activated their emergency lights and attempted to catch up to the individual on their snowmobiles. The operator of the quad was driving down a narrow trail at a high rate of speed. When the trail opened up, CO Schiller was able to get in front of the operator of the quad and got him to stop. The suspect stated he did not know the COs were behind him. When asked about operating in the closed area the suspect stated he did not see the signs posted at the beginning of the trail stating it is closed. The suspect had just bought the quad and finished plowing his driveway and wanted to take it for a drive. The quad also did not have an ORV registration sticker. The individual was issued a citation for no ORV license.
DISTRICT 7
CO Matt Page received a tip of an individual walking through a field without hunter orange. CO Page arrived and walked the property in question, eventually coming to a blind just off the property line. CO Page could hear subjects talking in the blind and contacted two juveniles who stated that they were hunting and were dropped off by their dads earlier in the morning. Neither subject was wearing hunter orange, one individual did not have his kill-tags on him, and when asked if they had permission to be there stated that they did and they were, “Hunting out of a trespasser’s blind”. CO Page advised them that they were the trespassers pointing out a row of no trespassing signs that the juvenile hunters disregarded while walking off the parcel that they had permission to be on. Upon checking the hunters, CO Page observed a small amount of marijuana in the blind as well. Both individuals contacted their fathers who met CO Page at the property. The juveniles were warned for trespassing, no hunters orange, no kill-tags on their person, and possession of marijuana. The juveniles were turned over to their dads who were both issued citations for allowing youth to hunt unsupervised.
CO Sam Schluckbier was patrolling on a snowmobile in Allegan County when he came upon a traffic accident which had just occurred. A truck had lost control and went into a ditch bank. CO Schluckbier rendered medical care to the driver who suffered minor injuries. The Allegan County Sheriff’s Department and CO Justin Ulberg assisted at the accident scene. SFSTs were administered to the driver to ensure he was safe to continue driving the vehicle once out of the ditch. The driver was treated and released. While removing the vehicle from the ditch, three additional vehicles slid off the roadway due to heavy snowfall and poor road conditions. Local fire agencies assisted with traffic control. No additional injuries resulted from the accidents.
CO Anna Cullen was checking perch anglers along White Lake in Muskegon County. Before she contacted a group of anglers, she observed them with her binoculars from her patrol truck. CO Cullen noted the adults who were actively fishing. CO Cullen exited her patrol truck and entered the view of the anglers. Upon seeing her, one of the anglers grabbed their pole and put it in the back of their truck and returned to the group. CO Cullen began checking licenses and asked the angler for his. The fisherman advised they were just hanging out; they were not fishing. CO Cullen explained her observations and the fisherman admitted to fishing and could not provide a license. The same individual was given a warning the previous year for the same violation. As a result, a citation was issued for fishing without a license.
CO Casey Varriale received a complaint near Murry Lake in Kent County about a coyote hunter failing to utilize the safety zone while dispatching a coyote. During an investigation and interviews with witnesses, a hound chased a coyote through a residential community and pinned it against a fence. A hunter then walked up and shot the coyote after obtaining permission from the landowner the coyote was currently on. CO Varriale located the tracks from the chase and determined the hound chased the coyote through 11 separate properties. Due to several complaints in the past about coyote hunters in this area trespassing, CO Varriale surmised he did not have permission prior to releasing his dogs in the area to hunt coyotes, from every landowner. CO Varriale eventually located the hunter in a nearby field hunting. The hunter quickly admitted to shooting the coyote within the safety zone and stated he did not obtain permission from every landowner in the area his dogs were running on. In addition, photographs from the complainant showed he was not wearing hunter orange while he was hunting. Charges were submitted to the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office for approval.
CO Travis Dragomer investigated an ORV trespass complaint in Berrien County. The caller had trail camera pictures of a vehicle that trespassed throughout a large portion of his property. CO Dragomer was able to locate the suspect vehicle at a nearby residence and gained a full confession of the trespass. A report will be sent to the prosecutor’s office requesting a charge for ORV trespass.
DISTRICT 8
COs Ed Rice and Chris Reynolds conducted a processor inspection and uncovered a suspicious deer license purchase. The COs interviewed the individual who confessed to taking a 7-point buck without a license. A report will be submitted for charges for taking a deer without a valid license.
CO Jason McCullough and Probationary Conservation Officer (PCO) Jack Gorno conducted an interview related to a large amount of litter found at a boating access site in northern Calhoun County. The suspect admitted to being at the access site earlier in the month and dumping garbage out of a vehicle. The subject was cited for littering.
CO Jason McCullough and PCO Jack Gorno were on patrol checking waterfowl activity during the late season and contacted many hunters, issuing several warnings for unsigned duck stamp, no navigation lights, and no waterfowl license in possession. One subject contacted was rallying waterfowl with his motorboat on a local lake and in possession of a loaded shotgun in the vessel. A citation was issued.
CO John Byars received a RAP complaint about a deer that had been shot possibly from the road. The complainant confirmed that the deer had been shot in the neck approximately 15 yards from the road. Later in the day, the complainant contacted CO Byars and stated the deer was now missing. CO Byars investigated and located the suspect who took the deer. The suspect stated he did not shoot the deer but trespassed on posted property without permission and took the deer and tagged it. The deer was seized and donated and a warrant for recreational trespass charges will be sought through the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office.
COs Cullen Knoblauch and Tom Jaakkola were patrolling in Grass Lake Township when they encountered a vehicle parked on state land. The vehicle had a flat tire, and the ignition was punched. A Law Enforcement Information Network check revealed it was stolen out of Blackman Township Public Safety. The vehicle was turned over to Blackman Public Safety.
CO Cullen Knoblauch received a RAP complaint of a hunter taking a deer without a license in Blackman Township. CO Knoblauch contacted the suspect who had a doe that he had just killed, in his garage, and tagged with his 16-year-old son’s antlerless tag. The suspect had an antlerless tag of his own but decided to tag it with his son’s tag and save his tag. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Tom Jaakkola assisted the MSP with a report of a stolen car at a gas station in Jackson County. CO Jaakkola located and was able to surveil the vehicle while waiting for responding units. CO Jaakkola observed the vehicle leave the station and pull into a subdivision. CO Jaakkola initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle as it turned into a private drive. CO Jaakkola detained the female driver who was ultimately turned over to the MSP upon their arrival.
COs Cullen Knoblauch and Tom Jaakkola contacted a trapper checking his trap line while carrying a firearm without wearing hunter orange. Further investigation determined that none of the subject’s traps were tagged. The subject was cited for no hunter orange and a verbal warning for untagged traps.
COs Cullen Knoblauch and Tom Jaakkola conducted a taxidermy inspection in Jackson County locating a possible unlawfully taken deer. A suspect was interviewed who admitted that he shot the deer but could not find it during the late evening on October 17th, 2019. The suspect stated he went out the next day and finally located the dead 8-point buck. The suspect realized he didn’t have a deer hunting license and purchased his license the next day. The 8-point shoulder mount was seized, and a report will be forwarded to the prosecutor’s office in Livingston County for review.
CO Nick Wellman assisted the Bronson Police Department with a domestic where a woman threw a Christmas tree at her boyfriend.
DISTRICT 9
CO Keven Luther received an active hunting safety zone complaint from DNR Law Enforcement Division Dispatch, Station 20. CO Luther responded to the complaint, investigated the violation, and determined that the hunters were in fact hunting within the safety zones of others. One safety zone citation was issued to the only hunter that discharged his firearm; one hunt without a federal duck stamp was also issued on scene.
CO Mike Drexler received a deer carcass complaint in Lima Township where the caller reported there was some evidence left at the site. When CO Drexler arrived, he discovered the kill-tags still attached to parts at the dumpsite. CO Drexler travelled to Hillsdale County and interviewed the owner of the kill-tags who stated he gave the deer to another subject who lived in Detroit. The CO and the kill-tag owner called the subject in Detroit who admitted to having dumped the deer carcass and other animal remains on the side of the road. CO Drexler travelled to Detroit and issued a citation for the littering violation.
CO Christopher Knights got a call from the West Bloomfield Police Department that stated they had found a blood trail coming from one of their parks and it went back to a residence. CO Knights responded and walked the location and found a bait pile. After speaking with the homeowner, it turned out that a deer had been taken illegally. A report will be completed and submitted to the prosecutor’s office.
CO Justin Muehlhauser investigated a deer which was dropped off at a local taxidermist. The tag was validated prior to the purchase of the license. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the subject purchased the tag as a replacement. However, statements made to the taxidermist suggested that the deer was shot with a firearm during the late archery season. An interview with the subject confirmed the CO’s suspicion that the deer was shot with a firearm during the late archery season. The tag was validated for the last day of muzzleloader season as the subject was trying to make it look legal. The antlers were seized, and charges are being sought through the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office.
CO Luke Robare investigated a complaint about a deer taken without a valid license in November. CO Robare interviewed the suspect and they admitted to not having a valid deer license when they shot the deer. CO Robare will be seeking charges through the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office.
CO Joseph Deppen followed up on a possible illegal deer taken earlier in the season. CO Deppen arrived at the suspect’s residence and interviewed him about the deer. The suspect confessed to shooting the 8-point buck while possessing only an antlerless tag. The suspect said, “I never see bucks out here, I passed on a few does, saw him, got excited and shot him dead.” CO Deppen seized the rack, meat, and firearm. Charges will be sought through the prosecutor’s office.
CO Joseph Deppen got the ballistics report back regarding a bullet striking a house near a game area. The casing found at the scene is a match with the casings fired from the gun, but the bullet itself was inconclusive. The suspect is being charged with reckless discharge of a firearm, failure to wear hunter orange, and hunting without a base license. A court date is set for later this year.
CO Bob Watson received a complaint from the county sheriff’s office of a vehicle which had gone off the road on January 4th and had an untagged 4-point buck inside the vehicle which appeared to be recently shot with a firearm. CO Watson seized the deer and confirmed it had recently been shot with a firearm. The driver of the vehicle had left in an ambulance and CO Watson was unable to contact him that day. CO Watson contacted the suspect at his residence on January 7th and obtained a confession that the man had used a 12-gauge shotgun to kill the deer days prior and had failed to tag the animal. The man claimed that he had wounded the deer with a crossbow in late December and had observed it limping around his house for days. Finally, the man decided to dispatch the deer by shooting it with a 12-gauge slug. The man stated he was able to shoot the deer in the same exact entry hole which he had made with his crossbow days prior so no evidence of a legal attempt to take with archery equipment would be visible. The deer was donated to a local charity, the firearm was seized, and a report is being generated for submission to the county prosecutor for review.
COs Jaime Salisbury and Raymond Gardner responded to a snowmobile accident that occurred deep in the woods on private property. Using their patrol trucks, the COs transported EMS personnel from the road back to the accident scene. The COs assisted with getting the subject on a backboard and then placed him in the back of the patrol truck. The COs transported the subject out of the woods and back to the waiting EMS rig. The person involved in the accident is currently in severe but stable condition with a positive prognosis. Had the COs not been able to assist, it would have taken much longer to get the subject out of the woods and to the help he needed.
CO Nicholas Ingersoll was patrolling Whiteford Township in Monroe County for late season deer hunting activity. CO Ingersoll contacted two hunters and one of those hunters was not wearing hunter orange. CO Ingersoll spoke with the hunters for several minutes and through conversation CO Ingersoll was able to determine the hunters had a bait pile approximately 30 yards in front of their blind which was freshly covered with snow. CO Ingersoll spoke with the hunters, and it was determined that one of them had placed bait out prior to them hunting to bring the deer into their small parcel of land. The hunter who owned the land admitted to placing bait out. The hunter cleaned up the bait pile while CO Ingersoll issued him a citation for hunting over bait and warned him for his hunter orange violation.
COs Nicholas Ingersoll and Brandon Vacek conducted a patrol at Sterling State Park checking for late season waterfowl activity. The COs contacted two individuals finishing up a morning’s hunt and while checking the hunter’s equipment, it was determined that one of the hunters had a shotgun that could hold more than three shells. The hunter was cited for the violation.
COs Nicholas Ingersoll and Brandon Vacek conducted a patrol along Otter Creek checking for waterfowl hunting activity. The COs contacted one vessel that did not have any navigation lights, well after dark. The COs spoke with the operator of the vessel who advised that his navigation lights were frozen, and he was unable to use them. After a check was conducted of the vessel it was also determined that the two available PFDs were frozen to the floor of the vessel, and they did not possess enough PFDs for the number of occupants. CO Ingersoll advised the operator of the importance at maintaining his equipment and issued him a citation for failure to provide enough PFDs and warned him for not having navigation lights while underway.
COs Nicholas Ingersoll and Brandon Vacek were patrolling Erie Township checking for waterfowl activity when they observed a four-wheeler traveling down the roadway. Once the operator of the four-wheeler observed the COs conduct a U-turn, the operator turned into a local field. CO Ingersoll knew the field well and patrolled to the other side of the field where it comes out onto a nearby roadway. The COs conducted a traffic stop on the four-wheeler and asked him if he had permission to operate in the field, he was driving in. The driver stated that he did not and once he saw the COs, he did not want to be on the roadway and attempted to play it off as he was just driving through the fields. The COs advised the rider honesty goes a long way with an officer and that he should not trespass on another’s property without permission. The driver was issued a citation for not having an ORV license and warned for trespassing and operating an ORV on the public roadway.
COs Andrew Monnich and Eric Smither worked a patrol for coyote hunting activity in southern Lenawee County. The COs were able to watch a large group of hunters along US 127. After watching for a few hours, the COs spotted a coyote running across a field along the interstate. The COs also observed a truck pull down the road the coyote was heading to. The COs were able to follow the truck and as the coyote ran across the road the driver stuck a shotgun out the window and fired two shots at the coyote. Contact was made with the driver who stated right away that he made a mistake, enforcement action was taken for discharging a firearm out of a vehicle and loaded/uncased firearm in a motor vehicle.
CO Keven Luther responded to a vehicle collision while patrolling Belle Isle State Park. COs Luther and Danny Walzak extracted the injured occupant from the vehicle, deployed an AED and began CPR, just before the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. COs Walzak and Luther continued to render aid until Detroit Fire and EMS arrived on scene. The male subject was transported to a local hospital.
CO Bob Watson had a Belle Isle shift and received a complaint of a Jeep Wrangler off-roading on the north end of the island and operating in an unauthorized area for motor vehicles. COs Watson and Brad Silorey responded and located the Jeep. Two subjects were inside the Jeep, and when CO Watson asked what they were doing in the area, the driver stated he was just “Enjoying the view and being free”. CO Watson explained to the man that he could not drive in this area of the park, which is why there are no roads. The man briefly argued that there was not proper signage or fencing to notify the public it was a closed area. CO Watson issued a citation for no recreational passport and a citation for operating a motor vehicle in an unauthorized area. While escorting the Jeep out of the closed area, the two COs observed the Jeep’s original point of entry and evidence showed that the man had exited his vehicle, moved two large orange road barrels that were being used to block the public’s entry into the area, driven into the closed area, and then replaced the orange road barrels behind him to hide the fact that he had entered the area.
GREAT LAKES ENFORCEMENT UNIT (GLEU)
Cpl. Kevin Postma conducted a minnow inspection at Dan’s Resort. Numerous questions about registering for fishing tournaments were also answered.
Cpl. Nick Atkin conducted a net patrol to Oscoda. During the patrol he found that all the fisherman in that area appear to have pulled out for the season. He will continue to monitor the area for activity.
Cpl. Mike Hammill collected tip ups on Bay de Noc that had been frozen into the lake. A suspect has been identified, and follow-up continues.
Acting Lt. Nick Torsky and Cpl. Kevin Postma, along with other LED staff and state employees from other departments and divisions, completed the Fit Leader’s Program. This virtual leadership training occurred intermittently over the last four months.