District 1 counties of service: Baraga, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon.
Conservation Officer (CO) Byron Parks was patrolling Keweenaw County when a call came out of a possible suicidal subject with a firearm. CO Parks met up with Keweenaw County deputies, Michigan State Police (MSP) troopers, and Houghton County deputies near the subject’s residence to come up with a plan. It was decided to have both Keweenaw County deputies contact the subject at his residence while the other officers stood backup. Ultimately the two Keweenaw County deputies were able to speak to the subject and defuse the situation.
While patrolling Iron County lakes over Labor Day weekend, CO Anna Viau and Sergeant (Sgt.) Brian Bacon observed two kayaks fishing along the shoreline. Upon contacting the couple, the COs discovered that the woman did not have a fishing license, and the man did not have a personal flotation device (PFD). The woman was upset because she had told her husband to buy a fishing license for her too. A citation was issued for no PFD and a verbal warning for fishing without a license.
After checking marine activity in the City of Menominee, CO Steve Sajtar responded to a motor vehicle hit-and-run at the Menominee Marina. CO Sajtar arrived on scene and investigated. After interviewing the victim at the scene, CO Sajtar developed a detailed description of the suspect’s vehicle that fled the scene. The victim also stated the suspect appeared to be intoxicated at the time of the crash. CO Sajtar eventually located the suspect’s vehicle parked behind a nearby motel building. Damage to the suspect’s vehicle was consistent with the damage found on the victim’s vehicle. CO Sajtar contacted the suspect inside the motel for an interview. The suspect admitted to backing into the victim’s vehicle and driving away before reporting the crash. The suspect’s driver’s license was suspended and had multiple non-extraditable felony warrants out of various states. A report was submitted to the Menominee County Prosecutor's Office requesting charges for driving while suspended, no insurance, and failing to report a crash.
In Menominee County, CO Steve Sajtar assisted with two separate water rescues on Lake Michigan. On CO Sajtar’s day off, he received notification from Menominee County Central Dispatch that a 13-year-old juvenile was drowning in the Menominee River near Lake Michigan. CO Sajtar responded to the scene and assisted local fire and rescue personnel. The 13-year-old did not survive, and the investigation was turned over to the Marinette Police Department. Later in the week, CO Sajtar responded to another water rescue on his next day off. CO Sajtar was notified by central dispatch of a mother and daughter who had overturned their kayak approximately four miles offshore on Lake Michigan. CO Sajtar responded to the scene and assisted Menominee County Sheriff’s Office with the search and rescue of both the mother and daughter. Both mother and daughter were rescued from the water and transported to shore where they were treated for hypothermia by emergency medical services (EMS). The kayak and paddle were also retrieved from Lake Michigan and returned to the mother and daughter.
Probationary Conservation Officer (PCO) Evan White and CO Phil Helminen received a call from dispatch about two females fighting and one grabbed a rubber mallet and was hitting a vehicle. Once on scene, the COs separated the individuals. After speaking with them, it was determined that one had punched the other and caused damage to personal property. One female was arrested for domestic violence.
PCO Evan White and CO Phil Helminen were on marine patrol when the COs stopped two different groups of kayakers. When speaking with them, it was determined that none of them had PFDs with them. Enforcement action was taken.
Sgt. Mark Leadman was checking boats at the Goose Lake Access Site when a boat came in with an expired boat registration from 2018. The subject admitted to purchasing the boat three years ago and hadn’t gotten around to getting it registered. The trailer used to tow the boat was also lacking the required license plate. A citation was issued for operating a boat with an expired registration and a warning was given for not having the trailer plate.
District 2 counties of service: Alger, Chippewa, Delta, Mackinac, Luce, Schoolcraft.
COs Robert Freeborn, Mike Evink, and PCO Alex French observed a watercraft with an expired registration on Lake Michigan near Beaver Island. Upon further investigation the operator/owner of the boat stated he had bought the boat last fall and hadn’t registered the boat yet. It was also found that the operator had a misdemeanor warrant. The subject was placed under arrest and transported to Charlevoix. The subject also received a citation for failure to register a watercraft.
CO Robert Freeborn and PCO Alex French assisted the Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) with a search warrant of a privately owned Michigan lighthouse in Lake Michigan. COs Freeborn and French made initial entry of the lighthouse as well as helped document information pertaining to the case. Upon investigation, it was determined the owner had deliberately set the wastewater system to go directly into Lake Michigan without any treatment.
CO Steve Butzin assisted the Delta County Sheriff’s Department with a stranded boater between Little and Big Bay de Noc. The disabled 34-foot vessel had to be towed back to its home port.
COs Brandon Maki, Robert Freeborn, Michael Evink, Andrea Dani, Sgt. Mark Zitnik, and PCO Raymond Gagnon assisted the Alger County Sheriff’s Department and MSP with a joint search for a missing person in Alger County. Search efforts are ongoing.
CO Scott Pankow conducted several traffic stops on individuals who were transporting their watercraft on the highway with aquatic vegetation attached to their trailers. During CO Pankow’s investigation, he observed that the individuals had also failed to remove the drain plugs on their vessels. Citations were issued for the violations.
District 3 counties of service: Alpena, Antrim, Cheboygan, Charlevoix, Emmet, Montmorency, Otsego, Presque Isle.
CO Jon Sheppard received a call from a park ranger regarding a group of campers with multiple violations in a state forest campground. Multiple tents and vehicles were at two adjacent campsites, but no one was responding to the ranger. CO Sheppard responded to assist. The campers were awakened and questioned about the violations. The camp sites had not been paid for, burned and melted garbage was visible in the fire pit, and there was evidence that small, live trees had been cut for firewood. CO Sheppard assisted with the questioning. The campers were evicted from the campground.
CO Jon Sklba contacted a subject guiding elk hunters without a commercial guide license. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Jon Sklba was able to conclude an investigation into which a company was hired to dispose of unwanted household items. The employees then discarded those items on public land in Presque Isle County. The group that was hired immediately returned to the area to clean up the mess they left. A citation was issued for littering.
CO Dan Liestenfeltz attended a hunter safety field day in Presque Isle County. CO Liestenfeltz taught the law and ethics portion and answered several questions the group had regarding hunter safety, DNR laws, and responsibilities of conservation officers.
CO Dan Liestenfeltz was patrolling after dark in Montmorency County when Montmorency Central Dispatch advised all law enforcement about a vehicle that was driving carelessly in multiple areas and had torn up a gravel parking lot. The MSP responded to the area and were unable to locate the vehicle. A short time later, CO Liestenfeltz and the suspect vehicle arrived at a four-way intersection at the same time. The suspect vehicle then accelerated at a very high speed as it turned, causing the driver to slightly lose control over the vehicle. CO Liestenfeltz conducted a traffic stop and immediately observed signs of intoxication. An uncased and loaded pistol was within arm’s reach of the subject. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle did not have a concealed pistol license (CPL). Upon completing the investigation, CO Liestenfeltz placed the subject into custody without issue and submitted charges for felony carrying a concealed weapon, operating while intoxicated (OWI), and possessing a firearm while intoxicated.
CO Dan Liestenfeltz was patrolling western Montmorency Township in Montmorency County during elk season. Shortly after shooting light, CO Liestenfeltz contacted a subject who was guiding an elk hunter and did not have a state guiding license. CO Liestenfeltz issued the subject a citation for guiding hunters without a state guide license.
CO Dan Liestenfeltz was patrolling Albert Township in Montmorency County when he observed two dirt bikes operating in a very dangerous manner. Both dirt bikes were operating down the middle of a busy roadway, sometimes in the oncoming lane at speeds greater than 60 mph and doing wheelies for long distances. CO Liestenfeltz was eventually able to catch up to the off-road vehicles (ORVs) and conducted a stop. After speaking with one of the operators, CO Liestenfeltz immediately observed signs of intoxication. Standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs) were conducted and failed. CO Liestenfeltz placed the subject into custody and lodged them without issue on the charges of OWI, operating an ORV on a public roadway, and an ORV speeding violation. The subject had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .14. The other operator was issued a citation for carless operation of an ORV and drove away from the scene.
After lodging a subject for OWI, CO Dan Liestenfeltz was enroute to his residence. While traveling, CO Liestenfeltz was behind a vehicle that was driving all over the roadway. The vehicle had varying speeds between 50 and 70 mph, was completely crossing the center line, and driving off the roadway onto the shoulder several times. Due to the immediate danger to the public the vehicle was causing, CO Liestenfeltz conducted a traffic stop. After contacting the driver, CO Liestenfeltz immediately observed signs of intoxication. CO Liestenfeltz also observed a cup filled with whiskey on the center console. SFSTs were conducted and failed. CO Liestenfeltz placed the subject into custody and lodged them without issue on the charges of OWI high BAC and open intoxicants in a motor vehicle. The operator had a BAC of .254.
Sgt. Paul Fox was on patrol during the late evening hours when a call came out regarding a suicidal subject. Sgt. Fox was nearby and assisted the Presque Isle Sheriff’s deputies and MSP secure the scene of the suicidal subject. The subject was placed into protective custody by deputies and transported to the hospital for evaluation.
Sgt. Paul Fox heard on the radio a request for backup from a Rogers City Police Department (RCPD) officer. The officer was attempting to control a subject who was suffering from a mental health crisis. Sgt. Fox was the closest available unit and responded. When Sgt. Fox arrived, the subject became combative and resisted the officer. Sgt. Fox assisted with subduing and detaining the subject who was placed into protective custody. The subject was transported by RCPD to the nearest hospital for evaluation and treatment.
CO Nathan Beelman completed a four-day United States Coast Guard (USCG) Search Coordination and Execution course in Traverse City. The national course focuses on planning, coordination, and completing water searches.
District 4 counties of service: Benzie, Grand Traverse, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Newaygo, Oceana, Wexford.
COs William Kinney and Amanada Weaver were following up with a dispersed camping complaint on state land in Grand Traverse County. The two campers had a large encampment established back in the woods and had been camping in that location for several months. In addition, it was discovered that both subjects had active arrest warrants and were lodged at the Grand Traverse County Jail.
While patrolling the Little Manistee River Weir, PCO Cody Simmons and CO Samuel Koscinski observed two anglers approaching the weir from downstream. One angler stood on the viewing platform and acted as the lookout, while the other angler went to the water’s edge and started fishing in the closed waters 300 feet downstream from the weir. A citation was issued to the angler fishing in the closed waters.
CO Josiah Killingbeck responded to an ORV crash where two ORVs collided in a head-on collision in a curve of an ORV trail. One operator was ejected from the ORV. CO Killingbeck provided first aid to the injured operator until EMS arrived. CO Killingbeck investigated the scene and assisted in getting the patient to an ambulance that was unable to drive to the scene. The patient was flown to a downstate hospital for treatment.
COs Tim Barboza, Ryan Jager, and Anna Cullen checked an angler fishing on Muskegon Lake and discovered they had a dead bass that was 2 inches short. The subject admitted to not having looked at a fishing regulations book since childhood. CO Jager ran the man through the law enforcement information network (LEIN), which returned with an active child support warrant out of Muskegon County. The male was placed into custody on his warrant and given a citation for the short bass.
CO Tim Barboza and PCO Alex Arndt observed three male subjects fishing near the Croton Dam in Newaygo County. After observing all of them fishing at different times, they conducted a license check. None of the anglers had licenses. One of the subjects told the COs that he had not been fishing and had only cast the line to test the weight of the lure for his friend. All three of the subjects were issued citations.
CO Cameron Wright was patrolling the Muskegon State Game Area (SGA) in Newaygo County, when he located an SUV parked off a two-track. CO Wright then observed a person near the SUV burning a large pile of trash which included household waste, a TV, a microwave, and other miscellaneous items. The subject was cited for illegal disposal of solid waste.
CO Cameron Wright was driving behind a truck towing a boat ahead of him. CO Wright saw the truck brake and observed water spilling out of the live well. CO Wright conducted a traffic stop and issued a citation for transporting a vessel without first draining the livewell.
CO Cameron Wright was patrolling in Newaygo County when he observed a vehicle speeding and failing to maintain its lane. CO Wright conducted a traffic stop and observed four cases of alcoholic beverages in the truck, three of which were empty. The fourth case was sitting on the passenger seat. The driver had one can removed from that case and had been drinking it just prior to being stopped. CO Wright also located two empty bottles of liquor under the seats and a third bottle sitting on the passenger seat. CO Wright learned that the driver had been heading home from the Upper Peninsula and had been drinking during his entire drive back. SFSTs were administered, and the driver was ultimately arrested for OWI. The driver had a .147 BAC in a preliminary breath test (PBT) while on the roadside and then blew a .159 BAC an hour and a half later at the jail.
CO Cameron Wright was checking anglers at the Pine Street boating access site on the Muskegon River in Newaygo County. CO Wright contacted a couple of anglers who did not have fishing licenses. CO Wright began issuing citations and ran their names through Station 20. The CO was advised one of the subjects had a statewide felony warrant for criminal sexual conduct. CO Wright arrested the subject for the warrant and issued citations to both anglers for fishing without licenses.
CO Logan Turner and Sgt. Ben Shively were conducting an early morning patrol on Lake Michigan over the holiday weekend focusing on anglers fishing with too many lines. The COs located one vessel that appeared to have only one person on board and observed that he was fishing with eight lines. Contact was made with the subject as he was frantically reeling up lines after finally seeing the COs. The subject was cited for fishing with more than three lines and failing to present a fishing license.
CO Angela Greenway and Sgt. Ben Shively observed a male subject hanging out of a back passenger door-window taking video and pictures while the vehicle was driving in the Silver Lake State Park ORV Area. A traffic stop was conducted, and a citation was issued for not wearing a seatbelt.
District 5 counties of service: Alcona, Arenac, Clare, Crawford, Gladwin, Iosco, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Roscommon.
CO Alex Bourgeois and Sgt. Jon Warner responded to reports of young boys who were canoeing on Lake Huron near Tawas Point and could no longer be seen. It was very windy, and the water was very rough with approximately 6-to-8-foot waves just outside of the point. CO Bourgeois and Sgt. Warner used the SAFE boat stationed at East Tawas Harbor to launch a search and rescue with the USCG. CO Bourgeois and Sgt. Warner made it out to the point and searched for some time before it was discovered that the boys made it to shore safely and were found walking back to the state park.
COs Ryan Weakman, Jeremy Cantrell, Troy Mueller, Kevin Bunce and PCO Zachary Adams taught the field day portion of hunter safety to over 40 Amish youth in the Clare County Area. The youth were taught about laws and ethics and received practical hands-on safety training involving firearms handling, crossing fences, and first aid. This class has been provided to the Amish in the Clare area for over three decades.
Sgt. Jon Wood and CO Ryan Weakman responded to a call for assistance from the Osceola County Sheriff's Department late one evening. A vessel had reportedly flipped and tossed multiple passengers into the water and one of the passengers failed to come back up. The search was called off late in the evening and resumed early the next morning. COs Jeremy Cantrell and Kevin Bunce joined in the search and the COs were able to provide personnel and divers from multiple agencies with transportation on the water as well as using their sonar-equipped vessels to help scan the bottom. Personnel from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Department, MSP, and local dive teams worked cooperatively in the effort. The victim was eventually located and retrieved.
CO Jacob Hamilton was patrolling Kalkaska County when he contacted a group driving on a state land two-track. CO Hamilton began speaking with the group who said they were out looking for firewood. As the conversation continued, CO Hamilton discovered there were open intoxicants in the vehicle and could smell the odor of intoxicants. The driver of the vehicle admitted to having a few beers over the past couple hours. SFSTs were conducted on the operator who was subsequently arrested and lodged at the Kalkaska County Jail for OWI.
While on patrol in Kalkaska County, COs Kyle Cherry, Zack Walters (District 4), Jacob Hamilton, and PCO Matthew Bowser were notified to assist the Kalkaska County Sheriff’s Department with two adults and two five-year-old children who failed to return from a hike near Lake Skegemog. The COs searched the shoreline by boat and spotted smoke and heard shouting. They coordinated with an MSP helicopter to locate the group. Navigating hazardous swamp terrain on foot, the COs reached the hikers, who were cold, hungry, and exhausted. COs Hamilton, Walters, and Matthew Zultak assisted in extracting the individuals, some of whom had to be carried. All subjects were transported to EMS via boat.
CO Matthew Zultak contacted an individual fishing in the Roscommon area. Upon contact, CO Zultak asked the angler what he had caught. The angler stated he had caught some bluegills and bass but had thrown the bass back into the lake. While continuing the check, CO Zultak discovered a fish basket in the water which contained a bluegill and a largemouth bass that was under size. The subject was cited for possession of a bass under the legal-size limit.
District 6 counties of service: Bay, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Montcalm, Saginaw, Sanilac, Tuscola.
CO Michael Lator was patrolling Montcalm County when he observed an ORV side-by-side operating on the roadway in front of him with two juveniles riding in the bed. The CO stopped the side-by-side and found two seats available in the cab. When questioned on why the juveniles were not in the seats in the cab and wearing seatbelts, the ORV operator informed the officer that he heard it was “okay” to transport passengers this way. The CO informed the operator that it is his responsibility as the operator to know the laws regarding ORV operation and that he is responsible for the safety of everyone on board. A citation was issued.
CO Michael Lator was patrolling the backroads of Gratiot County when he encountered an individual operating an ORV without wearing a helmet or eye protection. The CO stopped the ORV and found the operator was unfamiliar with ORV laws and stated that he did not own a helmet or eye protection. An education on safety was given along with a citation.
District 7 counties of service: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, St Joseph, Van Buren.
CO Sam Schluckbier and PCO Joe Budnick were conducting marine patrol on Miner Lake in Allegan County. During the patrol, two anglers were observed fishing from a vessel displaying expired registration. The COs contacted the anglers to address the violation and discovered one angler did not have a fishing license and there was no Type IV throwable PFD on board. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Sam Schluckbier and PCO Joe Budnick were conducting marine patrol in Allegan County. While on patrol, four anglers were observed fishing from a vessel and contact was made. The anglers had three undersized largemouth bass in the live well with tournament tags attached to them. The anglers stated they were having a competition and intended to release the fish. Registration for the vessel was requested by the COs, but it was discovered that one of the anglers had purchased the vessel the year before and failed to transfer the registration. The fish were released, and enforcement action was taken.
CO James Nason observed a vehicle that was being operated without a license plate. Upon conducting a traffic stop, CO Nason learned that the young female driver was operating on a suspended license, the vehicle was not registered, and it did not have an active insurance policy on it. The CO also discovered that the woman had four warrants out for her arrest on the same charges that CO Nason was citing her for. The CO issued multiple misdemeanor citations and lodged the woman in the Kalamazoo County Jail.
District 8 counties of service: Branch, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Shiawassee.
While on patrol, CO Jeremy Beavers checked Jordan Lake for angler activity. While there, he checked anglers at the boat launch coming in from fishing. As one angler was tying down his boat, CO Beavers made contact and asked if he had any luck. The angler stated he had 25 fish on board. With permission, CO Beavers got on the angler’s boat and counted the fish that were in the live well. After counting 25 fish, there were still some left in the live well. CO Beavers informed the subject of the result and removed the remaining fish from the live well. CO Beavers counted once again to be sure of his results. The angler possessed 29 fish after the second count, four more than the legal limit. The angler was cited for possessing an over-limit of sunfish. The angler was also educated on the recreation passport requirement for state boating access sites and that he was operating a motor vehicle with an expired registration.
While on patrol, CO Jeremy Beavers checked anglers arriving at the launch on Jordan Lake. During one check, he contacted two anglers at the dock and asked if they had fish on board. One angler stated they had 50 and they used an automatic counter, so they should be right on. CO Beavers stated he would count the fish and check the accuracy of the counter. The other angler then stated that a lot of the fish were small, so he hopes that the automatic counter didn’t miss them due to their size. After the first count, it was discovered the anglers were over the legal limit. A second count was conducted, and CO Beavers came to the same conclusion. The anglers were cited for possessing an over-limit of sunfish.
District 9 counties of service: Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair.
CO Brad Silorey was on patrol working marine and checking for invasive species violations. While checking a local fishing pier and boating access site, CO Silorey observed two anglers fishing. He contacted the two anglers who immediately stated they did not have fishing licenses, and they were going to buy them but never did. During the course of the check, CO Silorey discovered that one of the subjects had multiple warrants for his arrest, including one for assaulting and resisting a police officer. After verifying the warrant with the original agency, CO Silorey took the suspect into custody. The suspect was then transported, and custody was turned over to Macomb County Sheriff deputies. Both subjects received citations for fishing without a license.
COs Brad Silorey and Dave Schaumburger were working marine patrol on Lake St. Clair when they contacted a vessel that was trolling in the St. Clair Flats. The vessel had three subjects on board and were trolling with four lines in the water. CO Schaumburger asked the anglers if they had any luck and they stated they had one walleye. The subject pulled the fish out of their live well, a small walleye. The vessel owner and operator stated that he caught the fish and did not measure it. The walleye was 14 1/8 inches, making it short of the 15-inch legal size requirement. After speaking with the subjects further, it was found that none of them had purchased a fishing license, however the operator stated that he was the only one fishing. He was advised that he was in violation of using more than three fishing lines as well. In addition to the fishing violations, the owner of the vessel failed to provide a fire extinguisher, did not have a Type IV throwable PFD, and could not provide enough wearable PFDs for everyone on board the vessel. Out of the six violations, the subject was issued citations for possessing fish without a license and failing to provide a fire extinguisher. Warnings were given for the other four violations.
District 10 counties of service: Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw, Wayne.
COs Ariel Young, Martin Lawrence, Les Bleil, and Griffin Korican participated in an event held by the MSP where cops play basketball with kids in the communities they serve. The COs played a little bit of basketball and educated the children on the wild animals that live in their city. Overall, the event was a success, and the children had a blast.
COs Ariel Young, Brandon Vacek, and Sgt. Shane Webster conducted a marine patrol on Lake Erie. While checking anglers, the COs observed that one boat was over their limit of channel catfish. The anglers thought that the daily limit was 15 which led to them being four fish over their limit. The four fish were seized, and a citation was issued for possessing more than the daily limit and failing to provide a Type IV PFD.
CO Les Bleil contacted an operator with an expired vessel registration on Labor Day weekend. During the check, he found there to be no life jackets on board along with two of the three anglers who did not have a fishing license. Citations were issued for the violations.
CO Brandon Hartleben and PCO Olivia Haerr were patrolling the Portage Lake Chain and observed a vessel operating down the Huron River between Baseline Lake and Portage Lake with no numbers, letters, and no registration decal. Contact was made with the occupants, and it was determined that the vessel was not registered. A citation was issued for operating an unregistered watercraft.
CO Ed Rice received a complaint on Belle Isle of a male parked and passed out in his vehicle with an alcoholic beverage in between his legs. CO Rice located the parked vehicle and observed a male passed out with a 12-ounce Bud Ice bottle between his legs. CO Rice observed keys on the passenger seat. Attempting to check the man’s welfare, CO Rice began knocking on the vehicle and asking the man in a loud tone “Sir, are you ok”. Several seconds later the man woke up. The man provided CO Rice with a Michigan Identification Card. The man admitted to having a suspended license. The man reiterated he only had one beer. CO Rice asked the man if he was alone and how long he had been on the island. The man stated he was alone and that he just arrived. The man stated he left work at Wayne State University working as a security guard. CO Rice conducted a LEIN check and discovered the man had 30 outstanding warrants. Station 20 dispatch reached out to a local agency to meet up. Station 20 requested if the man was clean and sober. The man consented to a PBT, which resulted in a .107. Prior to being arrested, the man asked if he could drive his vehicle home. The man was placed under arrest for one of his warrants, transported, and turned over to a local agency. A citation was issued for open intoxicants in a motor vehicle and the vehicle was towed without issue.
Sgt. Danielle Zubek conducted a traffic stop on Belle Isle for a vehicle that disobeyed a stop sign. The driver was suspended and did not have insurance on the vehicle. The driver was issued a citation for disobeying the stop sign, no insurance, and no operator’s license on person. The vehicle was towed from the island.
COs Joseph Deppen and Lisa Taube were working at Belle Isle. CO Deppen noticed an angler fishing in a spot tucked back from the popular angling spots. CO Deppen contacted the angler who did not have a fishing license. CO Deppen called CO Taube to assist and when COs were checking the angler’s license purchase history, it was revealed he had two felony warrants and multiple misdemeanor warrants for his arrest. The COs arrested the compliant subject on his outstanding warrants and issued him a citation for fishing without a license. He was later turned over to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department for transport to the county jail.
CO Ariel Young and Sgt. Danielle Zubek were working a Belle Isle shift when a call came out for a medical incident where a person had fallen and knocked themselves unconscious. The COs arrived on scene and observed a person laying on the ground unresponsive. The COs performed sternal rubs and loud commands to the individual and were able to rouse them. Due to the facial injuries that the individual had sustained and the in and out of consciousness, the COs called for EMS to have them evaluated. The individual admitted to having had too much to drink and was very intoxicated. EMS arrived on scene and determined that the individual needed evaluation at the hospital. The individual was loaded and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
CO Ariel Young was nearing the end of a Belle Isle shift and was conducting a stationary patrol near a stop sign that is frequently disobeyed. While waiting at the location, CO Young observed a vehicle leave the roadway, drive across the grass to a port-a-potty, and park. Figuring the individual desperately needed to use the restroom, CO Young waited for them to conduct their business before making contact. Upon contact, it was determined that the driver had expired plates and no insurance for the vehicle. The driver was cited, and the vehicle was towed, as it was not legal to be on the roadway.
CO Dave Schaumburger stopped a vehicle traveling 41 mph on Belle Isle. The CO recognized the driver since he has received three speeding tickets from the CO in the past. Another citation was issued for his excessive speed.
GREAT LAKES ENFORCEMENT UNIT (GLEU)
Several GLEU corporals took part in a two-day joint port-of-entry detail in Marysville with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and United States Customs and Border Protection (USCBP). Five Fed Ex semi-trucks and their contents were inspected, with no prohibited species or other contraband found.
Sgt. Justin Vinson and Cpl. Cole VanOosten assisted Wildlife Division with a youth hunting workshop for 12 local youth. The focus of the workshop included deer, small game, turkey, and waterfowl hunting techniques as well as legal considerations.
Cpl. Troy Van Gelderen was working a weekend evening shift and conducted two separate traffic stops on vehicles with boat trailer lights that were not working. Both trailers were full of weeds, and the boats’ drain plugs were never removed. Tickets were issued.
Cpl. Troy Van Gelderen conducted a Lake Michigan patrol out of Whitehall. Many Salmon were being caught, and one ticket was issued for fishing with too many lines.
The local sportsman club put on an evening of fish education for youth in Delta County, with Cpl. Mike Hammill giving a presentation about conservation officers. Once the presentation was over, the youth were offered a ride on the vessels and the opportunity to fish in the harbors.
Cpl. Mike Hammill witnessed a passenger vehicle cause another vehicle to run off the highway and narrowly avoid an accident. Cpl. Hammill conducted a traffic stop and took enforcement action.
Cpl. Tom Peterson conducted marine patrols of several inland lakes with CO Byron Parks. During the patrols, several minor violations were found and corrected. One PFD ticket was issued, along with several verbal warnings.
