3/1/26-3/14/26

District 1 counties of service: Baraga, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon.

CO Alex VanWagner conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle after radar indicated the vehicle was traveling 89-mph in a 55-mph zone. The driver stated he was not paying attention and was trying to catch a flight. A citation was issued for speeding.

COs Alex VanWagner, Zach Painter, Ethen Mapes, Pete Shambaugh, and Ray Gagnon, along with United States Forest Service officers conducted a Saturday group snowmobile patrol in areas of Gogebic, Ontonagon, and Iron Counties. Over 500 snowmobiles were contacted throughout the day. Seventeen citations were issued for failing to obtain trail permits, registration violations, and careless operation. Approximately 60 verbal warnings were issued as well.

District 2 counties of service: Alger, Chippewa, Delta, Mackinac, Luce, Schoolcraft.

CO Alex French was patrolling in northern Luce County when he saw a group of snowmobilers, one of which did not have a trail permit displayed. After conducting a stop on the snowmobiler, it was determined he did not have his trail permit affixed to his sled and was carrying it in his pocket. The permit was purchased months before this encounter and the snowmobiler stated he kept it in his pocket because he had another snowmobile. The snowmobiler was issued a citation.

COs Alex French and Justin Vinson did a fisheries patrol of Luce County. COs checked the mouth of the Two Heart, Reed and Green, Little Lake Harbor, and Pike Lake. The COs saw a couple fishing on Pike Lake. It was found that one angler did not have a fishing license for the current year. A citation was issued for fishing without a license.

CO Scott Pankow and Sgt. Calvin Smith participated in a career fair at Rudyard Schools. The COs talked with students about the process of becoming a conservation officer and day-to-day duties.

CO Mike Olesen responded to call of a pole barn that had collapsed onto an individual in northern Chippewa County. CO Olesen, along with other law enforcement and firefighters, shoveled snow and removed pieces of the roof to get to the victim. The individual was removed and transferred to emergency medical services where he was pronounced deceased.

While on patrol in Delta County, CO Matthew Bowser observed a snowmobile operating on a railroad track that was paralleling the highway. CO Bowser was able to get ahead of the snowmobile at the next crossroad and make a stop. When CO Bowser asked for the operator’s driver’s license, the operator stated it was revoked. CO Bowser advised the operator that it is unlawful to operate a snowmobile with a revoked license. The operator arranged for friend to pick up the snowmobile. CO Bowser will be submitting charges to the Delta County Prosecutor’s Office.

CO Brandon Maki was patrolling near Munising when he observed a snowmobile operating with an expired trail permit. CO Maki initiated a stop and contacted the operator of the snowmobile. CO Maki discovered the trail permit was expired by 20 years. CO Maki issued a citation for failing to obtain a trail permit before clearing the scene.

District 3 counties of service: Alpena, Antrim, Cheboygan, Charlevoix, Emmet, Montmorency, Otsego, Presque Isle.

CO Andrea Albert conducted a stop on three snowmobiles operating without trail permits while patrolling local designated snowmobile trails in Antrim County. One of the snowmobiles was not registered, had a rachet strap holding down the hood, and did not have a working headlight. Upon further inspection, CO Albert observed the snowmobile without a working headlight had a small handheld flashlight taped onto it in place of the headlight. CO Albert issued tickets for not having trail permits and issued warnings for additional violations. CO Albert applauded the owner for his creativity in using a flashlight for the headlight but advised it would not meet the lawful requirement.

CO Andrea Albert was a guest speaker at Central Lake High School and gave a presentation on the history of Michigan COs and CO’s current duties and responsibilities. CO Albert answered questions and provided information on the hiring and training process to become a CO.

CO Andrea Albert investigated a trespass where a group of snowmobilers went off-trail and trespassed onto private property. One subject in the group got stuck on a power pole guide wire and the complainant was able to video and photograph the operators and the snowmobile registrations. A follow up investigation led to the lead operator being charged with recreational trespass.

CO Andrea Albert received a complaint of trespassing and a dog getting caught in a foot hold trap set for coyote. The property owner advised no one had permission to hunt or trap on the property. While walking into the area where the traps were located, CO Albert contacted the trapper. Unfortunately for the trapper, coyote trapping season had closed two weeks prior, he did not purchase a fur harvester’s license, and the traps were not tagged with proper identification. A ticket was issued for the license violation, and the trapper was educated about rules.

District 4 counties of service: Benzie, Grand Traverse, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Newaygo, Oceana, Wexford.

CO Zack Walters received information through the Grand Traverse Central Dispatch of a possible ice rescue or unattended fishing equipment incident. Deputies responded to Boardman Lake after receiving a call of unattended fishing equipment on the ice with no one around. It was determined that an ice rescue was likely not needed and instead the anglers had set tip-ups and went for lunch. CO Walters met with the sheriff’s office who had deployed an airboat to collect the fishing equipment. The anglers eventually returned and CO Walters issued citations for failing to put their name and address on their tip-ups. Warnings were given for the additional violations.

CO Josh Wright received information about a very large pile of processed deer parts at a parking lot of an ORV trail head. A DNR Parks and Recreation staff member was able to locate a deer license in the pile for CO Wright. CO Wright spoke with the hunter who informed him he dropped the deer off at a local deer processing facility. CO Wright spoke with numerous processors and eventually located the individual responsible for dumping the deer parts. A litter citation was issued and the subject cleaned up the deer parts.

CO Will Kinney and Sgt. Amanda Weaver followed up on a camping complaint in Grand Traverse County. The COs located an abandoned camper, that appeared to have been stored for the winter, in a popular camping location along Lake Dubonnet. Through investigation, the COs discovered who the campsite belonged to and responded to his residence. The owner told the COs he had been camping at that location since August, and he left the camper once the weather turned bad. The owner was ticketed for not having a disperse camping permit and advised the camping unit needed to be removed.

CO Josh Reed was patrolling in Mecosta County when he came to an intersection and observed two vehicles parked along the side of the road. CO Reed contacted the motorists and found they had stopped after a vehicle had crashed off the roadway. CO Reed contacted the lone occupant of the vehicle who was alongside the road. CO Reed immediately observed signs of impairment from alcohol and began investigating for operating while intoxicated. The subject refused a PBT (Preliminary Breath Test) and was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated – 3rd Offense, and after being evaluated by first responders, was transported to the hospital for a search warrant blood draw. After being medically cleared by the hospital and the blood draw being conducted, the subject was taken to the Mecosta County Jail where he was lodged for Operating While Intoxicated – 3rd Offense, no security (insurance), refusal of PBT, and no license plate displayed on a vehicle.

COs Ryan Jager and Tim Barboza were patrolling in Oceana County when an oncoming vehicle honked at them several times. The COs turned around to follow the vehicle, not knowing if the occupants of the vehicle were in distress. As they followed the vehicle, it began to speed up more than the posted speed limit, pulled down a two-track, and began turning around. The COs contacted the subjects in the vehicle and discovered they had open intoxicants in the vehicle and neither the driver nor the passenger had a valid driver’s license. Enforcement action was taken for the open intoxicants and driving with a revoked license. The occupants of the vehicle called a driver with a valid driver's license to pick them up

CO Ryan Jager checked several anglers at Hesperia Dam in Oceana County during the spring steelhead run and discovered one angler did not have a valid fishing license. CO Jager cited the angler for failing to exhibit his fishing license.

CO Logan Turner was on patrol along the White River in Oceana County and while checking a group of anglers, CO Turner observed an individual further down river toss a handful of fish eggs into the hole he was fishing. CO Turner continued observing the angler for a while until he crossed the river. CO Turner contacted the angler and asked what he had tossed into the river and he admitted it was fish eggs. The individual was cited for chumming organic material in a designated trout stream.

District 5 counties of service: Alcona, Arenac, Clare, Crawford, Gladwin, Iosco, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Roscommon.

COs Breanna Garrett and Matt Zultak attended the public safety class at Charlton Heston Academy to speak with students about the roles and responsibilities of conservation officers. Topics included natural resource protection, law enforcement duties, daily responsibilities, and career opportunities within the Department of Natural Resources. Students were given the opportunity to ask questions.

CO Casey Pullum was patrolling the northwest portion of Oscoda County when he activated his speed measurement device on a vehicle that appeared to be traveling above the posted 55 mph speed limit. CO Pullum recorded the vehicle traveling at 73 mph. He conducted a traffic stop, and upon approaching the driver’s window, immediately detected the smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle. The driver admitted to drinking earlier in the day. CO Pullum administered standardized field sobriety tests and a PBT, which resulted in a .09. At the conclusion of the tests, the driver was taken into custody for operating while intoxicated and lodged with the Oscoda County Sheriff’s Department.

CO Nico Luna responded to an active domestic violence situation in West Branch. CO Luna was able to stop one of the parties involved in their vehicle until backup arrived. After learning the other party fled the scene on foot while intoxicated, CO Luna assisted in searching the area and helped apprehend the individual.

CO Alex Bourgeois and a United States Forest Service officer responded to a complaint of a subject duck hunting at the Whirlpool access on the Au Sable River. They tracked the individual through the woods, observing tracks and a fresh blood trail. Contact was made with the hunter who stated he was raccoon hunting, was not wearing hunter orange, and admitted to shooting a red squirrel. CO Tyler Sabuda advised the hunter had uncased firearms in his vehicle at the launch. The hunter returned to the vehicle and admitted to having two uncased, loaded rifles in the back seat, and CO Bourgeois located an additional loaded shotgun in the bed. All firearms were seized, and citations were issued for no hunter orange, loaded firearms in a motor vehicle, and uncased firearms in a motor vehicle.

COs Tyler Sabuda and Alex Bourgeois conducted an inspection of a store selling minnows in Iosco County. Further investigation determined the store had been selling minnows for multiple years without a retail minnow license. CO Sabuda issued a citation to the owner for the violation.

District 6 counties of service: Bay, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Montcalm, Saginaw, Sanilac, Tuscola.

CO Alexander Arndt was patrolling Gratiot Saginaw State Game Area when he located several deer and walleye carcasses dumped in a parking lot. Underneath the carcasses was a delivery box with the name and address of an individual attached. CO Arndt was able to locate the individual and enforcement action was taken.

While on patrol in Saginaw County, CO Alexander Arndt encountered three anglers on the Tittabawassee River. One of the anglers told CO Arndt that he had been fishing for a while and caught three walleye. CO Arndt asked to see the fish and when the angler showed him his catch, it appeared one of the fish was under the legal-size limit. CO Arndt measured the fish and determined that the angler was in possession of an undersized walleye. Enforcement action was taken and the angler was educated on how to properly measure fish.

CO Michael Lator was patrolling through Maple River State Game Area in Gratiot County when he encountered a suspicious situation involving a car parked in the state game area parking area with a door open. The COs investigation revealed that the driver of the vehicle had exposed himself to several individuals while in the parking lot. An arrest warrant was obtained for a charge of indecent exposure, and the suspect was transported to the Gratiot County Jail.

District 7 counties of service: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, St Joseph, Van Buren.

While on patrol, St. Joseph County Dispatch issued a tornado warning for the City of Three Rivers. CO Alex Peters was east of Three Rivers in the direction the tornado was heading. CO Peters was flagged down at an intersection between the Village of Centreville and Three Rivers by a juvenile male who was running down the street. The male stated that his mom was at work and was very scared for his house and safety. The juvenile male was visibly distressed and was asking for a ride to safety. CO Peters had the male get into his truck and took him into the Village of Centreville. When CO Peters turned east to head into the village, he could see rotation and the tornado in the same area he had just picked up the male which was now paralleling his truck. CO Peters relayed the tornado location to dispatch and safely dropped the juvenile male off at the courthouse in Centreville.

While on patrol, St. Joseph County Dispatch issued a tornado warning for the City of Three Rivers. CO Alex Peters responded to the City of Three Rivers and worked alongside multiple agencies throughout the night checking on injuries, search and rescue, and damage assessment. CO Peters responded again the following day with CO Jeff Robinette to the City of Three Rivers to assist in secondary searches and damage assessment. A State of Emergency and natural disaster was declared for the city.

COs Casey Varriale and Justin Ulberg conducted numerous patrols along the Grand River in Grand Rapids during the spring steelhead and walleye run. Numerous anglers were contacted and citations were issued for taking an over-limit of steelhead and possessing a foul hooked fish.

COs Jackie Postema and Anna Cullen were patrolling Muskegon Lake when they contacted a vessel that was fishing for perch. While checking the vessel for safety equipment, the individuals were unable to provide any life jackets or a throwable personal floatation device (PFD). A citation was issued, and the individuals were told their fishing trip was over until PFDs were able to be put on the vessel.

CO Casey Varriale was advised by CO Justin Ulberg that an individual kept a foul hooked steelhead at 6th Street Dam in Grand Rapids in the County of Kent. CO Ulberg observed the angler reel in the steelhead via a hook in the belly of the fish near its pectoral fins. CO Varriale approached the angler who stated he hooked the steelhead under the “chin.”  CO Varriale inspected the fish and noticed a gash in the belly of the fish near its pectoral fins that was consistent with CO Ulberg’s observations. CO Varriale issued a citation to the angler for possessing a foul hooked fish.

District 8 counties of service: Branch, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Shiawassee.

CO Marc Mankowski located a validated deer license at the base of an unmarked tree stand on state land during a foot patrol of Tamarack State Game Area. The hunter was contacted at his residence and stated his tag fell off while dragging the deer out. He stated he didn’t know how to harvest report it without the tag or who to call about the lost license. The hunter had harvested many deer previously and was advised the process has not changed. The hunter admitted to not harvest reporting the deer due to being busy and lazy. He was issued a citation for failing to harvest report the deer.

CO Marc Mankowski followed up on an illegal deer located at a taxidermist by CO James Rowley. The hunter was contacted at his residence and stood firm that he purchased a license at the store, drove 1.5 miles home, walked around his house, and shot an 8-point deer all within 2 mins. He even showed CO Mankowski the picture of the deer hanging in a tree in his yard 30 minutes before the license was purchased and still couldn’t comprehend how the CO didn’t believe him. A report will be submitted to the Eaton County Prosecutor’s office for review.

CO Jeremy Woods was patrolling Eaton Township for ORV activity when he observed a couch being burned in the side yard of a residence. When CO Woods flipped around, he observed a resident placing a mattress on the burning couch. CO Woods also observed multiple other mattresses waiting to be burned. CO Woods contacted the resident and ordered him to put out the fire. It was evident that they had been burning things for years and the subject admitted to burning things there for 10 years. A citation was issued.

CO Nick Thornton responded to a recreational trespassing complaint regarding several small game hunters. CO Thornton located all four hunters who admitted to trespassing; however, the property owner decided they did not want to pursue criminal charges. Three of the four hunters did not have a base license to legally hunt small game, and they had one rabbit in their possession. Enforcement action was taken.

District 9 counties of service: Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair.

CO Justin Muehlhauser patrolled the Flint River for the final days before the walleye closure and encountered two anglers fishing along the Flint River near Steppingstones Falls. The anglers were in possession of two walleyes. One of the anglers stated that he did not have a fishing license. Upon running a file on the subject, it was determined that he had multiple warrants for his arrest. The subject was taken into custody without incident and was turned over to the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and lodged at the Genesee County Jail.

CO Cody Bourgeois worked on an approved plainclothes patrol on Anchor Bay responding to a complaint from the public of a subject keeping over-limits of yellow perch. CO Bourgeois knew of the angler and where he liked to fish. CO Bourgeois went out on the ice and mixed in with the anglers observing the catching and keeping. CO Bourgeois spent most of the day observing the angler and watched as he filled a 7-gallon bucket with perch. CO Bourgeois observed the angler leaving the ice and called his partner, CO Kris Kiel, to make contact. CO Bourgeois gave a description of the angler and the house he was using to access the lake. CO Kiel arrived on scene to intercept the angler. CO Kiel conducted a fishing check, and the angler had 89 yellow perch in his bucket. The suspect is facing high fines and several charges pending the court’s ruling.

In the beginning of December 2025, CO Sydney Griffor was patrolling the southern end of St. Clair County for ice fishing activity. CO Griffor observed two anglers fishing in a canal that is popular for first ice conditions. Upon checking the anglers for licenses and fish, one angler took several minutes to attempt to locate his fishing license on his phone. After about four minutes, CO Griffor asked to see his driver’s license so she could scan it on the DNR licensing application to check for a license, however; the angler did not have his driver’s license on him. CO Griffor was able to get his full name and date of birth and ran it through DNR Dispatch to check for a valid fishing license. DNR Dispatch advised the angler did not have a 2025 fishing license and his hunting and fishing licenses were revoked until January 1st, 2026. CO Griffor advised the angler of the information she was told by DNR Dispatch and the angler claimed he was under the impression his license revocation was up. After double checking the licensing system, it was determined his licenses were still revoked for another three weeks. CO Griffor advised the angler that she would type a report and submit charges to the prosecutor’s office for fishing without a license and fishing while ineligible for licenses (revoked). The case continued through court and CO Griffor offered a plea deal to dismiss the fishing without a license charge but kept the fishing while revoked charge. The angler, now defendant, was not satisfied with the plea offering and took his case to a jury trial in February 2026. CO Griffor took the stand during the jury trial and after less than 15 minutes of deliberation, the verdict was in, the jury found the defendant guilty on both charges; fishing without a license and fishing while licenses were revoked. Due to the defendants’ previous DNR charges within the past five years, the penalty was increased to a habitual offender penalty. In March 2026, the defendant appeared in court for his sentencing. The judge sentenced the defendant to a minimum of 30 days, with a maximum of 180 days in the St. Clair County Jail, $2,980.00 in court costs and fines, $20 reimbursed to the State of Michigan, and the defendant’s fishing licenses are revoked for the remainder of 2026 plus an additional seven years of fishing license revocation.

District 10 counties of service: Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw, Wayne.

CO Joel Hill was on patrol at Pointe Mouille State Game Area when a dirtbike was observed travelling down the roadway. The rider of the bike was not wearing any Department of Transportation approved eye protection, nor did the bike have any valid ORV license affixed to it. A traffic stop was initiated. During the stop, it was discovered that the rider had a suspended driver’s license. The rider was issued a citation for no eye protection and no ORV license. The driver was warned driving an ORV while license suspended. The driver was allowed to plan to have the dirt bike transported home in lieu of impound.

CO Nicholas Ingersoll stopped a vehicle initially for speed, the driver was going 41-mph in a 25-mph zone on Belle Isle. CO Ingersoll spoke with the driver, who also had a plate that expired in 2023, and had a broken taillight. The driver asked CO Ingersoll if he could please give her a warning and CO Ingersoll responded by issuing her a citation for her plate that had not been renewed in over three years. She was warned for her other violations.

GREAT LAKES ENFORCEMENT UNIT (GLEU)

Cpl. Nick Atkin followed up on delinquent wholesale and commercial fish reports. 

Cpl. Nick Atkin has been working with a commercial fisherman and fisheries division to work through issues with reporting on FACTS.

Cpl. Nick Atkin has been working on the launch logistics for the Huldah Neal. The launch date is set with a slip at Bay Harbor Marina until the docks are available at USCG Saginaw River.

Cpl Troy Van Gelderen finished teaching a boater safety class at the Hart Middle School for class of middle schoolers in a "Life Skills" class.

Cpl Troy Van Gelderen conducted several bait store inspections in Southwest Michigan in Berrien and VanBuren counties. Bait stores were assisted with FACTS website.

Cpl Troy Van Gelderen and Cpl Justin Vanderlinde conducted several bait store inspections in Eaton, Jackson, Branch, and Barry Counties. Many bait stores were assisted with the FACTS website.

Cpl Troy Van Gelderen and Cpl Justin Vanderlinde conducted a wholesale minnow inspection at Wendell's Wholesale Bait in Barry County.

Corporal Vanderlinde conducted a commercial fish patrol in Leelanau County, no fishing activity was located.  The fishing season should be starting as the ice in GT Bays is starting to break.

Cpl. Cole VanOosten received a judgement of sentence from a 2024 animal cruelty case. The subject pled guilty to felonious animal cruelty and paid $808 in fines and was sentenced to one year probation.

Cpl. Cole VanOosten received a judgement of sentence from a 2021 case involving out of season snapping turtle harvest. The two subjects were found guilty of the charges and paid $1175 in fines and restitution

Cpl. Cole VanOosten assisted the Luce County Sheriff’s Office in conducting a school safety audit at the request of the administration of Tahquamenon area schools. The drill involved a lockdown drill and evacuation of all students. 

Cpl. Jon Busken contacted multiple bait dealer inspections in Muskegon and Newago Counties. 

Cpl. Jon Busken worked with MDARD staff to ascertain if a live fish shipper required a certificate of veterinary inspection for his product. 


Cpl. Tom Peterson patrolled Houghton, Baraga, Ontonagon Counties for recreational angling. Activity has been low due to weather and ice conditions.