4/13/2025-4/26/2025

DISTRICT 1

Conservation Officer (CO) Jenni Lehto patrolled Gogebic County on the opening day of spring turkey season. She contacted a turkey hunter in a motor vehicle and discovered he had an untagged turkey. Upon further inspection, CO Lehto discovered a loaded firearm inside the vehicle. Enforcement action was taken.

CO Brian Lasanen responded to a burning complaint in Portage Township. Upon arrival, CO Lasanen discovered a burnt couch and other things. CO Lasanen issued a ticket to the party responsible for the open burning of solid waste.

CO Alex VanWagner patrolled southern Iron County on opening morning of turkey season. A truck was observed leaving a section of National Forest land where complaints were received in prior years. A traffic stop was conducted, and an uncased firearm was discovered. Law enforcement action was taken.

CO Alex VanWagner observed a couple of anglers in kayaks on a trout lake in Iron County and paddled out in a canoe to check the anglers. Upon contact, the subjects stated fishing had been slow. It was also found that the subjects did not have PFDs with them and enforcement action was taken.

COs Alex VanWagner and Jared Ferguson attended a hunter safety class at the Sagola Sportsman’s Club. The COs talked with the students about regulations and ethics. The group was interactive, and the COs answered questions that came up during the instruction.

In Menominee County, CO Steve Sajtar assisted a Menominee County deputy with a traffic stop. After arriving on scene with the deputy, CO Sajtar recognized the driver of the vehicle as a suspect in a prior felonious assault case. Additionally, the driver had an active arrest warrant out of Brown County, Wisconsin. After conducting standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs) and a preliminary breath test (PBT), the driver was arrested for operating while intoxicated (OWI).

CO John Kamps received a complaint about a dead skunk in a live trap and blankets dumped along the side of the road. Coincidentally, a 911 call was placed the day prior about someone wanting an officer to assist in letting go of a skunk they accidentally caught in a trap. The dumped skunk being only a couple miles down the road from the person who called 911, CO Kamps interviewed the homeowner about the skunk. After a brief interview, a confession was obtained for dumping the trap, blanket, and tarp. A citation was issued for litter, and the trash was cleaned up.

COs John Kamps and Jackson Kelly noticed a car parked on a closed trout stream in the Ishpeming area. The COs observed two individuals fishing downstream from the vehicle. The COs checked the anglers and determined that neither angler had a valid fishing license. The anglers were issued citations for fishing without a license and given warnings for fishing a closed trout stream.
COs Jeremy Sergey and Anna Viau attended a career fair at Northern Michigan University. The fair brought in nearly 1,000 high school students from across the Upper Peninsula. Students were able to ask the COs questions, watch educational videos regarding the training to become a CO, and check out some equipment the COs use.

DISTRICT 2

CO Robert Freeborn received a call from local dispatch about subjects who had followed their global positioning system (GPS) on an unplowed two-track road in their car and had become stuck. After receiving a potential GPS coordinate of their location, CO Freeborn began to search for them. After driving his patrol truck as far as he could on the two-track, CO Freeborn began walking on foot and eventually located the stuck subjects. CO Freeborn directed a tracked tow-vehicle to the location to recover the stuck vehicle.  All subjects made it out without further incident.

While checking a section of the Rock River in Alger County, CO Brandon Maki came across a couple of anglers who were fishing for spawning steelhead. Enforcement action was taken for fishing a closed trout stream.  

CO Cole VanOosten was on patrol on a closed trout stream in Mackinac County when he encountered an older couple sitting on the riverbank. Upon contact, CO VanOosten determined that they were attempting to smelt dip. The couple stated that the river was where they had dipped smelt over 35 years prior and that they had just moved back to Michigan and wanted to try it again. CO VanOosten informed the couple that smelt hadn’t run up the river in decades and that it was now an area closed to fishing. CO VanOosten gave the couple information on where to successfully and legally dip smelt in the area and a warning was issued for fishing on a closed stream.

CO Cole VanOosten was on patrol in Mackinac County when he observed two individuals actively spearing in a trout stream. CO VanOosten contacted the anglers and advised them that it was illegal to be spearing in a trout stream. It was also determined that neither individual had a valid fishing license. Citations were issued for possessing a spear on a trout stream and fishing without a license. 

COs Justin Vinson and Cole VanOosten assisted with the 69th Annual Kids Tackle Party in Newberry. The COs, as well as staff from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Division, assisted in a fishing game that taught kids how to cast. The tackle party provided fishing equipment to 305 kids in the Newberry and surrounding area.

DISTRICT 3

CO Tom Oberg, along with Michigan State Police (MSP) troopers and Antrim County sheriff’s deputies, responded to a felonious assault incident. An investigation was conducted, and it was determined that a confrontation between the two parties had taken place and two people were hit on the face/head with a wrench. One of the people involved was also run over with a four-wheeler. One subject was transported to the local hospital for treatment of their injuries. Two other subjects were arrested for felonious assault.

CO Tom Oberg attended the 25th annual Otsego Area Family Fun Fair event at Gaylord Middle School. Over 40 booths were set up by many different organizations where children and their families could come to learn about each organization and receive all sorts of prizes and free merchandise. CO Oberg set up a table with many different animal furs and DNR merchandise to pass out to the children. The children were able to learn about the different animal furs and learn about what duties a CO does.

CO Matt Theunick responded to a grass fire along I-75 north of Indian River. The fire department also responded and used their water cannon to extinguish and soak the area.

District 3, Area 2 COs continue to access and evaluate roads that are still blocked and impassable on state owned lands from the ice storm. The information gathered is entered into a database to help assist other divisions with cleanup after the ice storm.

CO Jon Sklba worked with the Presque Isle County Prosecutor to come up with appropriate charges for a group of minors and young adults involved in poaching a couple deer the previous fall. The youth shot and killed two deer with a firearm, at night with a light, out of season, while trespassing, and consuming alcohol.

COs Sidney LaLonde and Matt Theunick, along with DNR Wildlife Division personnel, inspected a high fence permit application in Montmorency County. The COs had to inspect the fencing and surrounding area and document any wildlife inside of the fence.

CO Sidney LaLonde assisted DNR fire personnel with locating a landowner after a fire escaped a neighboring landowner’s fire pit. The landowner was made aware of the damage sustained by the fire.

CO Sidney LaLonde was off duty when she witnessed a two-vehicle accident. CO LaLonde exited her vehicle and upon checking the occupants found that one of the drivers was pinned in the vehicle. It was determined the driver had minor bruises and scratches, so CO LaLonde assisted in getting the driver out of the damaged vehicle. Another off-duty officer stopped and assisted at the scene by providing care for the driver of the other vehicle. CO LaLonde and the other officer stayed on scene until the emergency medical services (EMS) arrived.

CO Jon Sheppard followed up with a state land litter complaint in Alpena County. A campsite was left on state land and the campers failed to remove their tent and various other items. Eventually, the campsite was picked up. Investigation into the owners is ongoing.

CO Jon Sheppard, along with COs from the Great Lakes Enforcement Unit (GLEU) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG), responded to a commercial fishing vessel that was partially submerged at the Rockport State Park boat launch. Initial investigation revealed the vessel may have suffered a crack in the hull, causing it to fill with water. A recovery service was able to drain the water and get the vessel upright.

Sgt. Paul Fox contacted a subject on state land in Presque Isle County who was dumping brush. A warning was given for dumping brush on state land, which is considered littering.

CO Jon Sklba and Sgt. Paul Fox have been assisting the Presque Isle Sheriff’s Department with various forest and structure fire investigations. Violations ranged from failure to prevent the spread of a fire to unlawful disposal of solid waste and air quality violations.

DISTRICT 4

CO Ryan Jager received a complaint involving a subject who had caught a steelhead on a closed stream and posted it to social media. CO Jager interviewed the subject who admitted the violation. Charges are being requested through the Oceana County Prosecutor’s Office.

DISTRICT 5

Sgt. Brian Olsen observed a suspicious vehicle parked in a curve in Nester Township, Roscommon County. When he approached the vehicle, it began to drive away. A stop was conducted, noting neither the driver nor the passenger was wearing a seatbelt. Sgt. Olsen collected their identification and ran their information through the DNR Station 20 Dispatch. The driver had a suspended driver's license and an outstanding warrant from Gladwin County. The vehicle was turned over to the passenger and the driver was arrested on the warrant. 

While heading north on M-18 in Roscommon County, Sgt. Brian Olsen noticed two side-by-side ORVs out in the middle of a wetland. Sgt. Olsen was able to get within a quarter mile of the ORVs and walked the rest of the way on foot. Upon contact, one of the ORVs was stuck in a large mud hole. Sgt. Olsen educated both operators on why the area they were currently in was closed to operation. COs Ben McAteer and Matthew Zultak assisted and gave the stuck operator pointers on operation to get the ORV unstuck from the mud. A citation was issued to both operators for operating an ORV in a prohibited area.

CO Jeremy Cantrell was patrolling for activity on the opening morning of the trout opener in Missaukee County. While checking an area of Hopkins Creek, he noticed a campsite with fishing rods and lines in the water and no one around. He approached the tent at the campsite and was able to wake two individuals who appeared sound asleep. One subject advised that the lines in the water were baited with hooks. When asked why they were left unattended in the water, the subject said he had gotten “snagged” during the night. CO Cantrell had the individual pull the lines from the water. As the subject reeled in one of the lines, he pulled up a brown trout hooked by the mouth and already dead. The individual was cited for having lines not in immediate control.

CO Alex Bourgeois received a call about hunters shooting a turkey from the road without permission in Iosco County. He responded and found the suspect driving along the road, calling turkeys. During a traffic stop, CO Bourgeois discovered a dead turkey with an unvalidated tag in the back of the truck. The suspect claimed the turkey was shot on another property where he had permission. After obtaining a confession that it was shot over bait, CO Bourgeois found evidence supporting this, including a large pile of bird seed and turkey feathers nearby. He seized the turkey and after a second hunter also confessed to hunting over bait, both hunters' shotguns. Charges are being filed. Later, while on his way to donate the seized turkey, CO Bourgeois spotted a side-by-side vehicle speeding and not staying to the right. He initiated a traffic stop and noticed the driver was slurring his words. After the driver admitted to drinking five beers; he was arrested for OWI. At the jail, the driver registered a .13 blood alcohol content.

DISTRICT 6

CO Adam Beuthin was on patrol checking anglers along the Saginaw River when he observed several individuals walking back to a vehicle with a cooler and fishing equipment. The CO contacted the group and asked if they had any luck; one of them advised the CO they did and they caught a large pike that was in the cooler. The CO asked to see the fish and the individual showed him. The CO confirmed that it was a pike and told the individual that pike season was closed. The angler was cited for possessing a pike during the closed season.

While patrolling Bay County, CO Jacob Daniel spotted anglers under a bridge. CO Daniel observed the anglers briefly to confirm they were all fishing. Once CO Daniel made contact, he noticed that one of the anglers no longer had a rod in his hands. The angler later admitted to fishing and a citation was issued for fishing without a license.

CO Kory Crawley was patrolling a section of state land that is closed to ORVs. CO Crawley observed two four-wheelers operating in the closed area. One four-wheeler had two occupants and neither had helmets on. Law enforcement action was taken.

CO Michael Lator was patrolling Gratiot County when he observed an individual operating an ORV without a helmet, traveling faster than 25 mph, operating down the middle of the roadway, and no ORV license. A traffic stop was conducted, and the operator was issued several citations along with numerous warnings.

DISTRICT 7

CO Carter Woodwyk was patrolling Allegan County and from shore, observed an angler fishing in a boat on Lake Michigan.  The CO was able to confirm that there was only one angler on the vessel, but six rods/lines in the water, putting the angler three rods/lines over their allowed legal limit of three. The CO met the angler back at the boat launch and confronted him on having more than three lines.  The angler admitted to it and knew they were only allowed three. Enforcement action was taken.

CO Carter Woodwyk was patrolling the Allegan State Game Area (SGA) when he observed two ORVs operating on a closed trail. The CO conducted a stop and discovered one of the operators had a suspended driver’s license and a valid warrant out for their arrest. The subject was able to post bond on the warrant and a citation was issued for the ORV violations.

CO Carter Woodwyk responded to a medical call for a hiker in a remote area who collapsed and was unconscious with possible agonal breathing. CO Woodwyk was familiar with the area and quickly located the subject at which point he directed EMS and other first responders to the location. The victim was transported a mile out to the ambulance and transported to the local hospital under stable condition. The incident demonstrated the positive working relationship between several agencies. The Douglas City officer, MSP troopers, Saugatuck Fire personnel and LIFE EMS personnel worked together to get this subject transported to the higher care that was needed.

CO Sam Schluckbier was patrolling an area frequently used by ORVs in Allegan County when he observed an adult and a juvenile riding an all-terrain vehicle without any helmets or eye protection. Close behind was a side-by-side ORV occupied by six passengers. Two of them were riding in the bed of the ORV and several were not properly secured by a safety harness. The ORV was not properly licensed for the year 2025. The individuals were cited for the violations and educated and directed to find alternative seating for the individuals who were riding improperly.

DISTRICT 8

In Ionia County, CO Jeremy Beavers checked angler activity at Webber Dam along the Grand River. There he spotted two anglers fishing in a restricted area on the dam apron. CO Beavers contacted the anglers from shore and instructed them to get off the apron and come to his location. Once there, CO Beavers informed them they were trespassing and in a restricted area. The anglers, young and clearly nervous, explained they weren’t sure because of the location of the signs. CO Beavers pointed out the signs and the reason why it’s restricted. He educated them on the seriousness of the violation. During his check, CO Beavers also learned that one of the anglers did not have a current fishing license. The angler was cited for the violations.

Back in November, CO Mark Reffitt located a suspicious 8-point buck at a processor in Ionia County. After investigating, CO Reffitt submitted charges against a hunter who killed two deer illegally in Kent County and brought them into Ionia County for processing. The hunter killed both deer without valid licenses on land closed to hunting, falsified his harvest report, and attempted to tag one of the deer with a family member’s license so that he could keep a buck tag and continue to hunt. Recently, he pleaded guilty to charges of taking deer illegally and was ordered to pay more than $6,400 in fines and reimbursement. The subject’s Michigan hunting license was also revoked for five years. Because Michigan is a member of the Wildlife Violator Compact, his hunting privileges will also be suspended in 40 other states.

CO Wes Butler was patrolling for ORV activity when he spotted two dirt bikes pass in front of him. CO Butler noticed that one of the dirt bikes had a license plate, but the other had no license plate and no ORV license. CO Butler initiated a traffic stop on the dirt bikes. As soon as CO Butler turned on his emergency lights, the rider with the plated dirt bike sped off. Fortunately, the rider with the unlicensed bike stopped. CO Butler contacted the rider and asked why his friend sped off. The rider stated that “He must not have saw you.” CO Butler knew that was not the truth, but fortunately, he was only concerned about speaking with the unlicensed rider. CO Butler advised the rider that if he does not have a license plate like his friend, he needed to have an ORV license to be operating on the roads. CO Butler also addressed the fact that the rider was not wearing any eye protection. CO Butler issued the rider a citation for failing to license his ORV and a warning for not wearing proper eye protection.

CO James Rowley was on patrol in Lansing enroute to fishing locations when a vehicle passed him on Martin Luther King Boulevard. The sedan had no license plate anywhere on the rear of the vehicle. CO Rowley initiated a traffic stop and interviewed the driver who could not provide any information regarding the vehicle registration. The Michigan Driver’s License provided was void. CO Rowley determined the individual was operating with a suspended license. The individual also had two valid warrants from the Lansing Police Department (LPD) and one valid warrant from Ingham County. CO Rowley arrested the individual and turned her over to LPD for lodging on her warrants. The individual was cited by CO Rowley for Driving While License Suspended 2nd or Subsequent.

DISTRICT 9

COs Ariel Young and Dave Schaumburger conducted a marine patrol on the Detroit River focusing their efforts on walleye anglers. The COs issued two citations during their patrol, one to a boat that had no PFDs on board which is extremely dangerous in any water, but even more so on a river that has the significant current that the Detroit River has along with the waves and traffic. The second citation was issued to an angler with two short walleyes measuring 14 inches and 14.5 inches. The angler did not know that they were not allowed to start in Canadian waters where there is no size limit and try to finish out a limit in Michigan waters.

CO Dave Schaumburger got an anonymous tip that a charter captain was running charters out of an uninspected boat. CO Schaumburger found the captain and the boat and after conducting surveillance for a short while, contacted the captain and his five anglers at the dock. The anglers told the CO that they won the trip through a raffle for Pheasants Forever. Curious on the details, the captain admitted that he donated a fishing charter in exchange for a free booth at the Pheasants Forever banquet. The booth was used to advertise, schedule, and book further trips. The captain also admitted that he had a trip in the morning and a trip the prior day. He said that they did not exchange money, but the promise was that after his regular inspected boat was back up and running, they would then exchange money for the trip on the uninspected vessel. After even further questioning, the captain admitted he took $100 for the morning trip as “gas money”. The captain was issued a citation for chartering on an uninspected vessel.

COs Brad Silorey and Joe Deppen worked a midnight patrol checking shore anglers along the St. Clair River. Activity was steady and numerous anglers were checked. Anglers were having success catching walleye, coho, and steelhead. COs Silorey and Deppen contacted a suspect with an undersized walleye. The suspect was cited for the violation and was arrested for two felony warrants. The suspect was turned over to Port Huron Police Department.

CO Joseph Deppen was working a late-night marine patrol when he encountered a boat with three anglers. The anglers were coming back to the launch after a windy rough night on the water. CO Deppen asked about their catch and observed a live well with six walleye. One walleye was measured at less than 15 inches. A check of marine safety equipment revealed that they were short two life jackets, no Type IV PFD, no fire extinguisher or flares, and no vessel registration. The younger boaters admitted it was the first shake-down cruise of the year. A citation was issued for failing to provide one PFD and no fire extinguisher. Verbal warnings were given for all other violations.

CO Bobby Watson received a complaint about an individual camping in a state game area. CO Watson located the man and identified him as an individual who has received multiple citations for long term camping within the game area. CO Watson issued the man a citation for camping with no camper registration card and operating an E-bike within the game area.

CO Sydney Griffor was patrolling for shore fishing activity in Algonac when she observed two individuals near a canal. Upon contact with the individuals for a fish check, CO Griffor observed the female fishing. The male was not fishing and did not possess a fishing license, he was just the driver. CO Griffor checked the female’s fishing license and about a dozen perch she had caught. While finishing up the check, CO Griffor observed another bucket with an aerator in it near the bushes.  She looked in the bucket and found several more perch. The female stated she caught those as well. CO Griffor counted all the perch, which ended up being 45 perch total. The female advised CO Griffor that they were told they could catch as many as they wanted. The individuals were educated on the fishing laws and given a fishing guide for reference. The female was given her limit of 25 perch but the additional 20 perch that made her over-limit were seized. CO Griffor was able to release some of those perch back into the canal. A report will be typed up and sent to the prosecutor’s office seeking charges for over-limit of perch.

CO Brandon Hartleben was checking anglers along the Huron River in Ypsilanti and contacted a few groups of anglers below the Papermill Dam at Peninsular Park. Two of the subjects checked fishing had a shared bucket with five walleye and a white bass. Another pair of subjects checked fishing did not have 2025 fishing licenses. The walleye taken during the closed inland season were seized, and citations were issued for no license on person and for possessing walleye during the closed season.

COs Nicholas Ingersoll and Brandon Vacek assisted with a take your child to work day event at the Monroe Courthouse. The COs spoke with kids about what they do on a day-to-day basis. The COs also showed them some animal hides, skulls, and antlers from animals that are native to Michigan. The COs brought their patrol boat for the kids to look at.

CO Ariel Young was conducting a stationary RADAR patrol at Belle Isle when a car drove past her at a high rate of speed, going the wrong way on a one-way road. CO Young initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. After getting the appropriate information from the driver, it was determined that the driver had 36 warrants and had been cited 13 previous times for driving while license revoked. Due to this and that there were no other legal drivers in the vehicle, the driver was cited a 14th time for driving while revoked along with a citation for operating a motor vehicle in the wrong direction on a one-way road and the vehicle was towed. During the investigation, it was also determined that there were open intoxicants in the vehicle. The driver was subsequently warned for the open intoxicants.

GREAT LAKES ENFORCEMENT UNIT (GLEU)

Corporal (Cpl.) Troy Van Gelderen and CO BJ Goulette interviewed a suspect who owns three bait stores that Cpl. Van Gelderen discovered had counterfeit Bait Dealer Licenses posted in the stores.  The suspect claims that one of his employees must have made the fake licenses since he does not tend to much of the day-to-day operations.  The suspect was written three appearance tickets for not having current Bait Dealer Licenses.

Cpl. Troy Van Gelderen assisted at the marine deputy academy in Holland for the on-water training.  Cpl. Van Gelderen also spoke to the 62 deputies from around the state about the importance of aquatic invasive species (AIS) enforcement.

Cpls. Todd Sumbera and Chris Lynch followed up on a complaint of commercial smelt fishing by Massey Fish Co. Through the complaint chain, Cpl. Sumbera explained to the individuals that tribal commercial fishermen can legally fish for, harvest, and sell smelt. The inquiring party was unaware that commercial fishing for smelt is legal.

Cpl. Mike Hammill was checking subsistence fishermen into the early morning hours when he noticed a light downstream from his position.  Cpl. Hammill made contact with two individuals with spears “looking for suckers,” and checked for fishing licenses. One individual advised he did not have one, but that he only had the spear for personal protection.  A citation was issued.

Cpl. Brett DeLonge took a net entanglement complaint from a sport fisher in Marquette. The net owner and sport fisher were both contacted, and the sport fisher had his gear returned.

Cpl. Chris Lynch assisted Cpl. Mike Hammill with interviewing a group of turkey hunters regarding various violations. Confessions were obtained, and an additional untagged turkey was identified. Enforcement action was taken.