DISTRICT 1
Conservation Officer (CO) Jenni Hanson was requested to present at a youth police academy hosted by the Michigan State Police (MSP). CO Hanson gave a presentation on the job of being a conservation officer and how the various patrol tactics differ from general law enforcement.
CO Phil Helminen was on marine patrol when he contacted three men fishing in a boat. The men stated they were not having much luck catching any fish that day. When asked to see their fishing licenses, two of them stated that they did not have a fishing license and have not gotten one in the past few years. A check of their purchase history showed they had not purchased licenses in several years. Both men were cited for not having a fishing license.
COs Anna Viau and Jenni Hanson taught a Beyond Becoming an Outdoors Woman class called Self-Confidence in Marquette County. The COs provided the women with safety considerations for going on outdoor adventures alone or in small groups. The women also learned some basic self-defense moves and they had a great time practicing their new skills on “BOB,” the human-like punching bag.
CO Cody Smith was patrolling Keweenaw Bay when he approached a vessel trolling. CO Smith came along-side the vessel to check for fishing licenses, fish, and general marine safety requirements. After checking the basics, CO Smith asked the anglers if they had anyone else on the vessel. The reason for asking was he observed three people with 11 lines in the water. The owner of the vessel stated it was just the three of them. CO Smith asked how many lines they had out to which the owner stated nine. Both CO Smith and the vessel owner looked back and counted 11. CO Smith observed the anglers as they reeled each line in before stopping their vessel to complete a more detailed check of the vessel. Enforcement action was taken, and a citation was issued to the boat operator for fishing with greater than three lines per person.
CO Jackson Kelly and Sergeant (Sgt.) Mark Leadman responded to a report of seven cords of wood taken from a completed job site in Marquette County. A local resident had inquired about the wood but had not been given permission to take it. As the COs travelled to that suspect’s residence, they located him operating an off-road vehicle (ORV) on state land. The subject was not wearing a helmet and was operating off the roadway through a red pine plantation and running over numerous trees. When contacted, the subject had a nearly full can of beer in his hand. The subject was questioned and admitted to taking the wood. The COs followed him to his residence where the wood was located and photographed the piles of wood. Reimbursement for the wood is being worked out with the logger and ORV enforcement was taken by CO Kelly.
CO Jackson Kelly and Sgt. Mark Leadman patrolled Lake Michigamme over the 4th of July holiday weekend and contacted a high number of vessels. A father and son in a pair of kayaks were located near several islands in the middle of the lake with no personal floatation devices (PFDs). The young kayaker was given a PFD, and the pair was followed back across the lake to their starting point. The father admitted that they were farther away than he had thought and crossing the lake with all the boat traffic was difficult. A citation was issued for the lack of PFDs
DISTRICT 2
While on patrol, COs Robert Freeborn, Steve Butzin, and Corporal (Cpl.) Mike Hammill located a boat that appeared to be fishing with too many lines. As the COs got closer to the boat, the angler frantically started reeling in the extra lines. When the COs contacted the individual, he was still trying to reel in his extra lines and had two he couldn’t get in. A citation was issued for the violation.
CO Steve Butzin was on patrol when Delta County Central Dispatch sent out a call of a boater in distress on Little Bay de Noc near the Stonington Lighthouse. CO Butzin and two Delta County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the location aboard the sheriff’s department patrol boat. When they arrived, they observed that a 21-foot bass boat had flipped over in the rough water due to engine failure and the boater was sitting on top of the overturned hull of the boat. They were able to throw the individual a line and pull them to the patrol boat. The individual was unharmed in the incident. In the hours following, the officers towed the vessel back to Escanaba where the use of a tow truck from Gene’s Towing was used to keep the overturned vessel upright allowing for the water to be pumped out. In the end, the individual was thankful for the quick response, the boat was able to be recovered, and the bass that the fisherman caught was still in the live well!
COs Steve Butzin and Rob Freeborn were on patrol in the Garden Area when they observed a vehicle parked in the launch ramp at the Garden Bay boating access site. The vehicle, along with an empty trailer attached to it, had parked in a manner that made it nearly impossible for other boats to launch. This individual had also parked directly in front of a no parking sign. A citation was issued to the owner of the vehicle for entering a state recreational facility without a recreational passport and for parking in a prohibited space.
CO Justin Vinson reported a case involving two bear cubs being taken from late September 2023 was concluded. The suspect plead guilty to taking two bear cubs and paid over $7,500 in fines and restitution, lost hunting privileges for three years, and forfeiture of firearm.
CO Cole VanOosten responded to a personal injury accident on Drummond Island. An ORV had exited the roadway and hit a tree. CO VanOosten assisted the fire department with extracting the victim who suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The driver and passenger were both wearing their seatbelts, likely saving their lives.
COs Justin Vinson and Cole VanOosten were on marine patrol of Big Manistique Lake when they contacted a boat with an expired registration sticker. A safety check was conducted on the boat, and it was determined that they only had six PFDs for the nine total adults. Two men on the boat attempted to trick the COs by trying to count the same PFDs multiple times and by yelling random numbers while the COs were counting. After pushing off to write a citation, the men again held up PFDs and said they had found additional PFDs on the boat and now had enough. Upon returning with the ticket, the COs again had them count the PFDs and they still only had six PFDs for the nine adults on board. One of the men who were lying about the number of PFDs argued that they “were close enough” but the COs reiterated the importance of marine safety and having properly fitted PFDs for all members aboard. A citation was issued for failure to provide PFDs.
COs Justin Vinson and Cole VanOosten were on patrol on Big Manistique Lake when they encountered five men fishing. CO Vinson recognized the owner of the boat as the individual who had expressed concerns at a local meeting regarding the lack of CO presence on the lake and who also stated he had never been checked. Upon contact, three of the men stated they did not have fishing licenses, leaving only two licensed anglers aboard with eight lines being fished. A ticket was issued for fishing more than three lines.
CO Scott Pankow stopped a watercraft for operating in an unsafe manner. The watercraft nearly hit CO Pankow and another vessel at a high rate of speed. The owner had documented the vessel with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) but had failed to register it with the State of Michigan (SOM). The operator was cited for unreasonable speed and the owner of the boat was cited for failure to display a valid SOM registration.
COs Mike Olesen, Cpl. Todd Sumbera, and Sgt. Calvin Smith assisted with the annual Soo Locks Engineers Day in Sault Ste. Marie. The COs checked several watercraft during the event.
DISTRICT 3
COs Chad Baldwin and Nathan Beelman were conducting a marine patrol during the morning hours and foggy conditions on Lake Charlevoix. The COs observed a boat that appeared to be either drift fishing or trolling at a very slow speed. The COs saw only one angler aboard the vessel but verified the angler was fishing with at least five lines. Once the COs maneuvered closer, the angler saw them approaching and nonchalantly reeled in two lines before the COs could contact him. Once contacted, the angler stated he was not fishing with more than three lines and that he knows the law. The COs explained to the angler that they witnessed five lines in the water and observed him reeling in two lines during their approach. The angler’s response was that he only has more than three lines in the water when the depth contours change so he can reel in his deeper set lines while continuing to fish with lines shallower in the water column. The angler was cited for fishing with more than three lines.
CO Adam LeClerc was on marine patrol on Pickerel Lake when a pontoon boat pulling a tube caught his attention. After watching the pontoon for a couple minutes, it was determined that the pontoon operator was pulling the tubers without a spotter onboard. A marine stop was conducted on the boat, the operator admitted to knowing they needed a spotter and had risked it on the way to the house. The operator was given a ticket for pulling skiers without an observer.
CO Andrea Albert attended the 10th annual fishing expo held at the Elk Rapids Edward C. Grace Memorial Harbor. The event is put on by local fishing enthusiasts who just want to share their knowledge and interest in the sport of fishing. CO Albert answered numerous outdoor recreation questions and provided information on steps to slow the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS).
CO Tom Oberg responded to an ORV crash in Otsego County. CO Oberg arrived on scene along with an Otsego County Sheriff’s deputy. The operator attempted to negotiate a turn and lost control of the four-wheeler and rolled it onto its side. The four-wheeler pinned the operator onto the ground, but the other ORV operator was able to remove the four-wheeler off him. The operator sustained apparent injuries to the ribs/chest area. CO Oberg and the deputy assessed the scene and monitored the injured operator until Otsego County emergency management system (EMS) arrived on scene to conduct further medical attention. The operator was transported by EMS to Otsego Memorial Hospital for treatment.
CO Kyle Cherry was on patrol in Otsego County when a call came out through dispatch of an in progress domestic violence incident. Dispatch advised a female subject was attempting to get away from a male subject. CO Cherry was nearby and arrived first on scene. CO Cherry was able to separate the parties and get the children safely to his patrol vehicle. CO Cherry assisted the Otsego County deputies with the investigation. A male subject was arrested and lodged by the Otsego County deputies.
CO Matt Theunick was patrolling Burt Lake over the weekend. CO Theunick observed a jet ski operator who was towing three people on a tube. There was no observer on the jet ski. Enforcement action was taken.
COs Alex Bourgeois and Jon Sheppard spoke at a local hunter safety class at the Alpena County Sportsmen’s Club. The COs discussed hunting and safety regulations as well as the duties of a CO. Afterwards, the COs stayed and answered various questions from the participants.
CO Alex Bourgeois received a report of a subject who was reportedly a felon in possession of firearms. The subject’s felony charges came from out of state. After several weeks of follow-up and investigations, CO Bourgeois was able to determine where the subject was living and location of the firearms. In addition, the subject was also believed to be in possession of captive wildlife without a permit. CO Bourgeois obtained a search warrant to search the subject’s residence. CO Jon Sheppard and Sgt. Paul Fox assisted CO Bourgeois in serving the warrant. During the search, CO Bourgeois and Sgt. Fox found several firearms and large amounts of ammunition. The man was arrested and taken to the Alpena County Sheriff’s Department to be lodged.
CO Alex Bourgeois conducted a marine patrol out on Thunder Bay with the USCG. During the patrol, the officers spotted a boat towing a tube with no spotter on it. The USCG initiated a stop on the boat and explained why they had stopped them. The operator of the boat stated that he knew he needed a spotter but did not want to wait for his spotter to get back to the boat before they started tubing again. CO Bourgeois issued the operator a ticket for towing without a spotter.
COs Alex Bourgeois, Jon Sheppard, and Sgt. Paul Fox conducted a marine patrol on Grand Lake for the fireworks show. The COs were watching the fireworks when CO Bourgeois observed a boat driving across the lake without a stern navigation light on. COs Bourgeois and Sheppard initiated a stop on the boat and advised them why they were being stopped. During the investigation it was discovered that the operator of the boat was intoxicated. CO Bourgeois conducted sobriety tests on the operator and determined the subject was operating while intoxicated (OWI). The subject was arrested for OWI and lodged at the Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Department.
COs Dan Liestenfeltz and Sidney LaLonde were patrolling the Lewiston area in Montmorency County after dark when they observed a side-by-side ORV traveling down a roadway without any rear lights. The COs initiated a traffic stop on the ORV and immediately observed signs of intoxication. The COs conducted standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs) which were not passed. The operator had a preliminary breath test reading of .118 and had admitted to still drinking just prior to the stop. The COs placed the subject in custody without issue, completed the breath chemical test, and lodged them where they were charged with OWI.
COs Sidney LaLonde and Dan Liestenfeltz were called to a search and rescue of a person calling for help near a river. A neighbor heard screams for help near a river. The COs launched their kayaks in the river which became impassable. The COs then walked on foot for several hours searching for a person in distress. It was determined that the river was too far to be able to hear any yelling. After several hours of searching with multiple police agencies, fire volunteers and one of the DNR airplanes, no substantial evidence was found of anyone in distress. The search was called off.
Sgt. Paul Fox was patrolling the northern end of Presque Isle County when he observed a side-by-side ORV travelling at a high rate of speed down the middle of US 23. A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver was contacted. The driver stated that he had a cabin in the area, paid property taxes, and that this was how everyone gets around on ORVs. Sgt. Fox advised that state highways are closed to ORV operation and issued a ticket for operating an ORV on a state highway.
DISTRICT 4
CO Logan Turner located an illegal campsite on a powerline in Grand Traverse County. After explaining the rules of dispersed camping on state land to the campers, the names of the campers were checked. It was discovered that one of the campers was a wanted fugitive out of Minnesota for terroristic threats. With help of the Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office, the camper was arrested without incident.
COs William Kinney, Amanda Weaver, and Josh Wright assisted the Leelanau County Sheriff’s Office in the search for a missing kayaker. The kayaker had been out in Lake Michigan with another individual in rough conditions. One of the kayakers was rescued but the second kayaker drowned and was recovered several days later by the MSP dive team.
CO William Kinney assisted the Wexford County Sheriff’s Office with an individual who had drove his van off a bridge into the Manistee River in Wexford County. The vehicle landed in the river and was submerged. The unresponsive male was eventually removed from the vehicle by the fire department. CO Kinney assisted in transporting the victim to shore for EMS personnel. CO Kinney also helped the fire department navigate the Manistee River to search for more victims and to access the submerged vehicle. The crash is still under investigation.
CO William Kinney is investigating a complaint of a goose being repeatedly hit with a stick at the beach during the National Cherry Festival Airshow. The individual was confronted by other beach goers and abruptly fled prior to law enforcement arriving on scene. Footage of the individual was obtained. The goose was located, but unfortunately had to be euthanized due to its injuries. The investigation is ongoing, anyone with information is requested to call the Report All Poaching (RAP) hotline at 1-800 292-7800.
CO Amanda Weaver was on vacation with her family at Tahquamenon Falls State Park when a 10-year-old boy ran towards them asking if they had seen his 7-year-old brother who ran away from their family. CO Weaver and her husband were at the bridge crossing onto the island and had not seen the younger brother. CO Weaver located the child’s grandfather, exchanged contact information, and told him she would run opposite ways around the island and attempt to locate the child. CO Weaver and her husband made it to the opposite side of the island when they located the child down a flight of stairs and near the water’s edge. CO Weaver notified the child’s grandfather and escorted the boy back to the bridge where he was reunited with his family.
COs Angela Greenway and Kevin Bunce, in conjunction with the city of Big Rapids and Big Rapids Public Safety, hosted a water safety clinic in downtown Big Rapids. Nearly 100 area youth learned about life jackets, safety equipment the COs use in the field, and participated in a water rescue scenario using the very equipment they’d learned about.
COs Ben Shively and Micah Hintze were patrolling Pentwater Lake in Oceana County when they observed a jet ski speed towards a flock of 20 mute swans causing the waterfowl to quickly fly off. A stop was conducted on the jet ski which also displayed an expired registration. While speaking with the out-of-state juvenile, a relative pulled up on a jet ski also showing an expired registration. Enforcement action was taken for harassing waterfowl, unregistered watercraft, no boater’s safety, failing to display valid registration, and failure to transfer title.
While checking marine activity on School Section Lake in Mecosta County, Acting Sgt. Mike Haas witnessed a speed boat towing tubers across the lake and weaving around other boats and canoes. Sgt. Haas noticed the operator of the boat was looking back and watching the tubers while also attempting to watch where he was operating. Sgt. Haas contacted the operator as he returned to a dock and the subject immediately stated that he knew better than operating without an observer. A citation was issued for the safety violation of towing individuals behind a watercraft without a dedicated observer.
DISTRICT 5
Sgt. Brian Olsen and CO Matthew Zultak conducted a patrol on federal land in Crawford County. CO Zultak noticed a fresh set of ORV tracks heading into a closed section of woods. The two COs followed the tracks and located a parked ORV. A few moments later they noticed a man coming out of the woods with an empty wheelbarrow. The two COs contacted the man who admitted to putting out deer bait and leaving his blind out from the past season. The bait was ordered cleaned up and the blind removed. A citation was issued for operating an ORV contrary to regulations on public land.
CO Casey Pullum was minutes away from a motorcycle crash. Upon arrival, CO Pullum spoke with the operator of the motorcycle, who stated the bike got loose under him when making the turn at the intersection, causing him to lay it down. CO Pullum detected multiple signs of intoxication from the driver, and after conducting SFSTs, he determined the driver was over twice the legal limit to drive. The driver was taken into custody and lodged for OWI at the Ogemaw County Jail. Charges were submitted to the Oscoda County Prosecutor for operating with a blood alcohol content of .17 or greater.
CO Casey Pullum was conducting a dedicated marine patrol on Tee Lake in Oscoda County over the weekend of the Fourth of July. CO Pullum witnessed a pontoon operating at high speed after 6:30 PM violating a local watercraft control. CO Pullum was already at the state dock and preparing to remove his boat from the water when he decided to address the violation. Upon contacting the vessel, he spoke with a female operator and her spouse. While speaking with the operator, CO Pullum noted multiple signs of intoxication. He then conducted SFSTs and determined her ability to operate a vessel was impaired due to consumption of alcohol. She was taken into custody for OWI and lodged at the Oscoda County Sheriff’s Department. Charges are pending with the Oscoda County prosecutor.
CO Casey Pullum was patrolling the roads along the AuSable River during the Fourth of July holiday weekend. He made a traffic stop on a pickup truck because the driver was not wearing a seat belt. The vehicle contained five young adult men and the smell of intoxicants was significant from the cab of the vehicle. The driver was determined to be under 21 years of age and initially stated he had not been drinking at all that day, but after conducting SFSTs, it was determined he had, in fact, consumed alcohol and was over the .08 legal limit to drive. He was taken into custody for OWI and lodged at the Oscoda County Jail. Charges for OWI and zero tolerance for persons under 21 years of age are pending with the Oscoda County prosecutor.
CO Joshua Jobin and Sgt. Phil Hudson were on patrol on the AuSable River when they observed a male subject lying face down on a tube being held by three other subjects. After a brief conversation with the group, it was reported that the male subject was highly intoxicated and had received a head injury while attempting to do a backflip into the river. The COs were able to transport the subject to the landing, where a family member was waiting to bring the male subject to West Branch Hospital. The subject was discharged from the hospital with a minor head injury later that evening.
CO Ryan Weakman was on marine patrol on Lake Lancer in Gladwin County. CO Weakman was patrolling a lagoon and observed a fishing pole that was unattended, with the line out, and had a submerged bobber. CO Weakman was able to get the attention of someone in the house. A male subject came out and admitted to CO Weakman that he had left the line in the water all night for his granddaughter. The male also admitted he had another single line attached to a bobber he had set overnight as well. CO Weakman asked the subject if he had a fishing license. The male told CO Weakman he did not have a fishing license. While explaining to the subject it is illegal in Michigan to fish with unattended lines, the male began reeling in his line. CO Weakman observed that when the line was pulled out of the water, a solid weight was suspended below two hooks attached directly to the line, an illegal setup in Michigan. CO Weakman cited the subject for having unattended lines in the water and warned him of the other violations.
CO Josh Russell and Sgt. Jon Wood patrolled Saginaw Bay during the 4th of July holiday. The COs contacted several boats and checked numerous walleyes. While observing a pontoon in the distance, it was noted that there appeared to be eight lines in the water with only two anglers on board. As the COs approached the pontoon, the anglers appeared to be nervous. As CO Russell asked the anglers how many lines they were allowed, the boat’s captain stated, “Oh, we are only supposed to have three lines, aren’t we?” Both subjects appeared to be seasoned anglers with a good grasp of the laws. Citations were issued to both for fishing with too many lines.
CO Jeff Goss was watching an intersection where people like to do “donuts” and tear up the road. CO Goss observed as several subjects on four-wheelers approached the intersection. After parking and taking their helmets off, two riders rode wheelies up the hill into the oncoming traffic lane. The two operators then spun around in the road, rode a wheelie back down the hill, and ran the stop sign at the intersection. CO Goss made contact, and both operators were cited for careless operation.
CO Cheyanna Rizor recently assisted with a “Youth Fishing Day” in Gladwin County on the Wiggins Lake lakeshore. CO Rizor spoke to the youth about fishing rules, regulations, and the importance of stopping aquatic invasive species.
DISTRICT 6
CO Michael Lator received a RAP complaint in Gratiot County about someone in the city feeding deer with large amounts of corn in her driveway. CO Lator went to the suspect’s house to investigate the complaint and observed a large pile of shelled corn and corn cobs in the driveway. CO Lator questioned the landowner and she admitted she was feeding the deer and placed corn out several times per day. CO Lator informed the suspect that feeding deer was illegal because of the spread of disease and was issued a citation for feeding deer in a closed area.
CO Jacob Robinson was on marine patrol in Montcalm County when he spotted subjects fishing on an inland lake. The CO contacted the subjects and upon contacting them, noticed that they had an expired registration on the boat and one of the subjects did not have a fishing license. The owner of the boat was cited for no registration on the boat and the other subject was cited for fishing without a fishing license.
DISTRICT 7
While on patrol, CO Travis Dragomer observed two anglers fishing for skamania with illegal gear in an area with a specific gear restriction. Two citations were issued for the illegal gear.
District 7 COs assisted the Parks and Recreation Division with patrols at Grand Haven State Park for the week of the Fourth of July to address large crowds on the beach. In all, the COs and park rangers issued 46 citations for alcohol, disorderly persons, and other park rules violations.
CO Jackie Postema was patrolling in Muskegon County when she observed a known livery launch a boat and have individuals get on it, however, this livery did not have a current license. CO Postema patrolled out to the boaters to ask them if they had paid for the boat, and they said that they had. The boaters were able to show a payment receipt and said how they found the rental. CO Postema contacted the livery owner when he picked up the boat and found that they thought they did not need a livery license anymore, but that was not true. A citation was issued for operating a livery without proper inspections.
DISTRICT 8
CO Thomas Jaakkola followed-up with the 12th District Court on a 2022 illegal deer case. The subject involved in this case had taken two antlered deer over bait. The subject took a plea deal for two counts of baiting on March 21, 2024, in doing so the subject was ordered by the judge to pay reimbursement in the amount of $16,250 for the two illegal antlered deer taken over bait and was given a mandatory three-year suspension of hunting license privileges with this plea deal.
COs Ed Rice, Andrew Monnich, and Sgt Chris Maher responded to an officer involved shooting during a traffic stop in Hillsdale County. The COs assisted local and state law enforcement agencies by cordoning off an area where an active manhunt for the suspect was underway. The suspect was later located and engaged in gunfire with police. Police returned fire killing the suspect. Tragically, a Hillsdale County Sheriff’s deputy was shot and eventually succumbed to his injuries.
CO Nick Thornton was given information about an angler being harassed while lawfully fishing from a boat. CO Thornton investigated the complaint and eventually learned the angler’s fishing lines had been sprayed by a personal watercraft (PWC) jet ski as they were doing donuts. Further investigation revealed another person got into the water and began moving his bobber around as they were swimming. The individuals harassing the angler were upset because he was fishing in front of their lake lot and believed he had no right to fish that close to shore. Charges are being sought for angler harassment on both the operator of the PWC as well as the individual contacting his fishing line. Further charges are being sought on the operator of the PWC for reckless operation of a watercraft and failure to attend boaters’ safety.
COs Eliot Worel, James Rowley and Sgt. Jason Smith attended the Come Out & Play event on the State Capitol lawn. This event was held Wednesday, June 26th from 10 AM to 2 PM. This event hosted over a thousand kids from all over the state. The kids were able to see DNR-Law Enforcement Division trucks, boat, ATV, and ask questions of the staff present.
COs Thomas Jaakkola and Cullen Knoblauch patrolled Big Wolf Lake in Jackson County during the 5th Annual Wolf Lake Bash including a performance from country singer Jason Cross. During the patrol, the COs received a complaint from Jackson County Central Dispatch of a fight in-progress. The COs assisted the Blackman/Leoni Township Marine Unit 90 with the fight. One individual was arrested and lodged at the Jackson County Jail.
CO Wes Butler received a RAP complaint that an individual was raising a captive fawn on their property. CO Butler went to the suspect's residence and spoke with the suspects who admitted to keeping the fawn. They stated they had found it abandoned in their backyard and it appeared to have been extremely malnourished. They said that if they hadn’t taken it in it would have died. CO Butler explained that in those situations it is best to call the RAP line and report the fawn so we can take it to a licensed rehabilitator. CO Butler seized the fawn and issued the individuals a warning for possessing captive wildlife.
DISTRICT 9
CO Griffin Korican assisted the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) Search and Rescue team with a capsized vessel on Otter Lake. After several hours of searching for a presumed deceased individual, a call came into the county dispatch from an individual who stated they saw the helicopter flying over where he had left his capsized boat in the canal. He stated he flipped the boat on accident and decided to go home and leave the vessel in the water. The OCSO handled the individual after he was located.
COs Griffin Korican, Josh Salas, and Cody Bourgeois conducted an ORV patrol in northern Oakland County. Two adults and a minor were found operating ORVs on a piece of private property commonly used for illegal ORV operation. The adults received citations for operating ORVs without a helmet as well as not licensing their ORVs.
CO Justin Muehlhauser worked ORV activity in and around the city of Flint. The CO observed a four-wheeler driving down the sidewalk near Southwestern High School. The CO stopped the ORV and discovered that the operator was 14 years old. He admitted to operating on city roads and sidewalks and stated that he also took some local trails to get to his current location. He said his parents know that he rides his quad in the city and allow him to do so. He also stated that he did not have ORV safety. The CO contacted the parents and planned to meet up with them. The CO explained the violations including operating on the roadway, ORV trespass, and unsupervised operation of a child under 16. The parents were cited for unsupervised operation.
CO Justin Muehlhauser observed an ORV operating within the city of Flint. There were two occupants, and neither were wearing helmets. The CO stopped the ORV and talked to the occupants. It was further observed that the ORV did not have valid ORV permits. The operator was cited for the violations.
CO Kris Kiel contacted three juveniles operating ORVs on the roadway in Macomb County. Phone calls were made to parents of different households to meet with CO Kiel. The ORV laws were explained, and citations were written to each parent for allowing juveniles to operate ORVs unsupervised. Warnings were given for operating on the roadway and unlicensed ORVs.
COs Kris Kiel, Joseph Deppen, and Zackary Cardinal worked a marine patrol on Lake St. Clair on the 4th of July. The COs contacted two anglers trolling seven lines. The passenger made it very clear that he was only using the three lines on his side of the vessel. The operator was issued a citation for fishing with more than three lines.
CO Brad Silorey worked Stonegarden this past weekend with COs Sydney Griffor and Joseph Deppen. During the patrol, the COs contacted multiple people fishing on Lake St. Clair. During the patrol, numerous warrant arrests were made, multiple citations were issued for fishing without a license, and operation of an unlicensed ORV.
COs Brad Silorey, Kris Kiel, and Joe Deppen worked marine patrol on Lake St. Clair during the busy holiday weekend. While patrolling, the COs checked many vessels fishing in the middle of the lake for perch and walleye. During one of the checks, the COs contacted a vessel and its occupants who were fishing for walleye and perch. The anglers stated that they had six walleye and multiple perch on board. CO Silorey boarded their vessel to conduct the check so the anglers could continue trolling. While checking the angler’s fish, he asked if any were close to the size limit of 15 inches. After asking the question, the anglers became very quiet and did not reply. CO Silorey checked all the fish in their cooler and three of the six walleye were under the legal-size limit. After addressing the violation, CO Silorey asked what they were measuring their fish with. To which one angler replied, “my eyes.” A citation was issued to the vessel owner who claimed ownership of the three short walleye.
CO Joseph Deppen worked an ORV patrol and noticed an ORV driving down the center of the road and the driver was not wearing a helmet. CO Deppen stopped the driver and asked why he was not wearing a helmet. The driver said, “I didn’t wear a helmet this time because it really messes up my hair and I’m only a few miles from home.” A citation was issued for operating an ORV without a helmet/eye protection.
While working marine patrol on Lake St. Clair, COs Joseph Deppen, Brad Silorey, and Kris Kiel were checking boaters and anglers in the south channel. While in a large pack of boats, CO Deppen watched an angler reel in a walleye that looked undersized. The COs watched the man throw it in a cooler without measuring it. After finishing their check on a different boat, the COs made their way to the angler’s boat. The angler said he caught one walleye so far. When COs asked about measuring it, he said he did not have anything. The COs measured the fish, and it was 14 inches. The angler was cited for take/possess walleye under 15 inches.
While patrolling Lapeer County, CO Zackary Cardinal received a tip about some possible raccoons being rehabilitated illegally. CO Cardinal was able to locate the subject in question. After questioning the subject and obtaining the raccoon, the subject also noted that a neighbor had a raccoon that came from the same litter. CO Cardinal was then able to locate a second raccoon being illegally kept in a household for rehabilitation purposes. Both homeowners received a citation, and the raccoons were released back into the wild.
CO Zackary Cardinal was on marine patrol on Holloway Reservoir, when he witnessed a PWC operate dangerously close to an angler who was trolling for walleye. After witnessing the PWC operator drive over the angler’s lines, cutting them instantly, CO Cardinal made a stop on the PWC. The driver was a minor and did not know what boater’s safety was. CO Cardinal then followed her back at a slow speed to her parents who were waiting for her at a nearby shoreline. The parents were informed of the incident and one of them received a citation for allowing a minor to operate a PWC illegally.
COs Zackary Cardinal and Jaime Salisbury patrolled the Holloway Reservoir by boat. Many contacts were made and citations for towing with no observer, fishing without a license, operating a PWC with no PFD, and failing to transfer registration within 15 days were issued.
While working the annual Jobbie Nooner event on Lake St Clair, COs Bob Watson, Danielle Zubek, and Sgt. Seth Rhodea responded to a marine accident involving two PWCs colliding at high speed. All involved parties had serious injuries due to the collision. Two young males riding a jet ski suffered serious leg injuries when an older male on a jet ski collided with them. The older male suffered serious head injuries and the COs assisted with providing first aid to the victims until EMS were able to transport the victims to the hospital.
CO Brandon Hartleben worked a relatively mild Whitmore Lakes Fireworks. Several warnings were issued for minor marine violations. However, one vessel was contacted that was just displaying a Tennessee validation decal for 2024. After further examination, it was determined that the registration expired in February. A citation was issued for operating an unregistered vessel and warnings were given for the missing Type IV PFD and missing registration numbers and letters.
CO Brandon Vacek spotted a dirt bike travelling toward him on a busy public roadway in Monroe County. As the vehicle approached, the CO observed that the rider was not wearing a helmet and was not licensed to operate on the roadway. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle. The driver admitted to knowing he was not supposed to be operating on the roadway and should have been wearing a helmet. The driver made a reluctant call to a significant other to assist in transporting the bike home, while receiving a citation for operating an ORV without a helmet. The driver was given a verbal warning for operating an ORV on a public road in a county closed to such activity.
BELLE ISLE
COs Dan Liestenfeltz and Jesse Grzechowski conducted a general patrol on Belle Isle. The COs contacted many people and issued many warnings for traffic violations. The COs wrote two traffic tickets, one of which was for operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license and the other was for traveling almost 60 mph in a 25-mph zone.
CO Griffin Korican worked the Belle Isle firework detail as a B2 car. The event went off without major incident. While clearing the island, COs Jaime Salisbury and Korican encountered a crash on the MacArthur Bridge. Upon contacting the driver of the primary car, the driver stated that he had no brakes and could not stop so he drove his car into the barrier as well as hitting the car in front of him. The driver did not have a valid driver’s license and the car did not have insurance. The driver received a citation for driving with a suspended license as well as operating a vehicle with no insurance. The vehicle was impounded as a result.
While working the afternoon shift on Belle Isle, CO Joseph Deppen observed a motorcyclist doing burnouts and weaving around cars in the bike lane and on the grass near other people. CO Deppen called out on the radio that the subject was operating recklessly, and he could not keep up. Sgt. Jason Becker was positioned further up the road and observed the same actions as CO Deppen. Sgt. Becker followed the subject through traffic and was able to make a traffic stop on the McArthur Bridge. It was discovered that the subject was operating on a suspended license, had no proof of insurance, and had multiple warrants. CO Deppen cited the subject for the licensing and insurance violations and the motorcycle was towed.
CO Nicholas Ingersoll worked an assigned Belle Isle Shift. CO Ingersoll conducted radar enforcement throughout the island and issued citations for speed. The speeding violations ranged from 64, 57, to 54 miles per hour (mph). The speed limit on Belle Isle is 25 mph.
GREAT LAKES ENFORCEMENT UNIT (GLEU)
Cpl. Brett DeLonge responded to a swimmer in distress off Lambros Park near the mouth of the Dead River in Marquette. Cpl. DeLonge observed the swimmer several hundred yards offshore on a plastic float, fighting the wind and attempting to return to shore. Cpl. DeLonge was able to pull the swimmer aboard the patrol vessel and return the individual back to shore without incident.
Cpl. Jon Busken conducted an AIS patrol during the AIS Landing Blitz with the local Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) at Gull Lake in Barry and Kalamazoo Counties. Multiple contacts were made, and compliance was found to be high.
Cpl. Justin Vanderlinde, along with other GLEU officers, assisted District 4 by working the National Cherry Festival Airshow on-water exclusion zone each day, allowing the local officers to respond to complaints and conduct more productive patrols.
Cpl. Pat Harsig and Lt. Nick Torsky assisted District 9 in patrolling the Detroit River during the annual Detroit Ford Fireworks show. A safety zone with other law enforcement agencies was enforced prior to and during the fireworks. The fireworks went off without incident and were enjoyed by all on the water.
Cpls. Troy Van Gelderen and Jon Busken assisted District 7 with patrolling Grand Haven and the Grand River on Independence Day and assisted with the safety zone for the fireworks display.
Cpl. Troy Van Gelderen was driving down Oceana Drive in Oceana County when a subject without a helmet on a quad drove in front of him and pulled into a grocery store. Cpl. Van Gelderen stopped the subject in the parking lot. It was discovered that the subject also had a revoked license. Before Cpl. Van Gelderen handed the subject his ticket, he told the subject that he could not drive the 4-wheeler home. The subject informed Cpl. Van Gelderen, with some foul language, that he was in fact taking it home. The subject then fled northbound on Oceana Drive as Cpl. Van Gelderen followed in his patrol truck. The subject eventually went off road, and the pursuit was terminated. The suspect was later found at his residence several miles away, since he had already been identified. The subject was lodged at the Oceana County jail, with charges pending.
Cpl. Todd Sumbera worked the AIS Landing Blitz event at the Hessel Marina. No violations were encountered, and information was shared with a multitude of boaters.
Cpl. Craig Milkowski contacted multiple dive vessels returning to port in the Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary. Those contacted were impressed with the number of dive opportunities, and water clarity.
