District 1 counties of service: Baraga, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon.
CO Ethen Mapes and four Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park employees successfully extracted a hiker experiencing severe knee pain. The team hiked two miles along the Big Carp River Trail to reach the individual and safely assisted them back to the trailhead.
CO Ray Gagnon safely rescued a stranded kayaker from the Lake Superior shoreline after waves forced the paddler against rocky cliffs. Acting on a call from Negaunee Regional Dispatch, CO Gagnon launched a patrol boat from Little Girls Point in Gogebic County. Traveling roughly four miles, he located the kayaker sheltering on a rock shelf while hazardous waves pushed directly into the rock face. Assisted by a Gogebic County deputy, Gagnon maneuvered the patrol boat close enough to safely retrieve the individual and transport them back to the launch.
CO Alex VanWagner responded to Chicagon Lake following reports of a subject in the water with their leg stuck in a swim raft ladder. Upon arriving at the scene, CO VanWagner deployed a patrol jet ski to reach the offshore raft. It was discovered that the victim’s leg had become tightly wedged between the metal ladder and the wooden raft structure. CO VanWagner and other responding rescue personnel entered the water to stabilize her and begin extraction operations. Responders had to use a reciprocating saw to cut the ladder. Once freed, EMS personnel took custody of the subject and transported them to Aspirus Hospital with minor injuries.
CO Steve Sajtar assisted the Menominee Police Department and several local fire departments in conducting a water-based search for a missing kayaker in Lake Michigan. Search teams found an empty kayak along the shoreline, approximately one-half mile from where the individual was last seen earlier in the day. Following a continued search of the water, the missing kayaker was located deceased approximately 270 yards from the shoreline. CO Sajtar assisted the Menominee and Marinette Fire Departments with recovering the victim.
District 2 counties of service: Alger, Chippewa, Delta, Mackinac, Luce, Schoolcraft.
While on patrol in Delta County, CO Steve Butzin responded to a motorcycle versus deer accident. CO Butzin provided medical assistance and scene control until emergency medical services (EMS) arrived. EMS personnel then took over care and transported the injured individual to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
While on patrol in Delta County, CO Matthew Bowser observed a side-by-side being operating with expired registration stickers. CO Bowser initiated a traffic stop and contacted the driver, who subsequently admitted to consuming alcohol and was found to be in possession of an open container. CO Bowser administered standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs), which the driver failed. The driver was then placed under arrest for operating while impaired (OWI) and transported to the county jail.
District 3 counties of service: Alpena, Antrim, Cheboygan, Charlevoix, Emmet, Montmorency, Otsego, Presque Isle.
CO Kevin Bunce assisted county and state agencies with a loose cow on US 23 north of Rogers City. The cow, named “Princess,” had evaded capture for over two weeks, meandering over 16 miles from a farm in Cheboygan County. Princess was located grazing on a resident’s tulips and daffodils along the Lake Huron shore. A reunion between her and her caretakers was realized shortly thereafter.
While on patrol in Presque Isle County, Sgt. Paul Fox and CO Kevin Bunce responded to the location of a fisherman who had fallen along the shoreline of the Grand Lake Outlet and couldn’t get up. The COs located the subject and transported them to a staging area, where they were turned over to paramedics for evaluation.
While on patrol in a remote part of Montmorency County, CO Dan Liestenfeltz responded to an ORV personal injury accident. CO Liestenfeltz successfully located the injured individual, assessed their injuries, and transported them out of the woods to an awaiting EMS unit. The victim was transported to Gaylord Otsego Memorial Hospital for treatment.
District 4 counties of service: Benzie, Grand Traverse, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Newaygo, Oceana, Wexford.
COs Logan Turner and Cam Wright stopped a subject who was operating an ORV down the center of the roadway without a helmet. Upon contact, CO Turner detected the odor alcohol coming from the operator and conducted SFSTs. The subject was subsequently arrested for OWI and careless operation of an ORV. They were lodged in the Newaygo County Jail and the ORV was impounded.
District 5 counties of service: Alcona, Arenac, Clare, Crawford, Gladwin, Iosco, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Roscommon.
COs Matthew Zultak and Ben McAteer were patrolling ORV trails in Crawford County when they observed a side-by-side enter a closed trail. The COs positioned themselves ahead of the vehicle and activated their emergency lights as it approached, but the driver failed to stop and continued down the trail. The side-by-side was eventually forced to a halt after encountering a fallen tree blocking the pathway. Upon contact, CO Zultak observed the driver having difficulty maintaining balance and conducted Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs), which led to the driver's subsequent arrest for operating while intoxicated (OWI).
Sergeant Olsen and CO Matthew Zultak conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and observed visible signs of impairment from the driver. CO Zultak administered SFSTs on the operator, resulting in the individual being arrested for operating under the influence of drugs (OUID).
CO Jesse Grzechowski was patrolling a powerline corridor in Alcona County for illegal ORV activity when he stopped two operators riding in a closed area. Upon inspection, CO Grzechowski noted that one rider only had the blank bottom portions of an ORV registration and trail sticker attached to the rear of the machine. When questioned, the rider initially claimed the top portions must have blown off while riding but later admitted the other operator had only purchased a single set of stickers and shared the bottom halves with him. Law enforcement action was taken for the violations.
District 6 counties of service: Bay, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Montcalm, Saginaw, Sanilac, Tuscola.
CO Cody Simmons was checking anglers fishing Bird Creek in Huron County for the opener of the possession season for bass and discovered three set body gripping traps along the bank that did not have the required identification tags attached. After making a few calls, CO Simmons was able to locate the owner of the traps. CO Simmons met with the owner and stressed the importance of tagging the traps with the proper identification and issued the owner a citation for using untagged traps.
While patrolling the Port Austin area of Huron County, CO Cody Simmons observed three ORVs traveling on M‑25, exceeding 25 mph and failing to operate on the extreme right of the roadway. CO Simmons initiated a stop; two ORVs complied, and one fled. The compliant operators stated they did not know the identity of the fleeing operator. Both operators who stopped were cited for operating an ORV on a public highway and were warned for speeding and improper lane position.
CO Mike Haas contacted two shore anglers at a DNR boat launch on a small inland lake in central Montcalm County. After asking about their success, CO Haas requested to check their fishing licenses. One angler produced his wallet, removed his folded license, and handed it to the officer. While verifying the license, CO Haas observed a small baggie containing a white powder protruding from the folded document. The CO removed the baggie and questioned the subject, who appeared surprised and nervous and was unable to provide a clear explanation. When advised the substance would be tested, the subject admitted it was cocaine and claimed he had forgotten it was in his wallet. CO Haas handcuffed and detained the subject pending the arrival of an MSP trooper with a field test kit. The substance tested positive for cocaine. The subject was arrested and transported to the Montcalm County Jail for lodging on possession of cocaine.
COs Dan Robinson, Michael Lator, and Zack Cardinal attended Project RED, Rural Education Day, in Gratiot County. About 300 students were given a presentation in small groups about the importance of ORV safety and operation.
CO Dan Robinson attended the Public Safety Expo in Mt. Pleasant. The event is a chance for families and kids to talk with first responders, ask questions, and learn about their unique differences. About 400 people were in attendance.
District 7 counties of service: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, St Joseph, Van Buren.
CO Carter Woodwyk was patrolling Allegan County when a “Be on the Lookout” (BOL) call was dispatched for a reckless ORV reportedly traveling up and down a county roadway at speeds estimated around 70 mph. The initial call was handled by local deputies, but they were unable to locate the ORV. A few hours later, CO Woodwyk patrolled the area and observed a side-by-side ORV on a trailer with one of its wheels and axles torn off. He continued down the roadway and located what appeared to be the crash site where the machine had been loaded onto the trailer. When he attempted to interview individuals at the location where the ORV was parked, he received no cooperation. The CO later conducted a follow up interview with the owner of the ORV who admitted he had been driving and crashed the machine but did not want to come forward when the CO was on scene the previous day. When asked why the crash was not reported as required, the owner did not provide a reason. Charges were forwarded to the Allegan County Prosecutor’s Office for failing to report an ORV crash.
CO Travis Dragomer contacted a group of juveniles operating a pontoon boat and two personal watercraft (PWCs). None of the vessels displayed current registration. Neither PWC operator was wearing a life jacket, and the pontoon boat had no life jackets on board. None of the operators had completed boater safety, and one PWC operator was below the legal age for operation. The vessel owner was contacted and issued multiple citations.
COs Jeff Robinette and Travis Dragomer were conducting a marine patrol on the St. Joseph River in Berrien County when they contacted three individuals fishing on the north pier in St. Joseph. During the check, the COs discovered that the individuals were using live rusty crayfish as bait. The group explained that they had caught the rusty crayfish in Indiana and brought them into Michigan to use as live bait. One individual was issued a citation for possessing live rusty crayfish for bait and the rusty crayfish was seized.
District 8 counties of service: Branch, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Shiawassee.
CO Olivia Moeller received a complaint of a subject shooting a deer out of a truck window. Upon investigation, CO Moeller was able to confirm the subject had an uncased firearm in the vehicle and shot a deer out the truck window. Other COs in the area have had issues with this subject in the past. Charges will be sought with the Shiawassee County Prosecutor's Office.
CO Marc Mankowski conducted a marine patrol on Lake Lansing when he spotted a PWC operating at a high rate of speed within 100 feet of the swim area. CO Mankowski was able to stop the PWC, and the operator was cited for the violation. While the contact was going on with the PWC operator and a round of applause from other boaters was heard.
CO Wes Butler was out checking anglers fishing at Webber Dam. As he was watching the anglers from above the dam, he noticed an angler who had a cooler with a pile of panfish next to it. CO Butler approached the man to check his license and see what kind of fish he had. CO Butler looked inside his cooler and saw what appeared to be several undersized smallmouth bass along with many bluegills and crappies. CO Butler measured all five of the bass and counted all the panfish. Each bass measured under the legal limit by one to three inches and the panfish total was 32. CO Butler issued the man a citation for possessing undersized bass and another citation for possessing an over limit of panfish. He seized all five bass and seven bluegills then let him go with his legal daily possession limit of 25.
COs Zack Smith and Olivia Moeller attended the Curwood festival kids fishing derby. 80 kids entered the derby. Participating kids received trophies for first fish of the day, biggest fish, smallest fish, and most fish caught along with fishing poles and tackle. Fish numbers were low this year due to low water levels, but fun was had by all.
District 9 counties of service: Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair.
CO Lisa Taube attended the Livingston Sports and Conservation Association’s Annual Kids Day. Contact was made with hundreds of kids and their parents throughout the event. Many questions were answered related to hunting, fishing, and recreational safety activities.
CO Lisa Taube assisted CO Justin Muehlhauser at the “Day at the Lake” kids fishing event held at the Bethesda Temple in Flint. The event introduces inner city kids to fishing and other outdoor activities. Kids rotated through stations to gain knowledge in many different topics to prepare them for the following weekend’s fishing trip. COs Muehlhauser and Taube discussed fishing rules, regulations, and allowed kids and parents alike to ask questions. Approximately 150 kids rotated through the booth during the day.
COs Justin Muehlhauser and Luke Robare worked Lake St. Clair during a Stone Garden patrol. The COs encountered several anglers fishing in the shipping channel. The COs contacted one angler and conducted a fishing and marine check. The angler stated that he didn’t have a license and wasn’t required to since he was over 65. The COs then determined that he was a Canadian angler fishing in Michigan waters. The COs checked his catch and discovered 30 perch in his live well. He was five over his limit. The angler was issued a citation for taking an over-limit of perch and was written a warning for fishing without a license.
District 10 counties of service: Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw, Wayne.
COs Dave Schaumburger and Joel Hill received a complaint of anglers taking bass out of season at Mariner Park in Detroit. While they could not contact the suspects, they did set up surveillance and watched an angler catch and keep a smallmouth bass out of season. The COs asked him why he kept the bass, and he stated, “I was hungry today.” The bass was released and the angler was cited for possessing bass out of season.
COs Dave Schaumburger and Ariel Young conducted a fisheries patrol in the city of Detroit. The COs observed several anglers fishing at a park that has numerous complaints about bass being caught and kept out of season. The COs observed one angler with three smallmouth bass on their stringer. When the angler packed up to leave, the COs followed and initiated a traffic stop away from the park for a motor vehicle violation. After speaking with the angler, the angler admitted to having two bass in their possession. When asked to see the fish, the angler quickly changed their count to include a third bass. After retrieving the bass from the back of vehicle, it was also determined that the angler was transporting a large bucket full of round gobies. The angler was cited for keeping smallmouth bass out of season and for transporting prohibited organisms and given a warning for the motor vehicle violation.
CO Andrew Werth conducted a fisheries patrol at Huroc Park. A family of anglers was contacted, and the CO asked the anglers had any luck and one of the anglers said he had caught one “small one”. The CO asked to see the fish and the angler pulled the fish out of a grocery bag. The CO observed that the fish was a steelhead and that it was visibly undersized. The fish was 8.5 inches, which is under the 10-inch length requirement for the Huron River. The steelhead was seized and the angler was cited for taking and possessing an undersized trout.
CO Joel Hill was checking anglers at Newburgh Lake when he encountered two anglers who advised they had been fishing for the past hour. Upon asking for each angler’s fishing license, the pair advised that they did not have them. Whie writing at citation for one of the anglers, CO Hill discovered that the angler had an active warrant for their arrest for aggravated assault. After a short time, the Livonia Police Department (LPD) made CO Hill’s location. Once the warrant was confirmed, the LPD and CO Hill placed the angler under arrest. The subject was then transported to LPD for holding. The angler was also issued a citation for failing to exhibit fish license.
CO Brandon Hartleben attended the 2nd Annual Fishing with a Cop Event hosted by the Ann Arbor Police Department at Gallup Park in Ann Arbor. CO Hartleben utilized the Take Me Fishing trailer from Fisheries Division and was assisted by Patrick Endres from the OAC during the event. Over 30 kids from the local community were in attendance for the event, which was also supported by staff from Schultz Outfitters in Ypsilanti. The kids had a great morning fishing, and CO Hartleben was instrumental in helping one of the youths catch the largest fish of the event, a 14.5-inch smallmouth bass.
BELLE ISLE
CO Michael Lator was patrolling on Belle Isle in Detroit when he witnessed the front seat passenger of a vehicle using the sunroof to climb onto the top of the vehicle and begin dancing on the vehicle while it was moving. The CO conducted a traffic stop and further investigation revealed numerous other violations of the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code. Citations were issued to both occupants for failing to wear a seatbelt and multiple warnings were issued. The passenger was also advised and released on 32 outstanding traffic warrants out of the city of Detroit.
COs Alex Arndt and Olivia Moeller disbanded a large gathering on Belle Isle near the Casino. Two high schools were gathered in the area prior to their Prom night and had not rented or reserved any area. The COs began to observe reckless and illegal activity at which point, they took appropriate measures. No enforcement action was taken, but several warnings were given.
Sgt. William Webster was working Belle Isle patrolling the Strand when a motorcycle jumped into the pedestrian bike lane and started passing a bunch of cars at a high rate of speed. As the motorcycle came alongside, Sgt. Webster initiated a traffic stop on the motorcycle and found the bike to be stolen. The driver was operating recklessly, along with no insurance, no registration, and no cycle endorsement. Sgt. Webster was assisted by CO Dave Schaumburger during this stop. The operator was fingerprinted and warrant requests are being submitted to the prosecutor’s office.
Sgt. William Webster worked with many officers on Belle Isle over the weekend dealing with 20-plus person fight, alcohol violations, and speeding. Many tickets were written for the violations due to most operators not having insurance, proper registration, improper plates, and many other violations.
Sgt. William Webster assisted CO James Rowley with a lost child on Belle Isle beach. A two-year-old boy had wandered off from his parents and walked to the north side of the beach a long distance from his parents. Sgt. Webster was able to pick up the boy and talk to him about where his parents were and the little boy was able to guide the COs back to the boy’s parents. After verifying the boy belonged to them through pictures on the parents’ cell phones, the parents were warned for child endangerment.
CO Ariel Young was assigned a busy afternoon shift at Belle Isle. While conducting stationary RADAR patrol, CO Young observed three different vehicles speeding across MacArthur Bridge onto the island, 43, 59, and 58 miles per hour where the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour. Each vehicle was stopped and subsequently cited for their speed.
While on a traffic stop on Belle Isle, Sgt Shane Webster and CO Griffin Korican were dispatched to a vehicle versus pedestrian accident. A female subject had lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a subject setting up tents for a 5k race. The subject was conscious and was transported by Detroit EMS for his injuries.
GREAT LAKES ENFORCEMENT UNIT (GLEU)
Conservation Officer Adam Beuthin and Cpl. Nick Atkin conducted a NOAA enforcement patrol in Saginaw Bay. During the patrol 6 nets were checked with no violations noted. No violations were noted with recreational fisherman during the patrol.
Cpl. Nick Atkin conducted a NOAA enforcement patrol in Saginaw Bay. 18 nets were checked with two violations addressed with the licensed fishers.
Cpl. Pat Hartsig checked local tropical fish shops for AIS/OIT issues. With the coming addition of water hyacinth and water lettuce being added to the AIS prohibited list, many questions were asked by store staff.
Cpl. Todd Sumbera received a complaint from a Sault Tribe fisherman of possible tampering with one of his walleye nets. The investigation is ongoing.
Cpl. Troy Van Gelderen assisted the Oceana County Sheriff Department marine unit with a capsized boat and a subject in the water on Lake Sixteen in Oceana County. The operator was brought to shore safely.
Cpl. Troy Van Gelderen assisted the Oceana County Sheriff Department marine unit with a capsized boat and a subject in the water on Hart Lake in Oceana County. The operator drowned and resuscitation efforts were not successful. The victim was not wearing a PFD.
Cpl. Troy Van Gelderen and Cpl. Jon Busken attended a clean boat initiative at Petty’s Bayou in Spring Lake that was hosted by MSU Extension.
Cpl. Brett DeLonge conducted a marine patrol outside of Marquette with the Marquette County Sheriff’s Department. Several commercial net inspections were conducted along with multiple sport angler checks.
Cpl. Mike Hammill was patrolling south of Escanaba when he encountered a diving vessel near a shipwreck in Menominee County. Investigation discovered that it was a team documenting the wreck, led by the state maritime archaeologist.
ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION SECTION (EIS)
A 28-year-old seawall contractor from Barry County has been convicted of two misdemeanors for failing to obtain a permit for the placement of structures on bottomland under Part 301 (Inland Lakes and Streams) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) in Van Buren County, Michigan.
The seawall contractor was hired by six adjacent property owners on Lake of the Woods to install seawalls and permanent docks. Permit applications were submitted by the seawall contractor to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) for five of the six properties in January 2022. The permit applications were placed on hold by EGLE staff due to inaccurate site plans, lack of site photographs, and forged signatures on Agent Authorization Letters. EGLE staff met with the seawall contractor to discuss problems with the permit applications and stated the permit applications would not be reviewed for issuance until all correction requests with the applications had been addressed.
EGLE learned the seawalls and docks had been installed on all six properties without permits being issued in July 2022. After confirming the installation of the seawalls and docks during an inspection, EGLE determined permits for the projects could not be issued as completed and ordered the removal of the seawalls and docks from all six properties in January 2024.
Detective Zellinger’s investigation revealed the seawall contractor had told all six property owners the permits from EGLE had been issued before any work was completed. The property owners attempted to contact the seawall contractor asking for the violations of Part 301 of NREPA to be resolved by removing the unpermitted seawalls and docks at no additional cost. The seawall contractor did not respond to any of the property owner’s requests.
The property owners hired a separate seawall contractor, who worked with EGLE, to resolve all outstanding violations under Part 301 on their properties.
The Van Buren County Prosecutor’s Office authorized six misdemeanor counts against the seawall contractor for failing to obtain permits for the placement of structures on bottomland (one count for each property) and warrants were issued in March 2025. A plea agreement was reached between the seawall contractor and the prosecutor’s office in April 2026. As part of the plea agreement four of the counts were dismissed by Order of Nolle Prosequi. The seawall contractor pled Nolo Contendere to the remaining two counts. In June 2026, the seawall contractor was sentenced to pay $650 in court fines and costs plus an additional $51,338 in restitution to the affected property owners.
