DISTRICT 1
CO Jenni Hanson was invited to participate in the annual fall color ride for seniors hosted by Mi-TRALE and Twin Lakes State Park. About 30 participants rode in off road vehicles (ORVs) from Ontonagon County to Houghton County to observe the changing of the leaves. CO Hanson was available to answer any ORV related questions.
CO Pete Shambaugh responded with Michigan State Police (MSP) troopers and park rangers to the Porcupine Mountains State Park for a call of overdue hikers. Two young hikers were dehydrated and exhausted near Mirror Lake, multiple miles from the nearest trailhead. The hikers were located and in good health other than being exhausted and dehydrated from hiking all day in warm and humid conditions. While exiting the trail, the MSP troopers were contacted by another group of hikers saying that their mom was lost and overdue from her hike on the Lake Superior Trail. CO Shambaugh, the park rangers, and MSP troopers began a plan of where to begin the search for the individual without knowing her exact location like the search earlier in the evening. As the search teams were leaving the park headquarters, a family member of the lost hiker heard from her mom that she was at the Carp River Trailhead. CO Shambaugh and a park ranger responded to that area of the park to look for the lost hiker. The CO and park ranger located the hiker on South Boundary Road near the Carp River Trailhead. She was in good health but also tired and dehydrated after walking approximately 20 miles.
CO Steve Sajtar was checking walleye anglers in the City of Menominee when he responded to a single-vehicle crash. Central dispatch advised the driver of the vehicle was fleeing toward the nearby wooded area. CO Sajtar arrived first on scene and located the suspect fleeing the scene on a bicycle. The subject was contacted and eventually admitted to taking controlled substances and consuming alcohol before operating the car. The officers obtained video evidence and conducted an operating while intoxicated (OWI) investigation. The suspect was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident, OWI, and unlawful driving away of an automobile.
CO Steve Sajtar attended a high school career fair in Menominee County. Students from Carney-Nadeau, Menominee, North Central, Stephenson, and Wausaukee High Schools attended the career fair held at Stephenson High School. CO Sajtar offered insight for the students on possible career paths with the DNR, specifically Law Enforcement Division (LED). While setting up for the career fair, CO Sajtar witnessed an individual collapse while moving a sheet of plywood. CO Sajtar immediately tended to the patient lying unconscious on the floor. After a few seconds, the patient regained consciousness and became responsive again. The patient showed signs of dehydration and was transferred to Mid-County emergency medical services (EMS) for further medical attention.
Sergeant (Sgt.) Brian Bacon and COs Jared Ferguson, Phil Helminen, Alex VanWagner, Steve Sajtar, and Anna Viau conducted a hunter safety field day for local students needing to obtain their hunter safety certificate. Twenty-eight students successfully earned their certificates that day.
CO Anna Viau responded to the report of an injured hunter in the Ottawa National Forest. The man was part of a bear hunting party and was injured while in very dense brush. With the assistance of Iron County Search and Rescue, Aspirus MedEvac, EMS, and the rest of the man’s hunting party, the injured man was located and transported to Aspirus Iron River Hospital.
CO Jeremy Sergey found a suicide letter while patrolling in the Sands Plains area. CO Sergey and an MSP trooper were able to track down the individual, as well as his mother, and checked on his safety and well-being. The individual sought treatment for depression.
COs John Kamps and Jackson Kelly were working the grouse decoy on the small game opener in an area with frequent complaints of road hunting. The COs observed a subject in a Jeep drive past the decoy and slowly back up, after pulling out a loaded firearm and taking aim. The COs stopped the subject from shooting the decoy and found the subject to have improper hunter orange and no hunting license. The subject was cited for the loaded firearm in a motor vehicle.
DISTRICT 2
COs Robert Freeborn and Brandon Maki were on patrol checking a local river when they observed an angler trying to snag fish. As the COs watched the subject, they observed the angler foul hook two pink salmon. As the angler carried one back to his stringer, he pulled the hook out of the back of the salmon and hooked it in the mouth. The COs contacted the individual and asked if the fish were legally taken. The angler stated they were “combination” hooked. When questioned further, the angler eventually admitted to keeping the foul-hooked fish. A citation was issued for the violation and reimbursement will be sought for the fish.
CO Robert Freeborn was dispatched to a car versus moose accident on US- 2 near Seney. Upon arrival, it was found the bull moose was struck by a motorist causing significant damage to the pickup truck and killing the moose. While waiting for the wrecker to arrive on the scene, CO Freeborn quartered the animal salvaging all the meat possible so it could be processed by a local butcher to be donated to local food banks.
CO Brandon Maki was patrolling the Forest Lake Basin in Alger County on opening day of duck season and observed several groups of hunters for nearly two hours. CO Maki watched a group of hunters shoot at a Canada goose which then fell inside the group’s decoys and was clearly wounded. The wounded goose was observed by CO Maki inside the group’s decoys for nearly 25 minutes before one hunter dispatched it. CO Maki launched his canoe, contacted the group, and issued a citation for failing to immediately kill waterfowl.
CO Scott Pankow and Sgt. Calvin Smith were patrolling northbound on M 123 when they observed an ORV operating in the southbound lane of traffic. The side-by-side was stopped and when told the reason for being pulled over, the subject stated that the gas station attendant had told him, “You’ll be ok, just be courteous to the motor vehicles on the road.” The subject was cited for operating an ORV on a state highway.
CO Cole VanOosten received a complaint of an in-progress trespass in Luce County. The complainant provided CO VanOosten with photographs taken from his motion activated cellular cameras throughout his property. The photos showed four bear hound hunters walking through his 600-acre property with a gun and several game backpacks. When CO VanOosten arrived in the area, he observed a man sitting in the tall grass next to a nearby road with four bear hunting dogs. The man admitted to trespassing on private property to kill a bear. The hunter said they parked at the gate, walked around the gate and past the cabin before walking through the property. The hunter said they had trespassed on that property for many years, and they never had a problem, stating he believed the fine for trespass was only $75. When asked where the bear was, the hunter stated that it had already been quartered up. When asked again where the bear was, the man showed CO VanOosten several backpacks and game bags in the roadside ditch that the bear had been cut up and placed in. It was determined that nearly five hours after the bear had been killed, quartered, and transported out of the woods it still had not been tagged with the hunter’s kill-tag. The man was issued a citation for failure to immediately tag a black bear. A report was generated requesting charges against the hunters for recreational trespass.
COs Jason Ruth and Cole Vanoosten patrolled the Tahquamenon River on the duck opener. Many duck hunters were checked, and the COs noted high compliance with the regulations. One hunter was issued a citation for not having any personal flotation devices (PFDs) in his boat for himself or his two hunting buddies.
COs Andrea Dani and Justin Vinson completed a week-long advanced marine training that was held in Sault Ste. Marie. The COs learned advanced operation and navigation techniques operating large great lake vessels in both day and night.
DISTRICT 3
COs Nathan Beelman and Chad Baldwin patrolled by e-bike on Garden Island checking on campsites and hunting activity. The COs checked numerous sites around the island and contacted a large group of grouse hunters.
CO Duane Budreau responded to a possible forest fire call that allegedly stemmed from an escaped brush fire. Upon arrival on scene, CO Budreau soon discovered that the fire had been contained. After further investigation, CO Budreau determined that the fire had not escaped, and that the property owner had pushed up a berm around the large fire with his front-end loader. The man was burning a large pile of red pine during a high fire danger period and had not obtained a permit. CO Budreau issued him a ticket for burning without a permit.
COs Duane Budreau, Chad Baldwin, and Kyle Cherry assisted the U.S Secret Service and Homeland Security Investigations with security during a campaign stop for Minnesota Governor and Democratic Vice-Presidential Nominee Tim Walz.
CO Tom Oberg was on patrol when Otsego County Central Dispatch advised of an accident between two jet-skis on a local inland lake. CO Oberg was very close to the location and responded. CO Oberg arrived on scene and located a male subject who had a large laceration on top of his head and cheek. CO Oberg retrieved a large gauze pad from his first aid kit and applied it to the operator’s injuries and applied pressure until Otsego County EMS arrived on scene. CO Kyle Cherry arrived on scene along with an Otsego County sheriff’s deputy and MSP troopers. COs Oberg and Cherry investigated the accident. The injured person was transported to Otsego Memorial Hospital and later transported to Traverse City for non-life-threatening injuries.
COs Tom Oberg, Dan Liestenfeltz, and Sgt. Michael Mshar responded to a call regarding a 12-year-old autistic child who was riding a dirt-bike on state land with his family and became separated from them. The COs assisted the Otsego County Sheriff’s Department and MSP in the search for the missing child. The boy was located several hours later walking along a two track. Luckily, he was in good condition.
COs Alex Bourgeois and Jon Sheppard responded to a complaint called into the Report All Poaching (RAP) hotline of an adult subject shooting a doe during the youth hunt. The COs went to the home of the subject to interview him and obtained a full confession. A ticket was issued for hunting over bait, possessing an untagged deer, and taking a deer out of season. The deer was seized and donated.
CO Alex Bourgeois received a complaint of a man who shot a doe during the early antlerless season without a license. The man then bought his license after the fact and placed it on the deer. CO Bourgeois interviewed the man and obtained a full confession. Charges are pending with the prosecutor’s office.
CO Dan Liestenfeltz attended the Michigan DNR booth in downtown Atlanta during the “Elk Fest” weekend. The event drew a large attendance and CO Liestenfeltz answered questions and talked about the elk season and job responsibilities of COs.
DISTRICT 4
COs Rich Stowe, Josh Wright and Sgt. Dan Bigger assisted the U.S Secret Service and Homeland Security Investigations with security during a Vice-Presidential campaign stop in Traverse City.
CO Zack Walters and Sgt. Dan Bigger were patrolling the Platte River and observed three adults and two children fishing. The adults were targeting coho and attempting to snag each fish they saw with their headlamps. CO Walters and Sgt. Bigger contacted the group and issued three citations for attempting to snag.
CO Kevin Bunce was on patrol in Newaygo County when he encountered a hunter participating in the early antlerless deer season. Contact was made with the hunter, who was not wearing any hunter orange. The hunter claimed it was “in his truck” and CO Bunce followed him back to the vehicle; however, he was unable to locate the required clothing and was issued a citation for the violation.
COs Kevin Bunce and Angela Greenway were on Ferris State University’s campus for the Criminal Justice and Campus-wide Career Fairs. The COs answered general questions related to the application process and the role of COs to many interested students.
CO Ben Shively was working federal land in Oceana County, focusing on illegal ORV operation, when he heard an ORV approaching his location. CO Shively watched the side-by-side enter the closed area and conducted a traffic stop. CO Shively found the operator to have a two-year-old child sitting on his knee, an unrestrained four-year-old sitting in the center seat, a male subject holding an infant in the passenger seat, and a female in the bed of the side-by-side. The subject was cited for operating an ORV in a closed area and arraignments were made for someone to come and pick up the children.
CO Ben Shively was dispatched to an abandoned utility trailer found on federal land in Oceana County. CO Shively located the trailer in the woods and recognized it from crews burying cable in the county. CO Shively was able to research online and locate a contact for the company. After speaking with the owner of the company, it was found the trailer had been stolen out of Newaygo County the day before but not yet entered as stolen. Due to poor cell phone service in the area, CO Shively was able to locate a crew of the company in Newaygo County and bring them to the trailer to recover it.
DISTRICT 5
CO Craig Neal was recently patrolling on Saginaw Bay checking for fishing and marine activity. CO Neal finally located an angler, in the distance trolling, for walleye. CO Neal contacted a lone angler fishing with six lines. Upon contact, the angler quickly stated that he “hadn’t had a bite all day and wanted to try a few more colors and lures.” A citation was issued for fishing with too many lines.
COs Matthew Zultak, Ben McAteer, and Sgt. Brian Olsen were at a Touch a Truck event at South Higgins Lake State Park in Roscommon County. The event is a local outreach where kids and families can talk with local first responders and see some of their equipment. During the event, a 10-year-old boy collapsed next to the CO vehicle. The COs along with a local medic provided first aid. The boy was turned over to a Gerrish Township ambulance for further evaluation.
CO Tyler Sabuda was checking for hunters during the small game opener when he heard a call for medical assistance not far from his location. When CO Sabuda arrived on the scene, the subject was barely breathing and did not have a pulse. CO Sabuda attached his department-issued automatic external defibrillator (AED) to the patient and no shock was advised. He immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until Mobile Medical Response arrived on the scene. Due to a history of medical conditions, the patient was not able to be revived.
DISTRICT 6
CO Dan Robinson responded to a large field fire in northern Isabella County and assisted fire crews, as needed, until additional firefighters arrived. CO Robinson located the responsible individual who stated that he was attempting to cut “fire lanes” with his lawnmower. After a short investigation, the individual admitted to CO Robinson that he was burning junk in a backyard pit and left the fire for a bit when it spread. He also admitted to burning furniture before the fire had gotten out of hand. A citation was issued for failing to prevent the spread of fire along with several warnings, including burning during a “no burn” day.
CO Jacob Robinson was on patrol in Montcalm County when he witnessed a couple of subjects coming off the lake to the boat launch. The CO contacted the subjects and checked their fish. They had 57 panfish between the two of them in their live well. One of the subjects claimed the over-limit fish and received a citation for illegally possessing the seven fish over-limit.
CO Michael Lator was patrolling Gratiot County when he spotted several goose hunters in a cornfield. The CO contacted the group and checked them for proper licensing and checked their firearms for plugs and steel shot. CO Lator discovered that one of the hunters did not have a state waterfowl license and issued the hunter a citation for failing to exhibit a hunting license. CO Lator educated the hunter that it is his responsibility to ensure he has the correct licenses before pursuing the game he is hunting.
DISTRICT 7
CO Carter Woodwyk was patrolling Allegan County when he observed a group of anglers with lights in a creek attempting to spot salmon. While watching the anglers, the CO observed one of them catch a salmon with just the use of a net, contrary to law. Soon after, a second subject began snagging salmon and placed a snagged salmon on a stringer. The CO contacted the group of anglers and enforcement action was taken.
CO Carter Woodwyk was patrolling Allegan County when he observed a group of three anglers fishing a creek. One of the anglers constantly was hooking and landing salmon and a second angler landed a salmon that was hooked in the tail area and retained the fish. The CO contacted the anglers and found two of the three anglers were fishing with weights directly below treble hooks and the third angler was fishing with an illegal set up for the body of water they were all fishing. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Kyle McQueer received a complaint from Barry County Central Dispatch of individuals camping in the Barry State Game Area (SGA). The complainant thought they were the same people who camped a couple months prior in the same location and ultimately left litter and debris all over the area. As CO McQueer pulled into the parking lot where the individuals were camping, CO McQueer observed a female laying in the dirt parking lot, in the fetal position, hands covering her face while a male was standing over top of her and struck her in the face. CO McQueer exited his patrol truck and ordered the male to the front of his patrol truck. The individual was then detained. After further investigation, the male was arrested and lodged at the Barry County Jail for domestic violence.
CO Ryan Jager assisted the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety with a complaint of several homeless individuals residing in tents on railroad property. While CO Jager was at this complaint; he ran a subject for warrants and found that the individual had a felony warrant for his arrest. CO Jager took the suspect into custody without incident and transported him to Kalamazoo County Jail.
CO Zach Bauer was on patrol observing anglers fishing for salmon. CO Bauer witnessed one angler utilizing illegal fishing equipment in an area with gear restrictions on that body of water. CO Bauer witnessed the angler snag a salmon hooked near the tail and CO Bauer witnessed the angler place the fish on a stringer. CO Bauer contacted the angler, seized the fish, and a ticket was issued for retaining a foul hooked fish.
CO Zach Bauer was on patrol when he located an angler fishing with four lines along the St Joseph River. CO Bauer contacted the angler, and further investigation revealed the angler was smoking marijuana in public and drove to the fishing location with a suspended driver’s license. A ticket was issued for fishing with more than three lines.
CO Travis Dragomer observed anglers fishing upon the St. Joseph River at the Berrien Springs Dam. CO Dragomer observed the group of anglers bring a salmon to shore and remove the hook from the back of the salmon. CO Dragomer continued to observe the anglers and the angler that caught the previous salmon continued trying to snag more. CO Dragomer contacted the anglers and one of the anglers admitted to snagging the chinook in the back and keeping it. CO Dragomer issued a ticket for retaining a foul hooked fish and the 18-pound king salmon was donated to a needy family.
CO Tyler Cole observed a couple fishing in the Paw Paw River while patrolling salmon run activity in Van Buren County. CO Cole contacted the subjects and checked all fishing gear and licenses. One subject stated that the fishing licenses for both her and her husband were on her phone, and she needed to log into the DNR app to be able to show the CO their fishing licenses. While waiting for what seemed like an unreasonable amount of time to log in, CO Cole asked the subject if she was looking for her licenses or attempted to purchase them while the CO was standing there. She admitted that she was attempting to purchase the licenses with CO Cole standing there. Tickets were issued to both subjects for fishing without a license.
CO Tyler Cole overheard radio traffic of a local police officer involved with a subject who was swinging a 4x4 piece of wood at the officer, ultimately leading to a foot pursuit. CO Cole was approximately one mile from that location and responded to assist the local officer. Upon arriving on scene, the local police officer had the suspect on the ground and at TASER point. CO Cole assisted with taking the subject into custody without further incident.
CO Mark Reffitt was patrolling Ionia County when he came across an individual operating a quad on an improved county road. The operator was not wearing a helmet, and ORV registration was not visible on the machine. After observing the operator reach speeds of up to 55 mph, well beyond the 25-mph limit for ORVs in Michigan, CO Reffitt initiated a traffic stop. The CO explained the rules for ORVs on county roads in Michigan, a ticket was issued addressing the violations, and the driver was provided a copy of the Michigan ORV Handbook.
CO Mark Reffitt observed two anglers in a small motorboat while checking boaters at a DNR boating access site along the Grand River in Ionia County. The boat did not have current watercraft registration, and when the subjects arrived at the launch, the CO initiated a marine safety inspection on the vessel. Not only was the boat registration expired, but the anglers only had one PFD between the two of them. Neither angler had a current Michigan fishing license, nor had they purchased one in several years. Tickets were issued for the violations.
DISTRICT 8
CO Jeremy Woods received a call for service from Eaton County dispatch regarding two people hunting in Hamlin Township. Upon arrival, CO Woods contacted two individuals who were dragging an untagged doe to their truck on the side of the road. CO Woods asked the individual with the rifle if he was the one that shot it, and he said yes. The two individuals admitted to crossing onto property they did not have permission to be on to retrieve the deer that was shot. Upon further investigation, CO Woods discovered that the hunter did not buy his tags until after the deer was shot. Tickets were issued and the deer was seized and donated.
CO John Byars responded to a medical call from Ingham County Central Dispatch that a woman had been accidently shot in her leg. CO Byars immediately went to the scene and located the victim who had been shot; the CO was assisted by the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office. The CO placed a tourniquet on her leg and wrapped the wound to protect it and stop bleeding. CO Byars stabilized the victim until the ambulance medics arrived shortly thereafter.
Following up on last week’s illegal camping investigation inside the Dansville SGA, CO James Rowley was contacted by the camping party. CO Rowley met the two individuals at the location of the campsite. CO Rowley determined through investigation that one individual was currently on bond for aggravated assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder. The other individual had an active warrant for failure to appear in court for child support. CO Rowley let the two individuals clean the campsite, then arrested the individual with the warrant. The individual was transported and lodged at the Ingham County Jail.
CO James Rowley assisted MSP troopers on a call of a suicidal subject. The reporting party was a treatment coordinator at a location in Ingham County. The reporting party called 911 to report that one of their clients was on their way to the facility. The client had made statements to a credible source that they were going to take their own life by strangulation. CO Rowley arrived at the facility location and spoke with the troopers on scene. While getting a description of the client’s vehicle, the client entered the parking lot. Upon seeing the law enforcement vehicles, the client exited the parking lot. CO Rowley followed the vehicle with the emergency lights and siren activated. CO Rowley stopped the client within a mile of the facility. Troopers quickly arrived on scene as did treatment coordinators. CO Rowley remained on scene while the client was peacefully talked out of the vehicle. The client was transported back to the facility by the MSP troopers and treatment coordinators.
DISTRICT 9
COs Kris Kiel and David Schaumburger conducted a boat patrol on Lake St. Clair targeting perch anglers. One subject was written a citation for not providing his grandson a PFD. One other subject was written a citation for fishing without a license. The subject produced an Ontario fishing license and stated that he thought it was a “two for one deal” to get his Michigan license with it.
CO Nicholas Ingersoll was traveling on US 23 when he had a vehicle pass him at a high rate of speed. CO Ingersoll utilized his radar unit and was able to determine the vehicle was going 105 mph in a 70-mph speed zone. CO Ingersoll conducted a traffic stop and spoke with the teenage driver who advised they were late for an appointment. The driver was also unable to provide proof of insurance during the stop. CO Ingersoll issued the driver a citation for speeding and warned them for not having proof of insurance.
COs Danny Walzak, Les Bleil and Keven Luther assisted with the 3rd annual Hunters of Color event on Belle Isle Park. The three COs presented visitors with information pertaining to tree-stand safety. The three COs assembled a ladder-stand and the appropriate safety equipment allowing new hunters to shoot a bow and arrow from an elevated platform for the first time.
CO Dave Schaumburger assisted Huron Township who had a be on the lookout that two four-wheelers were driving recklessly. The Huron Township Police Department stopped them on the side of the road and the CO came to assist shortly after. Both operators had no helmets on, had unlicensed ORVs, and were riding on a closed highway (roadway). During the stop, one of the neighbors came out and started yelling at the ORV drivers saying, “I told you guys once already to stay off my property.” He told the officers that they have been behind his property tearing it up today and once before. The CO issued a citation for operating on the roadway and impounded the two ORVs.
CO Dan Walzak instructed at the Advanced Marine Enforcement Training class held in Sault Ste. Marie. Training was provided to 15 officers on the operation of larger Great Lakes patrol vessels as well as chart navigation, search patterns, vessel operation in heavy seas, man overboard drills, marlinspike seamanship, chart-plotter and radar operations. Also attending the training was a Sgt. from the Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources and a trooper from the MSP dive team.
CO Nicholas Ingersoll conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for failing to stop at a stop sign on Belle Isle. CO Ingersoll spoke with the occupants of the vehicle, who were unable to provide any form of US identification. CO Ingersoll contacted US Border Patrol (USBP) and asked for assistance on his stop due to the lack of paperwork the occupants provided. The USBP arrested one of the occupants of the motor vehicle after checking their status. CO Ingersoll warned the driver for his traffic infraction.
Sgt. Danielle Zubek worked a Belle Isle shift. During the shift, Sgt. Zubek and CO Luke Robare responded to an unknown medical at Shelter 10. Once on scene, Sgt. Zubek assessed the victim. He was alert and breathing after passing out and falling to the ground. EMS arrived on scene and assessed the patient. He refused to be taken to the hospital for medical treatment.
While running radar on Belle Isle, CO Dave Schaumburger stopped a vehicle traveling at 47 mph in a 25-mph zone. The driver said he was volunteering at the softball tournament, was lost, and running late. The CO gave him a break, writing him for five over instead of 22 over. While giving the ticket to the driver, he remarked that he was volunteering and now he was losing money with a ticket.
CO Dave Schaumburger patrolled Belle Isle on a rainy Tuesday afternoon. Activity was low, but speeding was high. CO Schaumburger wrote five speeding tickets for people going more than 20 mph over the speed limit.
CO Dave Schaumburger stopped a vehicle going 45 mph in a 25-mph zone on Belle Isle. When the CO approached the driver, he recognized him from two prior traffic stops on Belle Isle. The driver was previously speeding and driving with no plates. The CO asked the driver why he hasn’t started improving his driving, to which he replied, “I don’t know, but I know you, Officer Schaumburger, very well.” The driver was cited for his excessive speed.
GREAT LAKES ENFORCEMENT UNIT (GLEU)
Several members of GLEU, led by Corporal (Cpl.) Troy Van Gelderen, instructed at the 2024 Advanced Marine Enforcement Training (AMET) held in the Eastern Upper Peninsula.
Several members of GLEU attended the fall meeting of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission Law Enforcement Committee in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Once again, there was a heavy focus on aquatic invasive species (AIS) enforcement across the basin, and the sharing of intelligence related to activities crossing jurisdictions.
Cpls. Mike Hammill, Brett DeLonge, Tom Peterson and Todd Sumbera conducted a joint LEC patrol with a Sault Tribe CO in the Munising and Grand Marias area. Numerous nets were checked as well as two checks of commercial fishermen on the water.
Cpl. Justin Vanderlinde assisted the Benzie County Sheriff Department with on-water marine support during the annual Ironman Triathlon in Frankfort.
Cpls. Troy Van Gelderen and Justin Vanderlinde conducted an AIS patrol in the Greater Grand Rapids area checking pet shops, bait shops and live-food markets for prohibited species. No violations were observed.
Cpl. Troy Van Gelderen issued a citation to a charter boat captain in Muskegon County for failing to meet reporting requirements for the fifth time this summer.
Cpl. Craig Milkowski received a complaint forwarded from Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) of a renter who lives above a pet store stating she has seen various critters in her apartment that came from the shop below her. The complainant believes the owner isn’t taking proper care of the animals. Upon inspection, it was determined that the newly opened pet shop was not properly licensed to sell aquatic organisms. Cpl. Milkowski assisted the owner in navigating the proper paperwork and the shop is now registered. The owner stated they have had no escaped animals but do allow some of them to wonder about the store for patrons to experience.
Cpl. Craig Milkowski received a second complaint of possible illegal nets in Hammond Bay. The nets were checked, and they are set properly. In both instances, the complainant is unfamiliar with the legality of commercial fishing in Northern Lake Huron, as this area has not been fished in recent years.
Cpl. Chris Lynch was on patrol when he received a complaint of fish being illegally taken in the Days River. Cpl. Lynch arrived on scene and located the anglers in question. Through investigation it was determined the anglers were Tribal members exercising their Treaty Rights, and no violations were committed.
Cpl. Mike Hammill worked the local rivers in Delta County which have had a heavy run of pink salmon this fall. With water levels being extremely low, the fish are vulnerable. Cpl. Hammill has told several young boys to get out of the river with their sticks and landing nets.
Cpl. Mike Hammill contacted a group of duck hunters that were inadvertently raining shot on neighboring houses. The hunters were just outside the safety zone and were all properly licensed. The hunters readjusted their setup for the evening hunt.
Cpl. Mike Hammill participated in the National Fishing and Hunting Day that was held at the local sportsmen’s club. Over 100 kids participated in the event.
ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION SECTION (EIS)
Detective James Zellinger reports a 26-year-old seawall contractor from Barry County has been convicted of two misdemeanors for violating conditions of a permit and providing false information in a permit application under Part 301 (Inland Lakes and Streams) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act in Allegan County.
The seawall contractor was issued two permits from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) in February 2022 for the replacement of existing seawalls on neighboring properties on Gun Lake. The permits required the placement of toe stone in front of the seawall and the establishment of a no-mow zone after the installation of the new seawall. EGLE staff conducted compliance inspections of the properties in August 2022 and learned the seawalls had been completed in May 2022. At the time of the inspections, toe stone was not in place and no-mow zones had not been established.
After receiving the case referral in October 2023, Detective Zellinger’s investigation revealed the seawall contractor never discussed the placement of toe stone or the establishment of no-mow zones being requirements of the permits with the property owners. The seawall contractor had also forged the property owner’s signatures on agent authorization forms submitted to EGLE with the permit applications.
The seawall contractor refused to resolve the open violations with EGLE, and the property owners had to hire another contractor to fulfill the original requirements of the permits as issued.
The Allegan County Prosecutor’s Office initially charged the seawall contractor with four misdemeanor counts. Two counts of permit violations and two counts of providing false information in a permit application. In October 2024, the seawall contractor reached a plea agreement with the prosecutor’s office which resulted in guilty pleas to two of the charges and the dismissal of the remaining two charges. The seawall contractor paid $1,000 in bond and was sentenced to pay an additional $1,975 in fines and costs.
