8/18/2024-8/31/2024

DISTRICT 1

While on patrol in Gogebic County, Conservation Officer (CO) Jenni Hanson observed two four-wheelers and a dirt bike being operated without helmets. CO Hanson conducted a traffic stop and discovered the dirt bike did not have the appropriate off-road vehicle (ORV) license. Subsequently, she discovered that two of the subjects had revoked operator licenses and the other had a non-extraditable warrant out of Wisconsin. CO Hanson issued citations to all three operators for not wearing helmets, and warnings were issued for the ORV license and revoked operator licenses. CO Hanson advised the gentlemen they were not to ride anymore until they had valid licenses.

CO Steve Sajtar was patrolling in Lake Michigan when he observed a vessel trolling with too many lines. CO Sajtar approached the vessel and asked the two anglers how many lines they were each using. One subject replied, “too many.” CO Sajtar counted a total of nine lines. Each angler was issued a citation for fishing with more than three lines.

CO Steve Sajtar assisted retired CO Jason Niemi with a hunter safety class at the Stephenson Mid-County Sportsman’s Club. CO Sajtar gave a presentation on ethical hunting and basic regulations. After answering questions, CO Sajtar and retired CO Terry Short demonstrated safe firearm handling for the students.

CO Jeremy Sergey stopped an individual on a dirt bike that did not have an ORV license on it. The individual stated he didn’t know he needed an ORV license on his dirt bike. When CO Sergey checked for prior Department of Natural Resources (DNR) violations, he discovered the individual had been written a ticket for failing to license an ORV four weeks earlier. CO Sergey issued the individual another citation for failing to license his ORV.

CO Jackson Kelly responded to a call of an injured dirt biker near the Bass Lake trails in Marquette County. The CO assisted other first responders with moving the injured subject out of the woods to the main road. The subject was transported by emergency medical services (EMS) to the hospital in Marquette.

DISTRICT 2

CO Brandon Maki responded to a report of a felonious assault where the suspect had fled and was known to have firearms. CO Maki arrived and assisted in the search for the suspect who was believed to be hiding. CO Maki joined up with a Munising City officer, two Alger County sheriff’s deputies, and one Michigan State Police (MSP) trooper. The officers were able to locate the suspect in the woods off one of the Munising golf course fairways and apprehended him without incident. The suspect did not have a firearm with him at the time of arrest and was lodged in the Alger County Jail.

CO Mike Olesen was on marine patrol in Chippewa County when he came across an unoccupied sea plane that was adrift in the river. CO Olesen was notified by some nearby anglers who stated the plane had floated from the Canadian side of the river. CO Olesen contacted Canadian Fire and Police regarding the drifting plane. The owner of the plane was then provided a ride to retrieve his plane in Michigan waters. No damage occurred to the plane during the journey.

CO Cole VanOosten responded to a call from Chippewa County Central Dispatch of a lost couple near Vermillion Point. Central Dispatch was able to get a global positioning system (GPS) point from the victim’s phone. The couple had become disoriented during a fishing trip and walked numerous miles before encountering a remote stretch of Lake Superior shoreline. CO VanOosten was able to get his patrol truck as close as possible before walking approximately two miles to locate the lost couple. The couple was tired, dehydrated, and very happy to see CO VanOosten who led them to his patrol truck. Central dispatch was able to relay the location to the family search party who were able to pick up the couple and return them to their camping location. Both individuals declined any medical services.

COs Scott Pankow and Sergeant (Sgt.) Calvin Smith conducted a hunter safety class in Chippewa County. The three-day classroom portion was followed by the field day that was held at the Chippewa County Shooting Association Range where the students received hands-on firearm training in both rifles and shotguns. The students also were given a tree stand safety demonstration that was taught by CO Mike Olesen and a first aid/survival station that was taught by CO Jason Ruth.

DISTRICT 3

COs Sidney LaLonde, Dan Liestenfeltz, Alex Bourgeois, Jack Gorno, and Sgt. Paul Fox put on a hunter education field day at the Atlanta Field Office in Montmorency County. The class had 22 students.

CO Sidney LaLonde stopped an elk guide and hunter on a traffic stop in Montmorency County. Upon investigation, it was found that the elk guide had a revoked driver’s license. The elk hunter had a rifle in the back seat in a case that was not secured. The driver was issued a ticket for driving while license revoked, and the hunter was given a warning for the case violation.

COs Sidney LaLonde and Dan Liestenfeltz attend a hunter education class at Canada Creek Ranch. The COs put on a law presentation to the students and answered various questions. The COs also assisted the students with instruction on safe firearm handling.

DISTRICT 4

CO Amanda Weaver received a call from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park to assist in a search for a potentially armed robbery suspect in the national park. The suspect’s vehicle was located in the park and COs Weaver and Logan Turner responded to assist with the search.  The several hour search was concluded when the Benzie County Canine deputy, along with another National Park Service (NPS) ranger, located the suspect in the woods.

CO Josiah Killingbeck was observing the Little Manistee River weir for illegal activity when he observed two subjects in a group who were fishing. CO Killingbeck was able to get close to the subjects and when a vehicle pulled in the drive near the weir, he heard subjects telling an angler that, “Someone’s coming it might be the DNR.” The anglers quickly put their fishing poles away. CO Killingbeck contacted the group who admitted they knew it was illegal to be fishing at the weir. Citations were issued for fishing within 300 feet of the weir.

On Labor Day weekend, CO Josiah Killingbeck responded to several ORV personal injury crashes. One crash was the result of speed and two ORVs met in a curve resulting in a juvenile being seriously injured. The juvenile was not old enough to be operating the four-wheeled ORV and did not have an ORV safety certificate. At another crash, two ORVs were following each other when the front ORV suddenly stopped, and the second ORV rear ended the first causing serious injuries. One of the drivers had a revoked driver’s license. Reports are being submitted to the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

CO Ben Shively was working in the Manistee National Forest in Oceana County where ORVs operate in closed areas and operate through Carlton Creek, destroying the steelhead spawning area. While patrolling, CO Shively observed two side-by-sides operating in the closed area and crossing the creek. CO Shively conducted a traffic stop on both ORVs and the operators stated they were lost. CO Shively remembered one of the subjects from a previous contact for operating in a closed area and he had provided the subject with numerous resources to determine where he could legally operate his ORV. Both subjects were cited for operating an ORV through a stream and issued warnings for operating in a closed area.

While checking activity at Nichols Lake in the Huron-Manistee National Forest in Newaygo County, Acting Sgt. Mike Haas contacted multiple anglers fishing from shore. One angler stated he was in the area visiting family and produced an Illinois fishing license. Sgt. Haas informed the angler that his out of state fishing license was not valid while fishing in Michigan and a citation was issued for fishing without a license.

DISTRICT 5

COs Ryan Weakman, Cheyanna Rizor, Joshua Russell, Craig Neal, Jeff Goss, and Sgt. Jon Wood held their annual hunter safety class for the local Amish community in Clare County. All said, 49 young hunters were successfully passed through the class and are looking forward to a safe and successful hunting season.

CO Joshua Russell was the closest law enforcement unit when he responded to a report of a female driver “slumped” over the wheel of her car. When CO Russell arrived at the location, he located the female driver slumped over the wheel of her car in the middle of an intersection with her foot on the brake. CO Russell was able to get her car into park without anyone getting injured. The female subject was awakened and proceeded to provide CO Russell with a fake name. After further investigation, it was discovered the female subject had already had her driver’s license suspended and had lied to CO Russell because she was “close” to getting her license back. EMS was summoned to the scene as it appeared her state of being was due to a possible drug-induced condition. She was transported to the nearest hospital. CO Russell will be submitting a report to the prosecutor’s office for various charges.

CO Tyler Sabuda was working with the Iosco County recreational deputies when one of the individuals they stopped on an ORV showed signs of intoxication. CO Sabuda conducted standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs), and the subject was taken into custody for operating an ORV while intoxicated.

The Oscoda County Sheriff's Office requested CO Casey Pullum to assist with a presentation on water safety to the entire Mio school. Sadly, a Mio high school student recently drowned at a local beach and the school has a rafting trip planned for the fifth-grade class down the AuSable River in September. Having those things in mind, they requested a presentation on water safety. CO Pullum, along with a United States Forest Service (USFS) Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) and Oscoda County deputy, conducted the training for grades first through twelfth.

Sgt. Phil Hudson and CO Joshua Jobin assisted with a hunter’s education course held by the Sterling Sportsman Club. Many youths and several adults attended the class and were able to attain knowledge of laws and practices to become safe and successful hunters.

CO James Garrett received a Report All Poaching (RAP) complaint regarding the illegal taking of turkeys in Crawford County. The complainants advised that a subject was initially attempting to scare turkeys out of his wheat plot with bottle rockets but had since resorted to shooting them. CO Garrett interviewed the suspect and gained a written and verbal confession regarding the illegal taking of three wild turkeys. Charges are being sought through the Crawford County Prosecutor’s Office.

DISTRICT 6

No Report

DISTRICT 7

CO Ryan Jager was patrolling in Kalamazoo County when he observed two subjects fishing in Comstock Township. CO Jager contacted the anglers and found that one was not a resident of Michigan and did not have a fishing license. CO Jager ticketed the subject for fishing without a license.

CO Travis Dragomer observed an angler fishing with illegal gear upon a creek in Berrien County. The angler foul hooked one fish but was unable to land it. The CO issued a ticket for the illegal gear.

CO Zach Bauer was on patrol in the St Joseph River checking anglers. CO Bauer contacted two anglers fishing in a vessel. Further investigation revealed the anglers were in possession of an undersized walleye, a ticket was issued for the violation.

DISTRICT 8

While patrolling along the Grand River in Ingham County, CO James Rowley approached two individuals embroiled in a heated argument. The verbal argument was rapidly escalating toward a physical conflict. CO Rowley ordered the two apart and began interviewing them. Both individuals had warrants from different jurisdictions. DNR dispatch contacted the jurisdictions for confirmation and pick up information. One individual was advised and released per the warrant holding agency. CO Rowley arrested the other individual and turned them over for transport to the Clinton County Jail.

CO Lisa Taube responded to a RAP complaint regarding a junked motorhome being illegally dumped in the Oak Grove State Game Area (SGA). Prior to the report being called in, Sgt. Jason Smith had located this illegally dumped motorhome and initiated an investigation into its owner. Sgt. Smith developed a reliable lead involving the exact same 1976 Dodge Titan motorhome being auctioned off from the Howell area in October 2023. The investigation continued with multiple interviews and the identification of the suspect. The suspect was cited for littering on public property more than three cubic feet. The suspect also agreed to have the junked motorhome removed from the state game area and it was disposed at an auto salvage yard in Howell.

COs Elliot Worel and Jason McCullough assisted the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office with attempting to apprehend a fleeing felon who ran from a traffic stop into a swampy area of the Kalamazoo River near Marshall. The COs were requested to respond because of their specialized equipment. The subject evaded capture but was apprehend later at a store while shopping for groceries.

DISTRICT 9

CO Martin Lawrence wrote a citation to a hunter for taking a woodcock out of season. The subject was investigated and cited in the Pointe Mouillee SGA without incident.

COs Ariel Young, Martin Lawrence, and Keven Luther patrolled Lake Erie Metropark for marine, aquatic invasive species (AIS), and waterfowl violations on the waterfowl opener. The COs contacted a few hunters and vessels before receiving a waterfowl complaint at Pointe Mouille SGA. The COs searched the area and CO Lawrence contacted a hunter in possession of a wood duck out of season. CO Lawrence issued a citation on scene while COs Young and Luther continued to check the area. The COs contacted several other anglers, hunters, and game area visitors during the patrol.

CO Griffin Korican assisted the Milford Police Department in identifying a suspect who has fled from police on an ORV multiple times in Milford Township. The suspect was cited for operating an ORV on a public roadway, operating an ORV upon railroad property, and failing to yield to emergency vehicles by the Milford Police Department.

Sgt. Jason Becker was patrolling Oakland County for ORV activity and spotted a side-by-side operating on the road. Oakland County roads are closed to ORVs. Sgt. Becker stopped the young operator and his father and informed them that the ORV could not be operated on the road. Through the conversation, Sgt. Becker discovered that the young operator did not have ORV safety, the ORV did not have valid ORV stickers, and neither the operator nor his passenger was wearing seat belts. Sgt. Becker followed the ORV back to the operator’s residence and issued the father a citation for failing to wear a seat belt and gave warnings for the other violations.

COs Cody Bourgeois and Griffin Korican worked the Garmin International's Automotive Golf Outing. This event is put on to support Military Family Service Groups for the Michigan National Guard. They support the 127th Air Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base (Team Selfridge) and the 125th Infantry Regiment Association (3rd Michigan) Inc. In addition, Blue Star Service Dogs and Michigan Operation Freedom Outdoors are major beneficiaries that assist disabled veterans here in Michigan. The event raised approximately $200,000 for these veteran groups and will allow the groups to be funded for another year. The COs were able to set up on a short par three hole to represent the DNR and educate the golfers who came through. The COs brought some of the department's ORVs, furs from animal cases they have had in the past, and other unique items they had from the job and put them on display. The COs also offered a fun challenge to the golfers: tee off on a used shotgun shell. The golfers and COs all had a great time supporting a fantastic cause for our veterans.

CO Joseph Deppen finished up two court cases with the same individual surrounding two incidents from 2023. The subject plead guilty to two counts in the first case. He plead guilty to take deer over bait and a tagging violation. All other charges were dismissed. He was ordered to pay $2,000 in reimbursement and is revoked from hunting until 2030. The second case is being bound over to circuit court, but a plea was drawn up and agreed to by the prosecutor, defense attorney, and the family involved. The subject will plead guilty to a felony charge of animal cruelty and two misdemeanor charges of reckless discharge of a firearm, and unnecessarily killing of an animal.

COs Joseph Deppen and Brad Silorey were checking teal and goose hunters on Lake St. Clair. They heard some shooting in a back marsh and when they went to contact hunters in the area, two vessels came out with hunters in camouflage with decoys and heading out on the lake. The COs followed them to a local cottage. The two hunters had multiple violations between them. One hunter was cited for hunt waterfowl without a waterfowl license and was given verbal warnings for loaded firearm in a motorboat, no federal stamp, and no base license. The second hunter was cited for no PFD aboard a vessel and was given a verbal warning for operate unregistered watercraft.

CO Joseph Deppen and Brad Silorey were checking goose hunters on Lake St. Clair. As the COs approached a vessel, CO Deppen noticed the hunter on the stern opened his action and ejected a shell that hit the floor of the boat. During a check of their firearms, CO Deppen used a plug checker and noticed the hunter who ejected the shell was hunting with an unplugged shotgun. The hunter said he forgot the plug at home. He was cited for hunting waterfowl with a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells.

Last week, CO Jake Hamilton from Kalkaska County reached out to CO Zack Cardinal about an illegal deer case. CO Hamilton provided evidence that a 13-point buck was taken illegally in Michigan. Due to the hunter residing in Lapeer County, CO Hamiliton needed assistance from a Lapeer County CO for follow up. CO Cardinal worked with CO Hamilton and was able to contact the hunter. The hunter confessed to shooting the buck without having purchased a tag. CO Cardinal then confiscated the shoulder mount of the 13-point buck. Information and the deer mount were then turned over to CO Hamilton. The case will be prosecuted in Kalkaska County.

CO Brandon Hartleben cleared marine patrol on Whitmore Lake and followed up with PRD staff operating the boating access site about parking related issues. PRD staff advised that despite being warned and instructed not to, multiple vehicles had parked on the grass in non-parking areas. CO Hartleben followed-up and issued several citations to vehicles parked on the grass in no parking areas.

CO Brandon Hartleben was patrolling Portage Lake Chain on Labor Day when he observed a pontoon boat displaying an expired registration. CO Hartleben ran the vessel through Station 20 prior to making contact and learned that the vessel was in fact expired. Upon contacting the vessel, CO Hartleben also found that there was no Type IV PFD aboard and that the fire extinguisher was no longer good. A citation was issued for operating an unregistered watercraft and the operator was warned for the equipment violations.

CO Nicholas Ingersoll was working the goose opener and contacted a group of hunters having some success in the morning hours. While CO Ingersoll was checking for waterfowl violations, he located a box of lead shot in one of the hunter’s blind bags. CO Ingersoll spoke with the hunter, who advised he did not realize that lead/toxic shot was a violation for goose hunting and thought it only pertained to hunting on the water. CO Ingersoll educated the hunter and issued him a citation for possessing other than non-toxic shot.

CO Nicholas Ingersoll was checking hunters at Pointe Mouillee SGA, when he observed a vessel coming into the launch without registration attached. CO Ingersoll spoke with the hunter who advised he only uses the vessel once a year for the teal opener and has not registered it. CO Ingersoll asked the individual how long he has had the vessel, and the hunter advised he has used it for two years. CO Ingersoll advised the hunter he needs to register his watercraft and issued a citation for unregistered watercraft.

BELLE ISLE

Sgt. Shane Webster was patrolling Belle Isle on the Labor Day holiday when he observed a motorcycle and a group of three other motorists pass him by using the pedestrian bike lane through a wooded section of Belle Isle. Sgt. Webster attempted to initiate a traffic stop by activating his lights and siren when the motorcycle accelerated rapidly around the first several curves. Sgt. Webster discontinued pursuit due to the blind corners and likelihood of pedestrians. Coming out of the wooded area the motorcycle got caught behind other traffic and Sgt. Webster again attempted to initiate a stop. This time the operator turned back and pointed that he would pull over. Sgt. Webster contacted the individual who had a set of earbuds in and did not see or hear the first attempted stop. Ultimately, he was warned for his careless operation and cited for the improper lane use.

CO Dan Walzak, along with other members of the district, worked a convention of the National Guard Association of the United States on Belle Isle. Approximately 3,000 members of the National Guard (both active and retired) along with members of their families were in attendance. Activities included dinner, music, and a car show. COs assigned to the detail provided security for the event which ran smoothly and without issue.

CO Ariel Young was assigned to Belle Isle and was out conducting RADAR patrol to combat the speeding that happens at the park. CO Young conducted two traffic stops for speeding. The first subject was traveling 41 mph in a 25-mph zone and the second was traveling 47 mph. The second subject stated there was no way they were traveling that fast and CO Young explained that she was equipped with a RADAR unit and that they were in fact traveling that fast. Both subjects were issued citations.

COs Martin Lawrence and Dan Walzak conducted a follow-up on a subject who entered the Belle Isle Zoo unlawfully to take pictures of her son and his girlfriend for their prom. Making contact, the subject stated that she was the one who took the pictures in the zoo and explained to the COs how she came about deciding to use the zoo as a venue for the pictures. The subject stated that she found information on-line about the Belle Isle Zoo (as well as other abandoned buildings in the area) and explained that the website also included information on how to “sneak into” the different venues. The subject admitted that she was aware that entering the zoo was unlawful, but she wanted to use the zoo as the site for the pictures. After explaining the dangers of being in the abandoned zoo along with the fact that it is unlawful, the subject stated that she completely understood, taking full responsibility. The subject was issued a citation for trespassing.

CO Joshua Salas was on patrol on Belle Isle Park when he observed a vehicle with an improper temporary tag displayed operating on Riverbank Drive. The CO contacted the individual at the beach parking lot and after further investigation, the CO discovered that the temporary tag was being misused and that the vehicle was not registered in the state of Michigan. The owner of the vehicle was arrested for knowingly using an improper temporary tag and for not having insurance on the vehicle. The individual was lodged at the jail without incident.

GREAT LAKES ENFORCEMENT UNIT (GLEU)

Corporal (Cpl.) Troy Van Gelderen worked with MSP Motor Carrier Officers at the Green Lake Scales for a day, targeting the potential transportation of aquatic invasive species (AIS). A few trucks were stopped, with no invasive species discovered.

Cpls. Troy Van Gelderen and Justin Vanderlinde were requested to provide assistance to District 4 COs regarding a boater missing from a capsized vessel near Frankfort. They coordinated with COs Amanda Weaver and Sam Koscinski to utilize a GLEU remotely operated vehicle (ROV) at two separate locations in the search effort. The victim was later recovered on shore approximately one mile from the search area.

Cpl. Pat Hartsig and CO Griffin Korican patrolled Oakland and Macomb Counties checking pet shops for AIS violations, specifically in response to possible mussel-contaminated moss ball shipments.  Some moss balls were found at one pet shop, and of those, there was one zebra mussel identified.  The moss balls were seized and destroyed.  Follow-up is being performed to find out if the supplier has more affected moss balls or has shipped to other Michigan retailers.

Cpls. Pat Hartsig and Nick Atkin worked the St. Clair River Float Down event in St. Clair County.  Not as many participants were attending the event this year due to cooler and rainy weather, but that didn’t stop the thousands of people floating the 10 miles of river.  Multiple groups were assisted and towed back to U.S. waters from Canada.

Cpl. Nick Atkin worked with MSP Motor Carrier Officers in a joint AIS patrol targeting fish haulers in the Grass Lake area. Cpl. Atkin updated the motor carrier officers on fish haulers and supplied contact information if questions or assistance is needed in the future.

CO Steve Butzin and Cpls. Mike Hammill and Chris Lynch participated in a first-ever county-wide active shooter exercise in Delta County.

Cpl. Brett DeLonge responded to a personal injury accident and applied first aid to an injured driver until EMS arrived.

Cpl. Brett DeLonge conducted a marine patrol between Marquette and Au Train. During the patrol, several sport anglers were checked, and a citation was issued to one angler that had an over limit of lake trout.

Cpl. Mike Hammill received a complaint of a stolen canoe.  A suspect was developed and contacted.  The suspect claimed no knowledge of who took the canoe but stated he “Would keep his ears open.”  Cpl. Hammill advised if the canoe was found and returned to the owner, no charges were being sought.  Within an hour, Cpl. Hammill received a call that the canoe had been found and was available for pick up.  Cpl. Hammill picked up the canoe and returned it to the owner.

ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION SECTION (EIS)

Detective James Zellinger reports a 60-year-old architect and developer from Chicago has been convicted of a misdemeanor for open burning prohibited materials under Part 55 (Air Pollution Control) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) in Berrien County.
 
Detective Zellinger responded to an opening burning complaint regarding construction materials in a housing development in Lake Charter Township in May 2023. The remnants of a fire containing evidence of prohibited materials being burnt was located. The developer was contacted by Detective Zellinger, given verbal warnings for the violations, and educated of the open burning laws in Michigan.
 
In April 2024, Detective Zellinger received a complaint regarding the open burning of prohibited materials from the construction of a new home in the same development. Detective Zellinger located the new burn pile and identified the remnants of materials prohibited from being burnt in the ashes. The developer was contacted and admitted to being the developer and general contractor for the new home construction. The developer also admitted to not providing any means of proper waste disposal to his sub-contractors and encouraged them to burn any waste materials they could on-site.
 
A misdemeanor charge for an open burning violation of Administrative Rules under Part 55 of NREPA was authorized by the Berrien County Prosecutors Office in May 2024. The developer was found guilty of the charge in August 2024 and paid $1,000 in fines and costs.