1/5/2025-1/18/2025

DISTRICT 1

Conservation Officers (COs) Brian Lasanen, Peter Shambaugh, Phil Helminen, and Alex VanWagner were on a snowmobile patrol in Houghton County when they were notified of a serious personal injury snowmobile crash. The COs responded to the scene and assisted medical professionals already on scene with life saving measures. Unfortunately, the operator was pronounced dead at the scene. The COs assisted the Ontonagon County Sheriff’s Department with accident investigation and traffic control on the scene.

COs Brian Lasanen, Zach Painter, and Ethen Mapes conducted a patrol in Ontonagon County targeting snowmobile trail road crossings. The COs contacted numerous operators who failed to stop for the posted road crossings. The COs also addressed violations for failing to display trail permits and registrations.

CO Alex VanWagner received a complaint of unattended tip-ups, with a flag up on one, on a lake in Iron County. CO VanWagner went to the location and observed three tip-ups set up on the lake for about 15 minutes with no one around. He followed boot tracks to a residence and made contact. The subject stated the tip-ups were put out the prior evening and last checked around 11 PM. He said he had a buddy over, had some drinks, and fell asleep. A small pike was pulled up from one of the tip-ups and released. The subject was cited for fishing with lines not in immediate control.

CO Phil Helminen contacted a group ice fishing. While speaking with them, CO Helminen observed a largemouth bass laying on the ice. CO Helminen asked the group about the bass, one of the men said he caught the fish, and it was the first fish they caught that was big enough to keep. CO Helminen explained to them that bass season had closed two weeks prior. When CO Helminen asked to see fishing licenses the man stated that he thought it was free fishing weekend and that he did not purchase a fishing license. CO Helmein explained that it was not free fishing weekend in Michigan and the largemouth bass was seized and enforcement action was taken.

CO Steve Sajtar received a complaint of a deer being shot during the closed season in Menominee County. CO Sajtar recognized the suspect’s name from a prior recreational trespass investigation. CO Sajtar interviewed the suspect at their residence and found the suspect to be in possession of an illegally taken antlerless deer. The suspect tagged the deer with a kill tag only valid in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The suspect and her husband both admitted to shooting deer within the safety zone of multiple residences without permission. CO Sajtar issued multiple verbal warnings and a citation for the illegally taken deer. Charges are being sought for hunting within the firearm safety zone of a residence without written permission.

DISTRICT 2

While checking an inland lake one evening, CO Brandon Maki stopped at an access site and observed an ice shack. CO Maki watched one individual tend three tip-ups a short distance away from the portable ice shack. CO Maki approached the shack and contacted the lone angler who was jigging for walleye inside with a fourth line. CO Maki issued a citation for fishing with too many lines and cleared the scene.

While on patrol along Trail 8 at a county road intersection in Alger County, CO Andrea Dani issued citations to snowmobilers for various violations including careless operation for running the stop sign as well as failure to display registration decals.

CO Jason Ruth patrolled Luce County with the Luce County Sheriff's Department and issued citations for careless operation of a snowmobile to individuals who disregarded stop signs.

CO Jason Ruth assisted a stranded motorist on US-2. The driver advised she had been there for hours trying to change her tire. She said several wreckers had cancelled. CO Ruth was able to remove the flat and install the spare. The young college student was very thankful and was able to continue on her way.

COs Cole VanOosten and Sergeant (Sgt.) Calvin Smith conducted a snowmobile patrol from McMillan to Munising. The COs observed countless snowmobiles and issued six citations for careless operation, registration violations, and no trail stickers.

COs Scott Pankow and Sgt. Calvin Smith conducted a snowmobile patrol in Chippewa County. Several snowmobilers were contacted during the patrol with citations being issued for registration violations and carless operation.

CO Mike Olesen conducted a snowmobile patrol in Chippewa County focusing on careless operation. CO Olesen issued six citations to snowmobilers who disregarded stop signs at trail crossings.

DISTRICT 3

CO Chad Baldwin responded to a complaint of an off-road vehicle (ORV) that went through the ice on a lake in Charlevoix County. When CO Baldwin arrived, the operator as well as the two passengers had made it to a nearby residence along the shoreline and were drying off and warming up. No injuries occurred but the ORV sank to the bottom in about six feet of water. A local marine recovery service was contacted, and arrangements are being made to recover and remove the ORV from the lake bottom as soon as possible.

CO Duane Budreau responded to a water rescue call on a lake in Emmet County in which two elderly gentlemen went through the ice on an ORV. The two men were riding double on a quad designed for one operator and no passenger. One of the men was riding on the cargo rack using a boat cushion for padding. The two men had checked the ice and determined there were about five inches of ice for several hundred yards offshore. They then decided to go to the center of the lake to fish. The ORV broke through the ice about three quarters of a mile offshore. The ice was less than an inch thick. Both men ended up in the water. The 78-year-old man was riding on the back of the ORV and able to use the machine to push himself up and out of the hole back onto the ice. The operator of the machine was 71 years old. He was fortune that his passenger was using a boat cushion for a seat since it is a United States Coast Guard approved Type IV personal floatation device (PFD).  The operator was unable to get himself out of the water, however, was able to utilize the Type IV PFD to keep from drowning until search and rescue arrived on scene. The man was in the freezing water for about a half hour. Both men were taken to the hospital where the operator spent the night until his body temperature returned to normal.

CO Andrea Albert followed up with a deer case where a firearm deer hunter shot an 8-point antlered deer, then purchased a license afterwards in January. An interview with the hunter found that this was his first deer he ever shot, and he had a friend that was caught committing the same violation last year who was also charged. The 8-point shoulder mount was already back from the taxidermist and was seized for being illegally taken. A report was submitted with the Antrim County Prosecutor’s Office for charges.

CO Tom Oberg was patrolling an intersection of a snowmobile trail near Gaylord when a snowmobile passed in front of him. The operator was not wearing a helmet and had an expired snowmobile trail permit. CO Oberg performed a traffic stop on the snowmobile and contacted the operator asking him why he didn’t have a helmet on. He stated he was just trying to get his snowmobile home which had been left on the side of the snowmobile trail for over a week. CO Oberg quickly realized that CO Kyle Cherry had issued the same operator multiple tickets over a week prior for operating on a suspended driver’s license and for not having a snowmobile trail permit. Tickets were issued for the violations.

COs Alex Bourgeois, Jon Sheppard, Matt Theunick, and Sgt. Paul Fox assisted Presque Isle County Sheriff’s deputies and the Michigan State Police (MSP) with a barricaded gunman who fired at a deputy. The COs held a perimeter on the home for three hours until the MSP Emergency Response Units arrived. The COs also assisted transporting MSP staff and resources around the scene and assisted in traffic control.

CO Sidney LaLonde assisted in instructing a snowmobile course to various law enforcement agencies. Time was spent in the classroom teaching snowmobile law and outside the classroom on snowmobiles, learning operation and enforcement techniques.

CO Sidney LaLonde checked several anglers in Montmorency County. On one of the lakes, CO LaLonde checked a pair of anglers who had six short fish. The anglers claimed they thought the fish were legal after a quick Google search. CO LaLonde showed the anglers in the fishing guide where they needed to look and explained why Google was not a reliable source. The anglers were issued a ticket, and the fish were confiscated.

CO Jon Sklba finished and submitted a report requesting charges for criminal trespassing in Montmorency County. The trespassing occurred during the deer hunting season.

Sgt. Paul Fox concluded an illegal deer and discharge of a firearm investigation. A subject shot a deer at night well after the conclusion of legal hunting hours. One of the fired rifle rounds struck a neighboring house, causing damage to the house. The subject paid for the damage caused and was charged with the illegal taking of a deer after legal hunting hours and the careless discharge of a firearm. The deer and rifle were also seized.

Sgt. Paul Fox put on a conservation law enforcement presentation at Alpena Community College. Sgt. Fox was asked to be a guest speaker for a natural resource management class. Sgt. Fox discussed the job of a CO, the history of conservation law enforcement, and the impact of law enforcement on resource protection.

DISTRICT 4

CO Cameron Wright assisted county units with a suicidal subject in Newaygo County. The male subject attempted to jump through a glass window and shattered it. The male then grabbed the broken glass and started cutting his wrists. CO Wright arrived first on scene and located the male subject lying in his bedroom. CO Wright was able to secure the scene and calm the subject down so that Life Care could respond. The male was treated on scene by Life Care and transported to the hospital.

CO Cameron Wright located a pickup truck in the Muskegon State Game Area (SGA). CO Wright parked his patrol truck and waited for the hunter to return. CO Wright eventually contacted the hunter coming out of the woods with a loaded 12-gauge shotgun. CO Wright contacted the man and learned he was previously convicted of armed robbery on two separate occasions and could not possess a firearm. The firearm and ammunition were seized, and a warrant will be sought for felon in possession of a firearm.

COs William Kinney and Josh Wright responded to a complaint in Leelanau County. A homeowner called in with concerns after locating blood and drag marks through their property. The COs arrived on scene and located the blood and drag marks observed originally by the homeowner. The COs were able to track the blood three quarters of a mile through the homeowner's property and adjacent property to a deer blind. At the deer blind, the COs located blood over a pile of shelled corn. After hiking back and driving around to the adjacent property owner’s house, the COs spoke with an individual who had admitted to hunting the blind the day prior. The hunter told the COs that he had harvested a nice buck and tracked the deer through his neighbor’s property, where he was later picked up by his wife. The hunter eventually admitted to knowing he was not supposed to be baiting. A report was generated and submitted to the local prosecutor for review.

CO William Kinney responded to a call that an ice angler had possibly fallen through the ice on an inland lake in Grand Traverse County. CO Kinney responded with the MSP, local fire department, sheriff’s department, and dive team. The fire department discovered two buckets, one which was floating in a large hole broken in the ice. In addition, an ice fishing rod was also discovered floating. With limited visibility in the water, the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office dive team was sent into the water to search. After a thorough search, the dive team was confident that no angler was in the water or under the ice. It was discovered that earlier in the day two adults and two kids were observed ice fishing in that location. It is believed that someone in the group possibly fell through the ice, self-rescued, and left their belongings on the ice due to the incident and unsafe conditions.

DISTRICT 5

CO Kyle Bader was on his way to submit a warrant request at the Iosco County Prosecutor's Office when he observed a large plume of black smoke rising into the sky a few miles away. CO Bader located the source of the smoke and observed a large pile of brush and other debris burning behind a septic hauling business. There was also a pile of tires near the fire. CO Bader contacted the owner of the business and asked him what was burning. The man said it was a brush pile, but there was some unknown trash buried in the brush pile. CO Bader inspected the fire and saw at least six tires that had already burned in the fire. The man was issued a citation for the violation.

CO Jacob Hamilton was patrolling on a lake in Kalkaska County when he contacted three subjects ice fishing after dark. One of the anglers walked away from his shanty and began talking to CO Hamilton. CO Hamilton asked the angler how many lines he had out, and the angler stated he had two tip-ups and a jigging pole in the shanty. The angler opened the shanty revealing two jigging poles set up. A citation was issued for fishing with more than three lines.

CO Ryan Weakman received a complaint about a subject who had possibly shot a deer over a bait pile on another person’s property. The complainant had originally contacted the Clare County Sheriff’s Office, and the responding deputy wasn’t able to locate any blood or evidence that a deer had been shot. CO Weakman responded to the scene for follow up, but nobody was home at the time. CO Weakman left the area and a short time later, a neighbor who CO Weakman had spoken with earlier contacted him and said the complainant was back at the scene. CO Weakman responded back to the residence and through further investigation, discovered the complainant had an outstanding felony warrant out of Genessee County. Sgt. Jon Wood responded to assist at the scene. After arriving, Sgt. Wood remembered the subject from prior arrests for shooting deer over lighted bait piles in the middle of the night. The subject assured Sgt. Wood that he had “changed his ways” after the last encounter with the Department of Natural Resources. The subject was subsequently arrested and lodged in the Clare Couty Jail for the outstanding felony warrant.

COs Matthew Zultak and Ben McAteer conducted an ice fishing patrol on a lake in Roscommon County. CO Zultak contacted two anglers who were in possession of multiple perch. Upon contact, one of the individuals did not have his license on his person but stated he had one. Using the subject’s driver’s license, a file and fishing license check was conducted. The subject had not purchased a fishing license. The suspect also had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on other charges. CO Zultak cited the subject for fishing without a license and gave him a warning for possessing four perch. The subject was also advised and released on his outstanding warrant.

DISTRICT 6

CO Adam Beuthin was on patrol checking ice anglers on the Saginaw River when he contacted a man who was fishing next to a shanty. The man advised the CO he had caught three walleye. The CO measured the fish, and it was determined one of them was shorter than the legal 13-inch size limit. Enforcement action was taken, and the man was issued a citation for possessing an undersized walleye.

While checking ice anglers, CO Jacob Daniel discovered three undersized pike. It was said to be the angler’s first year fishing and was confirmed with their license purchases. The fish were released and one citation for undersized pike was written.

COs Mike Haas and Jacob Robinson were patrolling along the Isabella and Mecosta County line when they witnessed snowmobiles operating towards them in the middle of the roadway. The COs noted that neither machine appeared to have registration or trail permits. After turning around and catching up to the machines, the COs activated their emergency lights causing one subject to stop, but the other subject looked back at the COs then accelerated at a high speed. The first subject was cited since he was operating an unregistered snowmobile, the machine also lacked a trail permit, and the subject had a revoked driver’s license. The COs then followed the other subject’s snowmobile tracks to a residence near a public lake. The suspect snowmobile was parked behind the house, but the subject would not answer the door. An unlabeled ice shanty was located a short distance behind the residence along with four unlabeled tip-ups. The COs noted that there were flags up on the tip-ups, but no one was coming to check them. The abandoned fishing equipment was seized, and a property seizure record was completed. While CO Haas was placing the seizure record at the suspect’s front door, the subject happened to be standing at the door and met eyes with CO Haas. The subject came outside, and the COs spoke with him. The subject admitted to operating his snowmobile with a revoked license and without a trail permit or registration, but he was adamant that he did not see the COs or their patrol truck behind him. The subject also admitted that he was fishing with too many lines and had left them unattended. The subject’s fishing equipment was returned, and multiple citations were issued.

CO Mike Haas received a complaint through the Report All Poaching (RAP) hotline that there was an unlabeled ice shanty left for days on a small lake in northern Isabella County. The complainant also reported that the group was leaving litter all over the ice. CO Haas responded to the area and contacted a group of anglers in and around the shanty. CO Haas recognized the shanty and anglers since he had spoken with them days before. During the first contact, CO Haas issued warnings to the subjects for using marijuana while under the age of 21. During the second interaction, CO Haas again noted the smell of freshly burnt marijuana and witnessed a subject attempting to conceal marijuana in his pocket. CO Haas once again pointed out the marijuana violations and noted that the subject’s shanty had been on the lake for a week without proper labeling. Multiple citations and warnings were issued for fishing license violations, the ice shanty violation, and for the underage use and possession of marijuana.

DISTRICT 7

No Report

DISTRICT 8

CO Nick Thornton responded to a recreational trespass complaint that had occurred a couple days prior. CO Thornton learned that two individuals had shot antlerless deer and both deer ran onto the neighboring property. Both deer were recovered before asking for permission to enter the property as a violation of the recreational trespass law. CO Thornton located both suspects at a residence and approached as they were actively processing a deer in the garage. CO Thornton noticed evidence of numerous deer that had been recently processed in the garage and he gained consent to search the area. CO Thornton located at least six different deer that had been shot that still had tags attached to the legs. CO Thornton found three of the tags were not validated. Both individuals denied re-using some of their deer tags. However, both admitted to knowingly not validating their tags. Both admitted to shooting several deer and neither had registered any harvests. CO Thornton cited both for failing to immediately validate their kill tags and failing to register their deer harvests. Warnings were issued for the recreational trespass violations.

CO Nick Thornton was contacted by a hunter who had trail camera photos of two trespassers who appeared to be hunting on his property during firearm season and without hunter orange. CO Thornton identified one of the trespassers by recognizing some of the clothing from a recent interview he had conducted regarding the theft of walnut logs. CO Thornton began working the area and eventually located the suspect walking past the property. CO Thornton contacted the individual and he admitted that he had been trespassing and gave the name of his partner. Further investigation revealed the individual was a convicted felon and had not purchased any hunting licenses. Both individuals are being charged with recreational trespass and failing to wear hunter orange. The first individual will also be charged with hunting without a license and possessing a firearm by a convicted felon.

DISTRICT 9

CO Brad Silorey was on patrol when he spotted a vehicle on the side of the road engulfed in flames. CO Silorey activated his emergency lights, notified county dispatchers, and pulled behind the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle ran over, and CO Silorey verified that no one was still inside. After securing the area, CO Silorey attempted to extinguish the blaze with his fire extinguisher to no avail. CO Silorey pulled his patrol vehicle into lanes of travel to block traffic as the flames were blowing into the traveled portion of the roadway. Firefighters arrived and were able to extinguish the flames and no injuries were reported. 

CO Sydney Griffor followed up with a case that involved a search warrant around Thanksgiving. The prosecutor’s office authorized several charges because of the search warrant, including five felony charges. COs Sydney Griffor, Brad Silorey, and Dave Schaumburger responded to the suspect’s residence with assistance from St. Clair County deputies to arrest the suspect on his felony warrant. Officers arrived at the residence and spoke with the suspect’s father who stated he was working in the barn with two friends. Officers contacted the two subjects near the barn who were trying to hide and told officers they did not know whether the suspect was there or not. CO Schaumburger located footprints in the snow and the suspect was eventually tracked down and apprehended after attempting to flee. The suspect was taken into custody and will be arraigned on his charges.

CO Brandon Hartleben was checking ice-anglers who were enjoying first ice on area lakes throughout Washtenaw County. CO Hartleben was finishing up his checks at Chelsea State Game Area (SGA) at the Marl Pits and contacted a subject packing up for the day. CO Hartleben asked the subject how he did, to which he replied, “Really good, I have been out here since 6 AM and had to go get more bait.”  CO Hartleben then asked to check his fish and license. The subject did not have a fishing license on him and said he thought it might be in the car. CO Hartleben then counted the fish, which included 23 bluegill and seven crappie. CO Hartleben seized the over-limit and advised the subject to keep packing up and to meet back at his vehicle. Back at the vehicle, CO Hartleben explained the various issues to the subject and issued a citation for taking an over-limit of panfish and a verbal warning for failure to display a fishing license.

CO Brandon Hartleben responded to a trespassing complaint in Lyndon Township. The property owner had contacted the subjects and advised them they were trespassing, but they decided not to heed his warning. CO Hartleben located the suspect vehicle parked 50 yards down the road from a fenced gate with a “No Trespassing” sign on it. CO Hartleben identified where the subjects climbed over the berm enclosing the farm field with their ice fishing sled. CO Hartleben followed the sled tracks and footprints through the snow in the field down to Boyce Lake, which is completely enclosed by private property. CO Hartleben then contacted the three subjects who were fishing on the ice. CO Hartleben conducted a fishing check and advised the subjects that they were trespassing and to pack up their gear and meet back at their vehicle. He issued each of the subjects a citation for recreational trespass and issued one of the individuals a warning for no fishing license on his person.

CO Brandon Vacek checked a deer blind on the final day and hours of the late extended antlerless firearm deer season in Monroe County. The blind was originally targeted very early in the deer season due to the large corn feeder downrange of the front window, but several attempts to locate a hunter in the stand throughout the seasons were unsuccessful. CO Vacek was able to spot a subject in the blind from a roadway alongside the property and made contact, on foot, shortly thereafter. The subject exited the blind without any hunter orange clothing, but insisted it was recently removed due to the heater and the coat was just hanging up inside the blind. The subject was questioned about the feeder, which was full of corn and still active. The CO had noticed a gut pile on the adjacent property while walking in and the subject advised it was from an antlerless deer that was shot earlier that was currently at a friend’s house. When the CO requested to check the subject’s deer tags, there was a brief look through the wallet prior to a realization that they must have been left back in the truck. The CO returned to the subject’s truck and conducted a check of the unused kill tag left inside. The CO questioned the subject about what tag was used on the deer that was shot earlier that day due to having only one valid kill tag left amongst all purchases and harvest reports for the year. After realizing the CO knew the facts didn’t line up, the subject dropped the tailgate of the pickup truck revealing an untagged antlerless deer inside the bed. Then, the subject stated, “I lied, its right here. I was going to go buy an antlerless tag for it and use this one if I got another one tonight.”  The subject was issued a citation for failure to immediately tag / transport deer, make use of bait to aid take of deer, and failure to exhibit a hunting license. A verbal warning was issued for the hunter orange requirement, as the jacket was inside the blind.

GREAT LAKES ENFORCEMENT UNIT (GLEU)

Corporal (Cpl.) Troy Van Gelderen received a complaint of a pet store in Grand Rapids selling eastern box turtles, a Michigan threatened species. Cpl. Van Gelderen seized one specimen from the store. The investigation is ongoing.

Cpl. Todd Sumbera contacted a trapper checking and making sets through the ice on a secluded pond. The trapper did not have any licenses on his person, so an electronic check was done to verify proper licensing.

Cpl. Pat Hartsig checked local tropical fish stores with a member of the Fisheries Division Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) team to demonstrate how an organisms in trade (OIT) inspection is completed, and how Law Enforcement Division enforces regulations. There were no violations noted.

While on regular patrol during the recent frigid weather, Cpl. Craig Milkowski encountered a motorist with a flat tire. Cpl. Milkowski was able to quickly change the tire and send the thankful motorist on her way.

ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION SECTION (EIS)

Detective (Det.) Quincy Gowenlock reports: In September of 2022, Environmental Investigation Section (EIS) received a criminal referral from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Water Resources Division (EGLE WRD), alleging a contractor from Iosco County had installed two seawalls without permits. An investigation concluded that the contractor did construct two seawalls on the bottom lands of inland lakes. The report was forwarded to the Iosco County Prosecutor's Office for review. On 11/24/23, an agreement was reached, and the contractor was placed on a delayed sentence for 12 months. On 9/6/24, the contractor completed his delayed sentence, and the charges were dismissed.