District 1 counties of service: Baraga, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon.
Conservation Officer (CO) Jenni Lehto responded to a medical emergency where a woman was crushed between a truck and camper. CO Lehto rendered aid and provided scene security during the death investigation.
CO Jenni Lehto responded to a call of an injured eagle in Mass City. CO Lehto collected the bird and transported it to Upper Peninsula Wildlife Rehabilitation Group in the Keweenaw where the bird was treated for lead poisoning.
While conducting an aquatic invasive species (AIS) patrol in Menominee County, CO Steve Sajtar observed a vehicle towing a boat trailer with defective tail lamps. CO Sajtar also noticed a large amount of wet aquatic vegetation hanging off the boat trailer. A traffic stop was conducted. While approaching the stopped vehicle, CO Sajtar noticed the boat’s drain plug had not been removed before transportation. Additionally, the driver was unable to provide a valid registration certificate for the vehicle when asked. CO Sajtar issued two warnings for the traffic violations and one warning for transporting a boat trailer, over land, without removing all aquatic vegetation. A citation was issued for transporting a watercraft over land without removing all drain plugs.
COs John Kamps and Cody Smith were pulling into a boat access site when they saw an individual on the pier quickly reel in his fishing pole and walk to his vehicle and attempt to drive away. Contact was made and it was determined that the individual did not have a fishing license, no vehicle registration, no car insurance, and was operating with a suspended license. A citation was issued for fishing without a license, and the subject had to park his car and call for a ride.
COs John Kamps, Cody Smith, and Jackson Kelly utilized a grouse decoy in an area that road hunting complaints had been received. As an ORV passed their location, the operator noticed the decoy and pointed a loaded gun out the window of the side-by-side. The COs were able to contact the individual prior to him shooting at the decoy and issued a citation for possessing a loaded firearm upon a motor vehicle.
District 2 counties of service: Alger, Chippewa, Delta, Mackinac, Luce, Schoolcraft.
COs Steve Butzin, Brandon Maki, Rob Freeborn, Sgt Mark Zitnik, and Cpl. Mike Hammill attended an event at the Gladstone Public High School with other local law enforcement officers. The event was called Cops and Conversations where law enforcement officers had lunch with students from the freshman to senior class. The officers answered questions, and students and officers shared stories. All in all, it was a great success and a great chance to reach out to the community.
CO Justin Vinson instructed a hunter education course for approximately 30 students from Mackinac and Luce Counties. CO Vinson also led a course for the local Amish community. A field day was held at Hiawatha Sportsman’s Club with assistance from numerous local volunteers.
CO Scott Pankow and Acting Sgt. Cole VanOosten located an ORV that appeared to have been left on state land for an extended period. The COs investigated the suspicious vehicle and determined that it had been stolen in 2019 from a nearby hunting camp. The owner was contacted, and information was turned over to the Michigan State Police (MSP) who had taken the initial breaking and entering complaint. The investigation is ongoing.
District 3 counties of service: Alpena, Antrim, Cheboygan, Charlevoix, Emmet, Montmorency, Otsego, Presque Isle.
COs Andrea Albert, Duane Budreau, Chad Baldwin, Charlie Jones, William Haskin, and Sgt. William Webster attended an outdoor festival in Williamsburg Michigan at the New Hope Community Church. There were over 860 registered guests at the event and the COs were able to make many great contacts and explain the role of a conservation officer. The COs had static displays showing the tools they use on the job, a fur kit, an action gun kit, and they also ran an archery range for people of all ages to try.
CO Nathan Beelman contacted a camper who had been at their site past the 15-night allowance. The camper has been contacted numerous times over the last two summers for the same violation. The camper was ticketed for the violation. Multiple abandoned campsites were also cleaned up and garbage disposed of from the area.
CO Nathan Beelman checked the Boyne River after dark during a busy salmon fishing weekend. CO Beelman contacted two separate groups of anglers who did not have fishing licenses. In the second group, neither angler had a license, and they had one chinook salmon in their possession. CO Beelman ticketed anglers from both groups and seized the one salmon.
CO Duane Budreau and probationary conservation officer (PCO) Tyler Owen contacted numerous salmon anglers along the Bear River. The COs observed one angler fishing with a lure equipped with treble hooks on the gear restricted stream allowing for only one single pointed unweighted hook measuring ½-inch or less from point to shank. The COs determined that the individual had also not purchased a fishing license. The angler was ticketed for fishing without a license and given a warning on his illegal gear. After receiving the ticket, the subject lost his temper and started shouting at the COs for not giving him a warning. His reasoning was that he had only been fishing for five minutes.
CO Duane Budreau and PCO Tyler Owen contacted many anglers and recreational boaters while patrolling Walloon Lake. The COs contacted a pontoon of three anglers, two of which were unable to produce a fishing license. They stated this was their first time fishing this season and hadn’t bought licenses. Retail sales history indicated the subjects had never purchased licenses in Michigan. Both individuals were ticketed for fishing without a license.
CO Duane Budreau and PCO Tyler Owen were on patrol when they came across a group of anglers along the shore of French Farm Flooding. The anglers were fishing while waiting for rain to pass before launching their kayaks. The COs determined that one angler was from out of state and had not purchased a fishing license because he was only planning on fishing once. The subject was ticketed for fishing without a license.
CO Jon Sheppard responded to a roll-over crash with injuries involving an armored truck with the occupants unable to exit the truck. Upon arrival, the occupants were able to extricate themselves from the armored truck and were being checked out by emergency medical services (EMS). Once it was determined that all the injured parties were accounted for, CO Sheppard assisted the Alpena County Sheriff’s Department with information gathering and securing the crash scene.
CO Jon Sheppard responded to a hunting accident involving two bird hunters in Alpena County. EMS was already on scene when CO Sheppard arrived, and the victim was conscious and breathing. He was transported to the hospital by EMS and later flown to Detroit for further medical treatment. CO Sheppard went to the location of the incident with another member of the hunting party and two MSP troopers. The evidence at the scene matched with the description given by the hunters and it appears to be an accident. The incident is still under investigation.
CO Jon Sklba was the first to arrive at a two-vehicle rollover accident in Presque Isle County. One of the occupants was trapped in an upside-down vehicle and was held in place by her seatbelt. Once additional personnel arrived, the subject was able to be safely removed and treated for injuries.
CO Jon Sklba responded to a missing subject who has dementia in Presque Isle County. The subject was located without incident.
District 4 counties of service: Benzie, Grand Traverse, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Newaygo, Oceana, Wexford.
COs Zack Walters and Will Kinney were patrolling the Betsie River when an individual was observed using illegal gear. The individual was using a treble hook not attached to a lure as required on the Betsie River and with two cone sinkers rigged above the treble. By design, the tackle that individual was using was for snagging fish. CO Walters contacted the individual and addressed the violation. The individual also failed to exhibit a fishing license. CO Walters issued two citations for the illegal gear and failing to exhibit a fishing license, and a warning for attempting to snag salmon.
COs William Kinney and Zack Walters were patrolling the Boardman River in Grand Traverse County for fishing activity. While patrolling the river, CO Kinney observed an angler using his fishing rod in a motion that appeared to be an attempt to snag salmon. Upon contact with the angler, CO Kinney observed the individual had tied a pyramid sinker directly to a bare treble hook. The angler also admitted to the COs that he was attempting to snag salmon. It was discovered the angler had 11 prior charges for fishing and other DNR related violations. The individual was ticketed for the use of illegal gear.
CO Amanda Weaver presented at Michigan Association of District Court Magistrates, an annual conference for magistrates from across the state of Michigan. During her presentation, CO Weaver emphasized the importance that fish and game law has on Michigan residents and our natural resources. It was a valuable opportunity to explain the benefit that strict enforcement of our laws can have and provide some education into what we do as conservation officers.
An anonymous complaint of snagging activity on Bear Creek led COs Samuel Koscinski, Scott MacNeill, Jason McCullough and PCO Cody Simmons to confront four anglers with twelve chinook salmon that had all been foul hooked and illegally possessed. All twelve salmon were seized along with 43 muti-pointed hooks with weights permanently attached (M-60’s). One of the four anglers was also carrying a concealed pistol without a concealed pistol license at the time of contact. It was later determined the firearm was also unregistered. One of the four anglers was also fishing without a valid 2025 fishing license. A report will be sent to the Manistee County Prosecutor’s Office seeking charges the violations.
CO Logan Turner was working along the White River in Oceana County for illegal fishing activity. While walking along, he heard a lot of splashing downriver. CO Turner navigated to the top of the riverbank where he saw two individuals in the river, and one was chasing fish with only a hand net, attempting to net fish. CO Turner watched the individual for a while, taking note of their activity. After some time observing the two, CO Turner contacted the two individuals. Upon contact, the suspect stated he was just cleaning rocks out of the net, but once CO Turner told him that he had been watching for a while, even quoting what the suspect said while he was in the river, the suspect admitted that he was attempting to net the salmon. The suspect stated he didn’t know it was illegal to net the salmon. The suspect was cited for attempting to catch salmon by unlawful method.
CO Tim Barboza and PCO Alexander Arndt were checking boat launches in Newaygo County when they noticed a boat with improper registration numbers affixed to the side and weeds hanging from the trailer. CO Barboza and PCO Arndt stopped the boaters before they could launch their boat. The COs interviewed the subjects and found that they had launched at a different location prior to the contact and did not clean off the trailer. The COs also determined that the registration numbers were improper and that the owner did not have the boat’s paper registration available. The subjects knew that they should clean their boat before launching at a different location to prevent the spread of invasive species. CO Barboza and PCO Arndt issued the boaters a citation for failing to clean their trailer and a verbal warning for failing to display their registration. The COs also helped determine what the correct registration numbers were for the boat so that the owner could correct the problem.
CO Cameron Wright was patrolling Newaygo County when central dispatch put out a “Be on the lookout” (BOL) call for a reckless driver. The suspect vehicle was operating at a high rate of speed and running motorists off the road. CO Wright was only a few miles north and quickly located the suspect pickup truck. The driver was not wearing his seatbelt, his truck’s exhaust was loud, his registration was expired for over two years, and he made obscene gestures at CO Wright while yelling out of the window at him. When contacted, the suspect was very angry and felt like he was being targeted by law enforcement. The driver produced a large pile of citations to CO Wright and said he kept getting stopped by the police for his driving. CO Wright issued three citations for various motor vehicle infractions.
CO Cameron Wright received a complaint of hunting blinds with bait piles in front of them on commercial forest property in Newaygo County. CO Wright went to the property and met with the caller. They walked the two-tracks and located blinds with large piles of salt licks, carrots, sugar beets, corn, and apples in front of them. There were also trail cameras set up on the property watching the bait. While CO Wright was walking back to the road, a pickup truck fitting the description of the suspect’s vehicle arrived. When the driver was questioned about the bait, he expressed surprise and stated that nothing was there yesterday. After further questioning, the hunter admitted guilt and enforcement action was taken.
CO Cameron Wright was patrolling Newaygo County after dark checking for salmon anglers. CO Wright located a pickup truck parked way back on a two-track along the North Branch of the Pere Marquette River that contained two subjects. CO Wright ultimately identified them and learned that both parties had warrants for their arrest. CO Wright arrested both occupants and subsequently conducted an impound inventory search of the vehicle and surrounding area. During the inventory search, CO Wright located a small container with a white powdery substance consistent with meth in the center console that was near the driver. CO Wright located a second small container with a white powdery substance consistent with meth in the female passenger’s purse. CO Wright also found multiple torches, a glass pipe caked with a white powdery substance consistent to meth, and other various indicators of illegal meth use in the pickup truck. Both occupants were lodged at the Newaygo County Jail, and the white powdery substances were sent to the MSP lab for forensic examination. Felony drug charges will be requested pending the results from the MSP lab.
CO Cameron Wright responded to a call involving a dirt bike personal injury accident on the M20 ORV trail heading north out of White Cloud. The caller reported that the throttle on his friend’s dirt bike stuck, causing him to crash into a tree and sustain major injuries. The driver was flown by Aero Med to Grand Rapids, and his condition is unknown at this time. The accident is being investigated by the MSP.
CO Ryan Jager contacted two anglers at Hesperia Dam in Oceana County who were from out of state and did not have Michigan fishing licenses. Both anglers were cited for the violations and CO Jager assisted the anglers in getting a non-resident fishing license for the days they were in the state.
District 5 counties of service: Alcona, Arenac, Clare, Crawford, Gladwin, Iosco, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Roscommon.
CO Craig Neal was patrolling state land along Saginaw Bay on the first day of the early antlerless hunt when he heard a rifle shot. He waited near the parking area for the hunters to return. Shortly after, one hunter was observed pulling a jet sled through the woods with a deer in it. As that hunter neared the parking area, a second hunter arrived back from a store, license in hand. The individual admitted he had purchased the license after shooting the deer, had never completed hunter safety, and had been hunting separately from his companion. CO Neal emphasized the importance of completing hunter safety and understanding hunting laws and regulations. A citation was issued.
COs Alex Bourgeois and Josh Jobin were setting up a grouse decoy in the Huron National Forest in Alcona County when a side-by-side drove past and stopped. CO Bourgeois observed that neither the driver nor the passenger was wearing a seatbelt and initiated a traffic stop. During the stop, it was discovered that the passenger had an outstanding Oakland County warrant for over $36,000 in unpaid child support. The man was arrested, placed in CO Bourgeois’ patrol truck, and transported to the Iosco County Jail, where he was held until the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office could pick him up the following day.
COs Alex Bourgeois and Jesse Grzechowski were patrolling the Huron National Forest near Bliss Lake in Alcona County when they encountered bear hunters during a routine check. One hunter reported that a neighboring landowner had just threatened another party member with a rifle. The victim stated that while retrieving dogs from private property they had permission to hunt on, the landowner came out of his house, screamed, blared music, and pointed a rifle at her from his driveway. The COs interviewed the suspect, who admitted bringing a rifle to the end of his driveway because he was upset about barking dogs and claimed it was for self-protection while retrieving his mail. The investigation did not support the suspect’s account, leading to his arrest. During custody, he resisted, and the COs were required to use force to secure him. He was transported to the Iosco County Jail and charged with felonious assault, brandishing a firearm, hunter harassment, and resisting and obstructing a conservation officer.
CO Casey Pullum was patrolling roads in rural Oscoda County when he observed a vehicle parked in the middle of the road. The vehicle was running, and no driver was visible, so CO Pullum approached the driver’s window. He observed a male using his phone and three uncased, loaded long guns on the passenger seat. The driver stated he was answering a text and had placed the firearms in the front seat while returning from turkey hunting. A fourth loaded long gun was found in the rear of the vehicle. All firearms were safely unloaded, and a citation for transporting uncased and loaded firearms was issued.
District 6 counties of service: Bay, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Montcalm, Saginaw, Sanilac, Tuscola.
While on patrol in Bay County, CO Nick McNamee was patrolling around Saginaw Bay looking for waterfowl hunters during the youth and veteran hunt weekend. While checking hunters, CO McNamee discovered that one of the hunters did not have a plug in their shotgun allowing more than the federal limit of three shells in a shotgun at one time. A citation was issued for the offense.
While on patrol in Saginaw County, CO Nick McNamee was watching two goose hunters in the Shiawassee State Game Area (SGA). The hunters were just about ready to start packing up when CO McNamee conducted a license check. CO McNamee found that the hunters were hunting with multiple rounds of lead shotgun shells and one of the hunters did not have a plug in his shotgun. A citation was issued for hunting waterfowl with toxic shot and an unplugged firearm.
CO Kyle Romzek observed goose decoys in a wheat stubble field and walked out to check potential hunters. Upon reaching the hunting area, the CO discovered that the subjects were no longer hunting but had left one dead goose along with shelled corn on the ground and into the decoy spread. The CO then went back to his patrol pickup and waited down the road for the hunters to return. Once the hunters returned, the CO stopped the vehicle and questioned the subjects about their hunt. The CO then walked out to the hunting area with the three subjects and addressed the issue of the corn. One of the hunters admitted to placing the shelled corn out and killing the goose. The CO will be writing a report and seeking a charge for using bait to take waterfowl.
During the 2025 Liberty Hunt, CO Mark Siemen received information that a young hunter had killed a deer without a license. Investigation information from the Report All Poaching (RAP) Hotline was that a hunter called for a deer tracker before purchasing a license. CO Siemen verified the information and interviewed the parents, and they did admit that they allowed their child to kill a deer without a license. Charges will be submitted to the Sanilac County Prosecutor.
COs Ethan Gainforth and Mike Eovaldi assisted Fish Point Wildlife staff, the Richville Conservation Club Members, and many other volunteers during the Fish Point Mentored Youth Hunt. Youth were comprised of hunter safety certified youth 15 years old and younger who were also team members on various trap teams including Caro, Reese, and USA. Friday night consisted of the youth meeting their mentors, getting various prizes, brushing up on shooting skills, and practicing waterfowl ID. Saturday consisted of the youth hunting at Fish Point in the managed waterfowl area. In total the program involved 14 youth and 14 members. This was a great program directly targeted at introducing youth hunters to waterfowl hunting at a managed waterfowl unit.
CO Chris Kravitsky received a RAP complaint from a subject who had a trail camera photo of a man and child trespassing during the youth hunt. The complainant went out the following day to check the area where the trespassers had been caught on camera and located a dead spike horn buck. The complainant had a suspicion of who the suspect was. CO Kravitsky responded to the scene and was able to use photos from social media that the suspect took to verify the exact location the subject was sitting during the hunt. An interview with the suspect led to a confession that he had taken his young grandson out hunting for the youth hunt and harvested an 8-point buck. When asked if he had permission to hunt the land, he stated that he had been given permission to hunt the land 18 years ago and assumed he still had permission. When asked about the spike that was killed, the suspect advised he did not believe his grandson shot any other deer, however, he had fired multiple rounds at three deer that were running through the woods. Charges are being sought against the suspect through the Sanilac County Prosecutor’s Office.
District 7 counties of service: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, St Joseph, Van Buren.
CO Carter Woodwyk received a complaint from the RAP hotline of a deer bait site in the Allegan SGA in Allegan County. On the morning of the early antlerless firearm deer hunt, the CO observed a subject hunting over the bait in an unmarked stand, not wearing hunter orange. The CO addressed the corn cobs on the ground and the hunter indicated he did not put them there. When the CO requested the hunter’s deer license, he was unable to produce it, indicating he left it at his house. The CO walked the hunter out of the woods back to his vehicle where the hunter retrieved his firearm case from the trunk of the vehicle. When the trunk opened, the CO observed a fresh bag of corn cobs in the trunk matching the bait by the tree stand. Further investigation indicated this subject also has never completed a hunter safety course. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Carter Woodwyk was foot patrolling the Allegan SGA in Allegan County when he located a subject in a tree stand, firearm deer hunting during the early antlerless deer season. The subject was not wearing hunter orange. When the CO started to approach the hunter, they took their orange vest out from behind them and started waving it at the CO. The subject was ordered down from the tree where they were cited for not wearing hunter orange.
CO Carter Woodwyk was patrolling Green Lake in Allegan County when he observed a vessel pulling a subject on skis without an observer on board. The CO launched his patrol vessel and conducted a stop on this vessel. The CO observed two young kids, ages four and six, sitting in the bow of the vessel facing forward. The driver of the vessel indicated the kids were his observer. When the CO explained that the observer must actually be watching the person being towed, the driver (who was the father of the girls) cast the blame on them for not observing. Meanwhile, the subject being towed boarded the vessel and removed their life jacket. The CO checked the life jacket that the person being towed was wearing. On the inside of the “life jacket” it stated, “THIS IS NOT A LIFE JACKET.” Enforcement action was taken.
CO Carter Woodwyk was foot patrolling the Allegan SGA in Allegan County when he observed a subject walking a trail dressed in all black carrying a .22 rifle with an orange sling on it. The CO contacted the hunter who indicated he was squirrel hunting. The CO addressed the hunter orange violation, and the hunter stated he believed he was complying because his sling on the firearm was orange. Further investigation revealed that this subject has never taken a hunter safety course. The CO explained that the requirements for hunter orange will be outlined for him when he does take a hunter safety course. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Sam Schluckbier and PCO Joe Budnick were conducting AIS patrol near Pigeon Lake in Ottawa County when the COs observed a vehicle leaving with a trailered vessel. The trailer had a large amount of aquatic vegetation still attached as it left the boat launch. A traffic stop was conducted, and enforcement action was taken.
CO Travis Dragomer observed an angler fishing upon the St. Joseph River near a designated trout stream. After further observation, CO Dragomer witnessed the angler fighting a fish. The coho salmon was hooked near the pectoral fin and was reeled in sideways. CO Dragomer contacted the angler once the fish was placed onto the stringer. A citation was issued for retaining a foul hooked fish.
CO Travis Dragomer responded to a captive wildlife complaint and located a fawn inside a kennel that was next to the suspect’s house. After further investigation, it was determined they had the fawn for multiple months and that it was not the first time they had attempted to rehabilitate fawns. A citation was issued for rehabilitating wildlife without a permit.
CO Tyler Cole patrolled the Black River in Van Buren County during the fall fish run. While patrolling, CO Cole observed a subject who was actively attempting to snag spawning salmon. The angler foul hooked a salmon and brought it to shore. The subject then took pictures with the snagged fish and instead of immediately returning the salmon to the river, he ran back to the parking lot and threw it into the bed of his truck. CO Cole contacted the angler who denied that he had caught any fish and denied that he was attempting to snag the salmon. After realizing that the CO had been observing him for some time, the angler admitted to snagging and retaining a foul hooked fish. The salmon was seized, and citations were issued for violations.
CO Jackie Postema was patrolling the Montague boat launch when two vessels were pulled out of the water. One vessel pulled off to the side and began pulling the weeds off their boat and trailer, however, the second vessel continued to leave the boat launch, without pulling the plethora of weeds off their boat or trailer. A stop was made, and the subject was issued a citation for failing to pull the aquatic plants off their trailer/vessel before leaving the boat ramp. They were then instructed to pull the weeds off before they were to continue on their way.
CO Justin Ulberg checked two anglers fishing along the Grand River in Kent County. One of the anglers did not have a fishing license and the other angler had a stringer of fish that contained six undersized largemouth bass. The illegal fish were seized, and the angler was issued a citation for the violation. In a separate contact, a subject was issued a citation for snagging salmon.
District 8 counties of service: Branch, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Shiawassee.
COs Wesley Butler and Brandon Benedict assisted CO Jeremy Beavers with checking anglers along the Grand River in Ionia County during the annual salmon run. While CO Butler was watching a group of anglers, he witnessed one of them purposely foul hook a fish and attempt to keep it. The two COs notified CO Beavers, who was working the area on the anglers’ side of the river. CO Beavers made contact and took enforcement action, issuing the angler a citation for snagging.
PCO Tyler Owen and CO Thomas Jaakkola received a hunting complaint from Jackson County 911 of a subject hunting in a field that they didn’t have permission to be hunting. PCO Owen and CO Jaakkola contacted two male subjects who identified themselves as waterfowl guides along with nine female waterfowl hunters. The guides could not recall the name of the landowner they talked to but knew where he lived. CO Jaakkola contacted the daughter of the landowner who called in the complaint and after talking with her, she advised that her father probably did give them permission but couldn’t recall as he forgets things due to age. PCO Owen and CO Jaakkola completed waterfowl checks on all the hunters for proper licensing, ammunition, and plugs in guns. Upon checking one of the guides who admitted he was hunting, PCO Owen found that he failed to buy his State Waterfowl License or Federal Stamp for 2025. Citations were issued for Waterfowl Hunting without a State License and No Federal Stamp.
CO James Rowley responded to a trespass complaint in southeastern Ingham County. While walking on the property with the landowner, CO Rowley saw rock salt and corn kernels on the ground. The salt and corn kernels were in a shooting lane from a large ground blind in the center of the hardwoods. CO Rowley asked the landowner who the blind belonged to. The landowner told CO Rowley the name of the hunter and said he did not know the hunter had placed the bait. CO Rowley dealt with the trespass complaint then went to speak with the hunter. The hunter told CO Rowley that he had put the salt and corn in hopes of bringing in a deer. The hunter said it didn’t seem to help and that he has other property he intends to hunt. The hunter said he put the bait there during the youth hunt in hopes he could attract one for his son. Enforcement action was taken.
District 9 counties of service: Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair.
CO Sydney Griffor was contacted by central dispatch regarding a hunting complaint in the Port Huron SGA. The caller stated he was hunting the early antlerless hunt and nearby waterfowl hunters were shooting in his direction and shotgun BBs were landing on him. CO Griffor responded and spoke with the caller. CO Griffor eventually spoke with the three waterfowl hunters who shot two geese. They were advised of what the complaint was and stated they had no idea the hunter was in the tree hunting and obviously did not intend that to happen. CO Griffor conducted a waterfowl check of the hunters, checking licenses, shotguns for plugs, ammunition and birds. Upon checking, one hunter, who stated he shot a goose, did not have a plug in his shotgun, making it capable of holding more than three shells, which is illegal. The other hunter who shot the other goose had approximately 19 lead/toxic shot shells in his blind bag. He admitted he had no idea those were lead shot shells and he purchased them at a garage sale. He stated he was using other shells, since the garage sale shells would cause his gun to jam. CO Griffor seized the goose that was shot with an unplugged shotgun, and a report will be submitted to the prosector’s office seeking charges for the possession of lead shot and the unplugged shotgun.
CO Sydney Griffor was at the St. Clair Boat Harbor when she observed two individuals carrying a large cooler that appeared very heavy to the fish cleaning station. CO Griffor walked up to the individuals who began acting suspiciously. CO Griffor asked how the fishing went and checked the open cooler. Inside the cooler were six king salmon that were clearly river run salmon, not something you typically see in St. Clair County. The angler began cleaning the fish and stated he caught them on the west side of the state with his grandsons. CO Griffor asked to see a fishing license, the family members were very quick to say grandpa would have one. Because there were six salmon, one more than the daily limit, CO Griffor asked to see a second fishing license. They were unable to produce a second license, and the angler stated he caught the six fish throughout the weekend, not in one day. The angler explained the laws and advised that any fish possessed that made him over the daily limit needed to be processed. The sixth salmon was seized, and a report will be submitted to the prosector’s office seeking charges for possession of the over-limit of salmon.
CO Sydney Griffor was in Kimball Township when central dispatch advised of a crash with two vehicles involving injuries. CO Griffor was only one mile away and arrived first on scene very quickly. The vehicle ran the stop sign, which t-boned the other vehicle involved, sending them both into the ditch. The driver at fault struck a metal utility box and was unable to get out of the driver’s side. CO Griffor assisted with getting the driver out of the vehicle until EMS, fire, and deputies arrived on scene. The crash was turned over to the sheriff's department.
CO Cody Bourgeois was on waterfowl patrol over the weekend. During a check, he discovered one of the hunters’ guns was capable of holding more than three shells. The hunter stated he thought the firearm came with a plug when he purchased it from the store. The CO issued a citation for having a firearm that can hold more than three shells.
District 10 counties of service: Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw, Wayne.
CO Brandon Vacek conducted a traffic stop on a pair of dirt bikes as he was exiting the Crystal Water SGA parking area. The subjects advised they were testing the bikes out before a ride in northern Michigan and had ventured quite a distance from home. A citation was issued for failure to license an ORV, and a warning was issued for operating an ORV on a closed public road. Both the subjects and their bikes were transported home in a vehicle with the assistance of a family member.
CO Brandon Vacek was late in his shift patrolling for ORV activity in Monroe County when he observed two all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) operating down the roadway in a county closed to such activity. After taking a closer look, both ATVs had passengers onboard the machines that did not appear manufactured to carry more than one rider. A traffic stop was conducted when the CO was finally able to catch up with the vehicles that were travelling at a high rate of speed. Upon further investigation, one of the drivers had a felony warrant out of Monroe County. That subject was taken into custody without incident and lodged at the Monroe County Jail. The other three subjects were given verbal warnings for their observed violations. To avoid impoundment, the subject in custody contacted a neighbor, who promptly made it to the location to safely transport the other subjects and ATVs home with a truck and trailer.
GREAT LAKES ENFORCEMENT UNIT (GLEU)
Corporal (Cpl.) Jon Busken was on routine patrol when he spotted an ORV operator operating without a helmet, ORV license and in a closed area. Contact was made with the operator, who was found to be 14 years old and had not taken an ORV safety course. Enforcement action was taken with the father for allowing a youth to operate without supervision.
Cpl. Mike Hammill worked with MSP motor carrier officers in the Western Upper Peninsula, targeting movement of prohibited species. No fish haulers were contacted during the patrol.
Cpl. Mike Hammill was in a remote area when he encountered two trucks engaged in chasing bear with hounds. The officer witnessed a hunter about to walk into the woods in between two “no trespassing” signs. Cpl. Hammill contacted the hunters, who advised they were running a very large bear. Cpl. Hammill advised that the approximately 5-mile-long road they were hunting on has zero public land and to put their weapons away and also asked them to attempt to start collecting their dogs. All their dogs were put back into their trucks, and several violations were addressed.
Cpl. Mike Hammill contacted a side-by-side approaching him on a forest road. Licenses were checked, and when the firearm was checked to make sure it was unloaded, the female occupant said “yes, its unloaded.” She then broke the hinge action open, and a 20-gauge shell flew out, hitting her in the neck. Two open containers of alcohol were also present. A citation for the loaded firearm was issued.
Cpls. Troy Van Gelderen and Pat Hartsig worked an AIS detail with Michigan motor carrier officers at the Grass Lake weigh scales near Jackson, targeting potential haulers of prohibited species.
