12/8/2024-1/4/2025

DISTRICT 1

Conservation Officers (COs) Jenni Lehto, Cody Smith and Ethen Mapes responded to a serious personal injury snowmobile crash in southern Houghton County. The 63-year-old male died from the injuries sustained in the crash. The investigation into the crash in ongoing.

CO Alex VanWagner responded to an address near Ewen for an unknown medical call. CO VanWagner arrived at the residence and observed an elderly male subject lying in a snowbank in the driveway. The subject was unable to speak but was alert and conscious. CO VanWagner had the subject write on his notepad what was happening. The man indicated he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). SONCO emergency medical services (EMS) arrived on scene and the subject was able to be led back inside his residence. The subject was able to write that he was trying to pull a stake from his driveway and fell in the process. CO VanWagner pulled the stake from the driveway while the subject was evaluated by EMS.

While completing paperwork for a prior operating while intoxicated (OWI) arrest in Menominee County, CO Steve Sajtar observed a vehicle driving past the Stephenson Field Office with a flat tire and a defective headlamp. CO Sajtar contacted the driver as he pulled into a parking lot. The driver stumbled out of the vehicle, put his hands up, and yelled, “Don’t shoot me please!” CO Sajtar asked the driver if he was okay considering the apparent damage to the vehicle. The driver replied, “I’m sorry officer, I know I’m drunk.” The driver admitted to driving his pickup through a ditch and hitting a culvert while intoxicated. When asked how much he had to drink, the driver replied, “I just had five shots, then three beers, and a couple mix drinks.”  CO Sajtar administered standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs) and a preliminary breath test (PBT). The driver’s PBT result was 0.138 blood alcohol content (BAC). CO Sajtar arrested the driver for OWI and lodged him at Menominee County Jail.

CO Jared Ferguson was patrolling in southern Dickinson County when dispatch put out a call of a possible hostage situation. An elderly woman was locked and barricaded in her bathroom by her live-in adult son. CO Ferguson responded along with a sheriff’s deputy and a local city police officer. After several attempts to get the son to open the front door, an entry was made, and the son was found hiding in a corner near the bathroom. The suspect was placed under arrest for the current incident and several outstanding warrants.

DISTRICT 2

CO Steve Butzin was conducting follow up from deer season when he encountered several licensing violations. It was discovered that an out-of-state resident had killed a 9-point buck and used the license of another. Enforcement action was taken on these violations.

CO Brandon Maki was working snowmobile activity in Alger County when he observed one rider completely disregard a stop sign where the trail crossed a highly traveled road. CO Maki initiated a stop on the snowmobile and the rider admitted to disregarding the stop sign and crossing the road at approximately 40 mph. CO Maki issued a citation for careless operation.

CO Scott Pankow was able to catch up with a trespass suspect from the firearm deer season. A confession was obtained, and a report has been submitted to the Chippewa County Prosecutor's Office for review.

CO Scott Pankow responded to a complaint of a safety zone violation on Drummond Island. CO Pankow interviewed the suspect who said they were walking down a road when they saw a snowshoe hare and shot at it. The suspect was well within the 150-yard safety zone of nearby residences and was also not wearing the required hunter orange. A report has been compiled and submitted to the Chippewa County Prosecutor's Office for review.

CO Scott Pankow received a complaint that a motor vehicle was driving down a road when the driver exited their vehicle and shot a pistol into the woods and then left. CO Pankow was able to track down the driver of the truck who at first told a story of putting a deer down that was injured. CO Pankow asked what gun he used and was told it was a .270 rifle. CO Pankow then pulled out the two empty .410 shotgun shells that were left at the scene. The individual then stated, “Well, you know what’s going on. I saw a grouse and shot at it with my .410 pistol I keep under the seat of my truck in a holster.”  CO Pankow discovered that the individual did not possess a concealed pistol license (CPL) and that the pistol was illegally borrowed from someone else. A report will be submitted to the Chippewa County Prosecutor's Office requesting charges of recreational trespass, carrying concealed weapon, and no hunter orange.

CO Cole VanOosten was on snowmobile patrol when he observed a snowmobile stuck in the middle of Big Manistique Lake after dark. CO VanOosten walked out on the ice to ensure the man was ok as the man was unable to move the snowmobile. Upon contact, the man was distraught and stated he was only on three and a half inches of ice with his snowmobile and a large sled full of gear. CO VanOosten assisted the man in removing his items from the ice and advised the man against operating his snowmobile on such variable ice conditions.

DISTRICT 3

While following up on deer cases, CO Andrea Albert identified a subject who shot a deer in the end of firearm deer season and purchased a license for it six days later. Follow-up interviews found the hunter had previously hunted deer without a license and only purchased a tag because he finally shot a deer and needed it tagged to take it to a processor. The hunter is a convicted felon and used a rifle to harvest the deer. Charges for the licensing violations and felon in possession of a firearm will be submitted to the prosecutor’s office.

CO Adam LeClerc checked a trapline along the outflow of a beaver dam while working the December elk hunt. Upon finding the first trap, CO LeClerc was surprised to find a wood duck in a trap, set for otter and muskrat, still alive. CO LeClerc was able to remove the wood duck. After a failed attempt to fly away, the wood duck was retrieved and placed on the floorboard of the patrol truck. After a few phone calls and a hand off to Sergeant (Sgt.) Paul Fox, the wood duck made its way to a wildlife rehabilitating facility south of Alpena.

COs Kyle Cherry, Dan Liestenfeltz, and Nathan Beelman all took part in a Toys for Tots program at Jay’s Sporting Goods. The COs raised over $1,000 and were able to donate an entire patrol truck full of toys to the program.

CO Tom Oberg was patrolling an intersection on a local snowmobile trail that crosses a county road. CO Oberg noticed two snowmobiles approaching the stop signs along the trail at a high rate of speed. Both snowmobiles failed to stop at the intersection. Neither operator looked to see if there was vehicle traffic either. CO Oberg caught up to the snowmobiles at the next road intersection with the trail. Just as CO Oberg was turning, the lead snowmobile also failed to stop at that intersection and slid right in front of CO Oberg’s lane of travel as the operator was trying to brake.  CO Oberg conducted a traffic stop on the snowmobiles and contacted both operators regarding their careless operation. Tickets were given to each rider for careless operation.

CO Jack Gorno participated in a Shop with a Hero event at the Cheboygan Walmart. CO Gorno was paired with a youth to assist them in purchasing gifts for their family.

CO Dan Liestenfeltz was on patrol in a remote area of Montmorency County during muzzleloader season when he encountered a vehicle operating slowly down a two-track. A traffic stop was made, and CO Liestenfeltz contacted the driver who was road hunting deer. A loaded firearm was observed in the vehicle. A ticket was issued for transporting a loaded firearm.

COs Sidney LaLonde and Jack Gorno conducted a follow up interview with a subject who was in violation of their bond condition. The bond condition stemmed from an animal cruelty case during the past summer. The subject was contacted in the act of possessing and transporting animals, which was in violation of their bond conditions. Additionally, the subject was operating an unregistered and uninsured vehicle, along with several other motor vehicle violations. A report was taken for the bond violations and several tickets were issued for the vehicle violations.

Sgt. Paul Fox was off duty at his residence when the Presque Isle County Sheriff's Department called him seeking assistance on a deer poaching complaint. A subject was hunting deer after dark and fired at multiple deer. One of the rounds struck a neighboring house, causing their front door window to shatter. Local deputies arrived on scene and secured the area, along with interviewing the neighboring resident. Sgt. Fox arrived and contacted the hunter who admitted to hunting after legal hunting hours and shooting at multiple deer, killing one of them. The deer and firearm used were seized and a report will be submitted for the violations.

CO Dan Liestenfeltz responded to Mio schools for a shooting threats complaint that was made against the school. CO Liestenfeltz assisted local agencies, and canine units secure the scene. The suspect was taken into custody. The investigation continues.

CO Dan Liestenfeltz received a complaint of a subject who had taken a deer from a vehicle and had illegally trespassed to shoot the deer. CO Liestenfeltz was able to track down the subject and interview them regarding the incident. Upon questioning, the subject confessed to illegally taking the deer and trespassing. Follow-up investigation is underway, and a report will be submitted to the prosecutor's office.

Sgt. Paul Fox was patrolling towards an illegal elk complaint in the Pigeon River County when he came upon a two-vehicle crash. One vehicle appeared to have been operating carelessly and collided into an oncoming vehicle. In addition, the at-fault driver was operating a vehicle without valid registration or insurance. Sgt. Fox secured the scene until local deputies arrived to handle the crash report and motor vehicle enforcement.

CO Nathan Beelman assisted the Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Department with traffic control for an escaped horse after dark. The horse was running down county roads heading for a state highway before it could be escorted back towards it’s home by responding officers.

COs Nathan Beelman and Chad Baldwin testified at a bench trial from an incident in 2021. The incident involved a suspect threatening a hunter who was on his own private property. The suspect then allegedly climbed up the tree stand and attempted to pull him out of the tree stand. The suspect eventually climbed down and made several threats to the hunter before leaving. The suspect was found guilty on both counts of assault and battery and hunter harassment. Sentencing is upcoming after the conclusion of another trial.

DISTRICT 4

CO Logan Turner was tipped off about a large deer that was taken during muzzleloader season. CO Turner investigated the individual who shot the 11-point buck, and it appeared the suspect bought their hunting license the same night the deer was taken. The suspect was interviewed, and a confession was given that the suspect shot the deer and bought his hunting licenses the same night after legal hunting hours. The deer was seized and a charge of taking deer without a license has been requested through the prosecutor’s office.

CO Ben Shively followed up on a Report All Poaching (RAP) complaint in Oceana County where it was reported a subject had shot an over-limit of antlered deer and was failing to submit his harvest reports for the deer he had shot. CO Shively contacted the suspect at his residence and interviewed him on shooting a spike without tagging it and then shooting a 6-point and a 9-point. CO Shively was able to locate all three antlered deer at the residence and received a full confession. It was also determined the subject had failed to submit six harvest reports. A warrant will be sought for taking an over-limit of antlered deer.

During the firearm deer season, CO Ryan Andrews observed a Chevy Suburban traveling on a county road in Lake County. The operator was observed not wearing a seat belt as the vehicle passed, and the vehicle did not have a registration plate on the rear. CO Andrews began turning around and activated his emergency lights to stop the vehicle. The vehicle failed to stop and accelerated to a speed well above the 55-mph posted limit. The vehicle continued to flee for several miles, sliding off the road in several corners. CO Andrews was trailing the fleeing vehicle by over a half mile when the vehicle went through a tight curve. After CO Andrews made it through the curve, the fleeing vehicle was no longer in sight, but within a short distance CO Andrews observed skid marks leaving the road and fresh tracks in the grass indicating a vehicle had recently drove through the area at a high rate of speed. CO Andrews exited his patrol truck and followed the tracks through a wooded yard and discovered the vehicle behind a shed. The operator had fled on foot but after a short search, he came out from hiding and was taken into custody. The operator was transported to the Lake County Jail by a Lake County deputy. The operator was lodged in jail and has six charges pending with the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office.

DISTRICT 5

CO Ryan Weakman received a complaint about a subject who had just shot a button buck over a bait pile within a safety zone. When CO Weakman contacted the suspect, the deer was still untagged in the back of their truck. CO Weakman seized the deer and cited the subject for possessing an untagged deer. 

CO Ryan Weakman received a complaint that a subject possibly shot a deer after hours and over a bait pile that was placed directly behind the suspect’s house. CO Weakman noticed the suspect made a harvest report on an 8-point buck the day after the violation occurred. CO Weakman followed up with the suspect at his residence and observed a large amount of bait 50 yards from the back porch. There were also flood lights facing the bait pile. CO Weakman found a large puddle of dried blood among the sugar beets. The suspect confessed to killing the buck over bait but denied doing it after hours. CO Weakman seized the set of antlers and is submitting charges to the Clare County Prosecutor’s Office.

CO Craig Neal received a complaint about hunters using ORVs on illegal trails in Arenac County. After locating a suspect’s vehicle, CO Neal observed ORV tracks leading onto state land. CO Neal waited for the hunters to return on their quads. Upon their return none were wearing helmets and two had uncased firearms. He issued warnings and citations for operating an ORV in a closed area and for uncased firearms on a motor vehicle.

CO Jacob Hamilton was patrolling Oliver Township in Kalkaska County when he saw a white pickup truck moving slowly down a dirt road. The truck stopped at a campground and the occupants got out. CO Hamilton spoke to the driver who said they were going hunting and had stopped to use the restroom. When asked about his rifle, the driver said it was uncased in the back seat. Upon checking the firearm, CO Hamilton opened the action, and a cartridge was ejected from the chamber. A loaded magazine was also inserted into the rifle. Consequently, the driver received a citation for having a loaded, uncased firearm in the vehicle.

CO Jacob Hamilton was patrolling Blue Lake Township in Kalkaska County when he contacted two grouse hunters. CO Hamilton asked the hunters if they had had any success. The two hunters told CO Hamilton they had two grouse in the bed of the truck. CO Hamilton asked if he could check their firearms, and the driver showed CO Hamilton an unloaded 20-gauge shotgun. While the driver was putting the shotgun back in the case, CO Hamilton observed a second gun case hidden under the 20-gauge case. CO Hamilton inquired about the contents of the second case, but both the driver and passenger tried to ignore the inquiry. CO Hamilton asked about the other gun case a second time. The driver advised CO Hamilton that he would not like what was in the case. The operator opened the case, revealing a loaded pump action .22 rifle. A citation was issued for a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle.

CO Cheyanna Rizor was patrolling frozen lakes in Clare County when she encountered a small group of anglers on Sutherland Lake. During her check, CO Rizor noticed what appeared to be an undersized northern pike lying on the ice. When asked about the pike, one angler said he had forgotten to bring his measuring tape. Unfortunately, the pike measured only 19 inches in length, well below the 24-inch requirement. Further investigation revealed numerous tip-ups on the ice without any names or addresses affixed. CO Rizor issued a ticket to the angler for possessing an undersized pike, and warnings were given for not having their tip-ups property marked.

DISTRICT 6

While working salmon snagging patrols between Christmas and New Year’s Day, COs Michael Eovaldi, Paul Lyden, Kyle Romzek, and Sgt. Robert Hobkirk observed multiple anglers attempting to snag Atlantic salmon in a Sanilac County harbor. The COs watched individuals snagging and retaining foul hooked fish. The COs seized the illegal fish and issued citations to two separate groups of anglers.

On Christmas Eve, CO Mark Siemen received a complaint from the DNR Dispatch Center (Station 20) advising that a homeowner in Huron County had called stating that a neighbor had shot a deer from his house after dark. After the deer was shot, it ran into the side of the complainant’s house. An argument had taken place about the suspect’s actions and was recorded by the neighbor. CO Siemen responded and was able to watch the video recording of the incident. After watching the video, CO Siemen contacted the suspect to speak with him about the deer. The untagged deer was in the suspect’s shed, and a large amount of bait was located on the ground between the house and shed. After the investigation was complete, it was determined the suspect had shot the deer with his crossbow after hunting hours with the aid of light over bait. The suspect also trespassed to retrieve the deer. Multiple charges will be requested through the Huron County Prosecutor’s Office.

CO Jacob Robinson was patrolling in Montcalm County when he received a complaint that a subject shot and killed an antlered deer during the late antlerless season. The subject self-reported for making the mistake. The CO contacted the subject and determined there was no malicious intent in killing the antlered deer. The CO seized the deer head and issued the subject a warning for killing an antlered deer out of season.

DISTRICT 7

CO Zach Bauer responded to a bait complaint at one of the local Hunting Access Program (HAP) properties after he received a phone call that the subject was hunting in the tree stand next to the bait. CO Bauer responded to the area and located the subject’s vehicle, illegally parked in a field near their tree stand, approximately half a mile from the designated parking area. CO Bauer located numerous beer cans, an area that was baited with corn, and three crossbow bolts discharged into a tree. CO Bauer contacted the hunter who admitted to leaving the beer cans and discharging the bolts into the tree. CO Bauer educated the hunter on proper etiquette and limited public access to hunting locations. CO Bauer issued the subject citations for litter and parking in a restricted area on HAP land. Warnings were issued for the other violations.

While on patrol working waterfowl hunters, CO Alex Peters contacted a few hunters coming off the St. Joseph River. It was determined that two of the subjects did not have personal floatation devices (PFDs) and the boat did not have the MC number and registration displayed. The owner of the boat was given a citation for no PFDs and a warning for the registration violations.

CO Kyle McQueer responded to an in-progress trespass complaint. It was determined that the suspect shot an antlered deer while trespassing and then shot at another antlered deer on another piece of private property that he did not have permission to be on. The suspect then went to retrieve the one antlered deer that he shot. He located it, gutted it, and tagged it. Further investigation revealed that he had trespassed on a third piece of private property as well. The suspect was also not wearing any hunter orange and had a loaded firearm in his vehicle. The Barry County Prosecutor’s Office authorized charges on three counts of recreational trespass, one for failing to meet hunter orange requirements, one for illegally taking a deer, and a felony for possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle.

DISTRICT 8

CO Brandon Benedict responded to a “be on the lookout” for a driver all over the road in Shiawassee County. CO Benedict was able to locate the vehicle and observe the vehicle not being able to maintain its lane. After an interview and investigation, CO Benedict was able to determine that the suspect was operating under the influence of alcohol. The suspect was arrested and charged with OWI and other traffic violations.

CO Nick Thornton was contacted by a local farmer that had found several large walnut trees cut down and stolen from his property. CO Thornton investigated the matter that led him to a known tree logging thief. CO Thornton was able to locate the individual in jail as he had been recently arrested on unrelated charges. CO Thornton gained a confession from the individual and learned of three other persons who had assisted him in the thefts. The additional three suspects were interviewed, and all gave incriminating statements to their involvement. The lengthy investigation resulted in warrant requests on all four individuals for felony larceny and criminal trespass.

CO Nick Thornton responded to a recreational trespass complaint involving an ORV on private property. Upon arrival, CO Thornton noticed the subject was no longer riding his ORV, however, he was hunting. CO Thornton noticed the subject was not wearing appropriate hunter orange and was well inside the firearm safety zone of a residence. CO Thornton cited the individual for the firearm safety zone violation and educated him on the requirements of hunter orange and ORV trespass law.

CO Nick Thornton was following up on an individual who had not been reporting his deer harvests. During the conversation with the individual, CO Thornton learned that one of his teenage sons had been shooting deer and turkeys from 2020 through 2022 without tags. The individual eventually admitted that his son had shot an 8-point buck, two antlerless deer, and three turkeys without tags during that time frame. CO Thornton will be requesting charges through the prosecutor’s office for the violations.

CO Marc Mankowski received a trespassing complaint via the Report All Poaching (RAP) hotline of a group that was caught on camera trespassing on private property. The hunter was identified as one of the neighbors and a deer was seen hanging in the backyard but had another individual’s license attached. CO Mankowski conducted an interview of the license holder who initially denied any involvement. An interview was then conducted with the homeowner who admitted to receiving the tag from his coworker to harvest a deer for sausage. The license holder was then called and admitted to trying to protect his coworker and loaning the license to the hunter. Charges will be sought through Eaton County.

CO James Rowley began an investigation into an illegally shot 9-point whitetail buck. The buck was shot in the southwest corner of Ingham County on December 2nd. CO Rowley interviewed the individual at their residence. During the interview the individual admitted to shooting the deer with a crossbow at the property. The individual was hunting with their spouse who had an antlerless tag to fill. The individual did not purchase a license. The individual stated they saw the body of the deer from the blind, but not the head. They shot the deer, and once it was located, realized it was a buck. After, they purchased a license and tagged the buck. Prior to leaving, CO Rowley confiscated the European mount of the buck that was picked up the previous day from the taxidermist. A warrant request is forthcoming for taking a deer without a license.

CO Cullen Knoblauch received a call from a landowner in Waterloo Township about a trespass in progress. The caller advised that a subject dressed in camouflage with a firearm was trespassing on posted private property. The caller checked the property where the suspect was seen coming out of private property and located a freshly harvested antlerless deer. COs Knoblauch and Thomas Jaakkola staked out the area for the next few hours to see if the suspect would return but he did not. COs Knoblauch and Jaakkola placed trail cameras out on the antlerless deer left by the suspect. An hour after COs Knoblauch and Jaakkola cleared, the suspect returned and picked up the antlerless deer. The COs tracked down the suspect at his residence who confessed to trespassing while taking the deer. The deer was seized and donated to a needy family. A report will be forwarded to the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office for review.

DISTRICT 9

COs Cody Bourgeois and Justin Muehlhauser spent the week planning and organizing a multi-county search and seizure. The COs sought assistance from Districts 6, 8, and 9 to execute a search warrant for a well-known waterfowl poacher in southeast Michigan. The two COs have spent countless hours investigating and observing the suspect, and after two years of investigations, the COs were able to gather and collect enough information, probable cause, and evidence to gain several search warrants for the suspect's properties. The COs executed the search warrant on December 19th. The information and evidence collected that day would lead to charges for illegal guide services, taking countless waterfowl over bait, other baiting charges, taxidermy violations, illegal charter services, and other wildlife crimes they found throughout the search of records.

While patrolling on ORVs in the Ortonville Recreation Area, COs Griffin Korican, Joey Closser, Josh Salas and Zack Cardinal located a man operating an ORV without wearing a helmet. Once contact was made, it was noticed the man had been drinking and confessed to being intoxicated. After being asked if he was capable of driving, he claimed, "I should not be driving right now.” After CO Salas performed a series of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) to verify the man’s self-claimed story of being intoxicated, the man was deemed to be under the influence. The man was taken to jail to have blood drawn to see his blood alcohol content (BAC) level. The case is pending.

CO Nicholas Ingersoll received a complaint that an individual had placed corn and a mineral block out for the deer. The complainant also advised CO Ingersoll that the individual would probably be out hunting that evening. CO Ingersoll waited and checked the hunter during the evening hunting hours. The hunter was not wearing hunter orange and was hunting over the corn pile and mineral block he had. While CO Ingersoll was talking to the hunter, he advised that he had some luck on the morning of the firearm opener. After checking the individual’s license, it was determined that he had purchased his hunting license later in the morning on November 15th. CO Ingersoll questioned the hunter on the time he had shot his deer, and it was determined that he had shot his deer before purchasing his hunting license that morning. CO Ingersoll will be submitting charges to the Monroe County prosecutor for taking a 6-point buck without a hunting license. The hunter is also facing charges for hunting with a firearm without wearing hunter orange and baiting deer.

CO Dave Schaumburger patrolled Belle Isle on a slow winter day. Although the temperatures were low, speeding was high. CO Schaumburger issued tickets for two vehicles driving 46 and 45 mph in a 25-mph zone. He also arrested a driver for driving 86 mph in a 25-mph zone. The driver was arrested, the vehicle was impounded, and he was taken for fingerprints at the MSP Detachment. When they were complete, the driver was free to leave as a warrant was being requested for reckless driving. A few hours later, CO Schaumburger received a text from the MSP trooper who assisted him stating that he just contacted the same driver who was attempting to hitchhike his way home on I-94. The driver was overall, not having a very good day.

CO Bob Watson had two Belle Isle shifts. While parked in full view of the public at approximately 12:30 PM, a man drove up beside CO Watson, parked his car and exited. The man then began urinating within 15 yards of CO Watson. CO Watson contacted the man and issued the man a citation. The man became upset that he was receiving a citation, stating he had worked for the City of Detroit for 30 years.

GREAT LAKES ENFORCEMENT UNIT (GLEU)

Corporal (Cpl.) Todd Sumbera responded to a call of a dog caught in a trap on private land. The dog owners were aware of the neighbor trapping on his own land and continued to allow their two dogs to run free. CO Mike Olesen assisted Cpl. Sumbera at the scene, where the dog was released from the trap and turned over to the Chippewa County Animal Control Officer. The ACO handled the case, and the dog was given to the shelter for adoption.

Cpl. Justin Vanderlinde assisted state maritime archaeologist Wayne Lusardi with the investigation and recovery of an artifact that was found in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park over 50 years ago.  The artifact was found during a camping trip and surfaced from a Facebook post.  The artifact was seized and turned over to the state archaeologist for disposition.

Cpl. Brett DeLonge contacted an individual possessing freshly cut birch trees without a permit on a road through commercial forest property in northern Marquette County. After interviewing the individual and speaking with the timber company, Cpl. DeLonge learned that the individual was illegally cutting birch trees and selling them for profit. Cpl. DeLonge paired up with CO Jackson Kelly and located several freshly cut birch stumps on commercial forest land near where contact was made. The COs then seized a large amount of cut birch trees that were piled in front of the individual’s house. The investigation is ongoing.

Cpl. Brett DeLonge followed up with a sport angler concerned with commercial fishing near Marquette’s Lower Harbor and near Au Train. Cpl. DeLonge answered regulation questions and cleared up some confusion on Treaty Rights between 1842 and 1836 ceded waters.

ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION SECTION (EIS)

Detective (Det.) Dan Kennedy reported that in July of 2022, Environmental Investigation Section (EIS) received a criminal referral from the Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), alleging a 64-year-old Colorado man submitted a false document to the Attorney General’s office via his attorney, claiming that his company sold 1,312 barrels of oil totaling $43,951.88. A review of the gatherer’s report showed that the man actually sold 2,344 barrels of oil totaling $77,852, and defrauded EGLE of $33,900.12. The report was forward to the Michigan Attorney General's office for their review. On 11/30/22 a warrant was issued for the suspect for Uttering and Publishing, Forgery, and Oil and Gas - False Statements. During this time, the man was also under indictment by the IRS for tax fraud/tax evasion and subsequently spent 15 months in Federal Prison. On 1/3/25, he pled guilty to one Count of Oil and Gas - False Statement and agreed to pay $15,000 in restitution with an 11-month delayed sentence. If the restitution is paid in full and the suspect has no new contacts with the criminal justice system, he will be sentenced on one count of False Weights and Measures, a 90-day misdemeanor.

Det. Dan Kennedy reported on 8/7/17, the EIS received a complaint from EGLE. The complaint alleged that a 62-year-old Genesee County man had been contracted and paid to pump out her septic tank and repair damage to her septic field. He was the owner/operator of the septic business and performed the work without a septage service license from the State of Michigan as required by law. The man never returned to complete the work after being paid to do so, defrauding the victim of $1300. In 2017, a felony warrant was issued for Larceny by Conversion and a misdemeanor for Septage Waste - Service Violations. The man could not be located at that time. In 2024, he returned to the State of Michigan and was subsequently arrested on his outstanding warrant. On 11/12/24, the suspect pled to Larceny of Property and was ordered to served 24 months’ probation, 2 days jail with 2 days suspended, and pay $1300 in restitution and $465 in fines and costs.