DISTRICT 1
CO Pete Shambaugh received a complaint of an antlerless deer that was shot in a farm field at night. After multiple interviews, confessions from two suspects were obtained. Violations consisted of taking deer outside of legal hunting hours, shining, and recreational trespass. A report was submitted to the Ontonagon County Prosecutor.
CO Pete Shambaugh received a complaint of a dumped deer carcass on private property. Two different carcasses were found in the reported area and one carcass still had part of a kill tag attached. The restricted combo tag was validated for an antlered deer with two points on each side. An interview was conducted with a suspect and a confession was obtained. Violations included an antler point restriction violation and fail to report harvest within 72 hours. A report was submitted to the Ontonagon County Prosecutor.
CO Pete Shambaugh, a Michigan State Police (MSP) trooper, and Porcupine Mountain State Park rangers responded to a call of a family of three, including a 6-year-old child, that had been snowed in at a back country cabin in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The recent storm brought nearly two feet of snow and windchill temperatures near zero degrees. The CO and trooper began hiking on snowshoes to locate the family. The family was located approximately three quarters of a mile down the trail. The young child was extremely cold and exhausted from walking. CO Shambaugh carried the young child, and with the trooper, escorted the family out of the woods and got them warmed up in their patrol vehicles. Other than being very cold and exhausted, the family was in good health and were safely escorted out of the park.
CO Zach Painter was on patrol in Iron County and contacted two subjects who were road hunting for deer. Upon contact with the subjects, it was discovered that one subject had an uncased rifle, and the other subject had a loaded rifle in the motor vehicle. They were in possession of two deer that were tagged but neither of the tags had been validated. Enforcement action was taken for the violations.
CO Alex VanWagner interviewed a subject in Dickinson County after receiving information about a deer being illegally taken. The subject confessed to CO VanWagner that he shot the deer without a license and attached another person’s tag on the 5-point buck. Evidence was seized and a report will be submitted to the prosecutor’s office for review.
CO Steve Sajtar responded to a two-vehicle rollover crash in Menominee County. He arrived on scene with local law enforcement to find three subjects with injuries. Both vehicles were rolled over in a swamp adjacent to US Highway 41. CO Sajtar assisted with administering first aid and securing the scene for medical personnel. The two occupants of the first vehicle were transported to Bay Area Medical Center for serious injuries. The single occupant of the second vehicle sustained minor injuries and admitted to operating while intoxicated (OWI). After a brief investigation, the driver was arrested for OWI causing serious bodily injury. The arrestee was transported to the hospital for a blood draw and further medical evaluation.
CO Steve Sajtar was returning home after assisting with an OWI-related motor vehicle crash in Menominee County when a pickup truck pulled out in front of him onto the highway. CO Sajtar observed the vehicle speeding and drifting onto the shoulder of the highway. When he neared the vehicle to read off the registration plate, the vehicle brake-checked CO Sajtar. CO Sajtar initiated his emergency lights and conducted a traffic stop. Upon contacting the operator, CO Sajtar learned the vehicle’s registration and the operator’s driver’s license were both expired. Additionally, the driver was unable to produce proof of insurance. CO Sajtar could smell an odor of intoxicants on the operator and asked the operator how much alcohol he had consumed before leaving the bar. The operator admitted to having three alcoholic beverages in the span of approximately four hours. The operator also stated he was on his way to another bar for “a couple more drinks.” Following standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs) the subject was arrested for OWI. The arrestee was taken to Bay Area Medical Center for a blood draw and lodged at the Menominee County Jail.
Lieutenant (Lt.) Ryan Aho and CO Anna Viau doubled up during firearm deer season. Shortly after starting their patrol, CO Viau received a complaint that someone was hunting within the city limits. Lt Aho and CO Viau arrived at the scene and found a tree stand, blood trail, and a pile of corn that was more than two gallons. CO Alex VanWagner also came to the scene to assist. Eventually, two subjects returned to the scene. After some discussion, the COs discovered that the men had left to go purchase licenses for some deer they had shot at. The COs discovered that one of the men had shot a small buck before purchasing his single deer tag. CO Viau advised them she would be submitting a report to the prosecutor for the illegal deer and too much bait. The information was also provided to the Iron River Police Department so they could address the city ordinance violations.
CO John Kamps and Sgt. Mark Leadman followed up on an ongoing hunter harassment complaint. They arrived at the scene and shortly after observed a subject drive his vehicle up to another person’s deer blind and park right behind their bait. Sgt. Leadman and CO Kamps contacted the suspect and conducted an interview. The suspect confessed that he was out there to “be a pain” and interfere with the complainant’s hunt. Charges will be filed with the Marquette County Prosecutor’s Office for hunter harassment and for the malicious destruction of a blind that occurred earlier in the deer season. The suspect had received a citation earlier in the year from COs Kamps and Jackson Kelly for hunting without a license and for having a loaded gun in a motor vehicle.
DISTRICT 2
CO Steve Butzin was on patrol in Schoolcraft County when he encountered an individual with a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle. Further investigation uncovered that the individual had an outstanding warrant out for his arrest. The individual was arrested and lodged at the Schoolcraft County Jail and issued a citation for the loaded firearm in the motor vehicle. Warnings were given for no insurance and removal of forest products from state land without a permit.
CO Andrea Dani worked an active trespassing complaint in Alger County. A trespasser was caught on a trail cellular camera following a wounded antlerless deer during muzzleloader season. CO Dani was assisted by Sgt Mark Zitnik. The hunter who shot the deer was contacted and interviewed. He confessed to shooting the deer with a crossbow in the late archery season without a permit, approximately 48 minutes after legal shooting hours. A report will be submitted to the Alger County Prosecutor’s Office for the violations.
While on patrol, COs Robert Freeborn and Steven Butzin were called by local dispatch for a medical situation along US-2. The COs arrived on scene and found that the driver of a residential plow truck suffered a possible heart attack while driving and went off the roadway striking several trees. The passenger, who was the wife of the subject, was unhurt. The COs immediately removed the driver and checked for a pulse. Since a pulse could not be located, the COs utilized their automated external defibrillator and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until the MSP and local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrived on the scene. Unfortunately, the subject did not survive.
CO Scott Pankow received a complaint of a felon in possession of a firearm who had harvested a deer during the firearm deer season. During the investigation, it was also found that the deer license had been purchased afterwards. COs Pankow and Michael Olesen interviewed the suspect who provided a full confession. CO Pankow seized the firearm and the antlers. A report will be submitted to the Chippewa County Prosecutor’s Office requesting charges of felon in possession of a firearm, taking deer with no license, and failing to report a harvest.
CO Mike Olesen followed up with a successful deer hunter who had failed to register the deer they shot during the first week of rifle season. When asked why the deer wasn’t registered, the individual replied, “I was just being lazy.” A citation was issued for failing to register a deer within 72 hours.
CO Cole VanOosten and Sgt. Calvin Smith assisted with a community event at the Sault Area High School assisting students with mock job interviews to further professional development. The event also had members of other local law enforcement agencies.
COs Cole VanOosten and Mike Evink concluded court proceedings in a case from the 2023 deer season involving an individual who had shot a deer at night from his residence. At the time of the offense, the man was revoked from hunting because of a prior poaching case handled by CO Freeborn in 2021. Upon disposition, the man was found guilty and paid $1,750 in restitution and received an additional three-year license revocation. The firearm used by the man was also condemned.
DISTRICT 3
CO Nathan Beelman assisted with traffic control for a delivery driver who was directed by his global positioning system (GPS) to turn down a snowmobile trail. Unfortunately, the delivery truck became stuck rather quickly in the middle of the busy snowmobile trail. A tow truck arrived soon after to help remove the vehicle.
CO Nathan Beelman was sitting stationary at a trail intersection on a county road when he heard several snowmobiles operating down the county road. Soon after, three snowmobiles passed CO Beelman’s location at a high rate of speed operating side by side down the middle of the road after dark. CO Beelman was able to catch up with the farthest outside operator who stated he was just letting his buddies pass him and was “just trying to have some fun.” The operator was educated on the dangers of his actions and ticketed for careless operation of a snowmobile.
COs Nathan Beelman, Kyle Cherry, and Dan Liestenfeltz participated in Shop with a Cop and a Toys for Tots event in Gaylord. Both events were well received by the public and resulted in many good interactions with shoppers and young children. A good time was had by all COs involved and the young shoppers.
CO Andrea Albert investigated a case of two subjects hunting deer without licenses. One hunter took a 5-point antlered deer on the second day of the firearm deer season and purchased a license after the fact. Both hunters admitted to hunting deer without a license and stated they were only planning on hunting the first couple days of the season. The illegally taken deer was seized, and a warrant request has been submitted with the prosecutor’s office for both subjects.
CO Jack Gorno followed up on a complaint of a possible over-limit of antlered deer and loaning and borrowing licenses involving several family members. Sgt. Mike Mshar and CO Dan Liestenfeltz were able to stop the suspect vehicle after witnessing deer being loaded into vehicles and then observing several traffic violations. The passenger in one vehicle had an uncased rifle in his lap and the bed of the truck had a deer with a tagging violation. Tickets were issued and interviews conducted. The subject eventually confessed to shooting more than two antlered deer in the 2024 season. The subjects became uncooperative, and CO Gorno obtained two search warrants for houses in Cheboygan County. CO Jack Gorno and other District 3 COs conducted both search warrants and seized the subject’s third antlered deer, as well as two other deer with tagging violations. Five subjects are involved in the loan/borrowing of licenses. CO Gorno submitted charges to the Cheboygan County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
CO Kyle Cherry was on patrol in Otsego County when he observed a snowmobile displaying what appeared to be a very old and expired registration. CO Cherry initiated a traffic stop on the snowmobile and discovered the registration expired in 2018. The operator stated his reason for not renewing or transferring the registration was because of COVID-19. CO Cherry explained that was not an acceptable excuse now. A ticket was issued.
CO Kyle Cherry was investigating a “shots fired” complaint in Otsego County when he discovered an illegal deer baiting site. CO Cherry contacted the homeowner to address the baiting issue. During the conversation, CO Cherry discovered a possible discrepancy with the subject’s deer licenses and stated harvest. Further investigation revealed he had shot a second buck that did not have the required 4-points on one side. The man had his wife go purchase tags to tag it with her restricted tag. The deer was seized, and a report is being compiled to address the violations.
CO Kyle Cherry was contacted by Leelanau County CO Zackary Walters regarding a deer poaching/trespass complaint. CO Walters informed CO Cherry that the poaching occurred in Leelanau County, but a suspect vehicle plate was obtained and came back to a subject in Otsego County. Ironically, this was the same suspect CO Cherry and Sgt Mike Mshar had just arrested on similar deer poaching charges. CO Cherry conducted an interview with the suspect, identified the shooter, and obtained a confession. Multiple felony and misdemeanor charges are being sought through Leelanau County.
CO Dan Liestenfeltz was patrolling Montmorency County when he received an in-person complaint about a large amount of road hunting in the area. CO Liestenfeltz spent the next couple hours in the area and contacted multiple vehicles. Two of the vehicles that were contacted had loaded and uncased rifles that were easily accessible to the driver. Tickets were issued to the drivers for possessing a loaded/uncased firearm in a motor vehicle.
COs Sidney LaLonde, Dan Liestenfeltz and Sgt. Mike Mshar made a traffic stop on a deer hunter leaving a private hunting camp in Montmorency County. The subjects at the camp were suspected of shooting an over-limit of antlered deer. During the traffic stop, one illegal deer was seized, and a firearm was found to be uncased. Further information was gathered, and a search warrant was obtained by CO Jack Gorno for a residence in Cheboygan County. The COs and Sgt. Mshar responded to the residence in Cheboygan County to serve the warrant. CO Matt Theunick, Sgt. Paul Fox, and local sheriff’s deputies assisted with the search warrants. Three additional antlered deer were seized. A report was submitted to the prosecutor’s office.
DISTRICT 4
COs William Kinney, Logan Turner and Amanda Weaver participated in the Department of Natural Resources (DNR’s) Stuff a Truck charity event at Blain’s Farm and Fleet in Traverse City. The COs partnered with Toys for Tots and spent the day collecting toys which are then distributed to families around the Traverse City area. The day was a huge success, and the COs were humbled to see the unprecedented generosity from the community.
CO Angela Greenway noticed fresh boot tracks going up to her front door. CO Greenway was not expecting company or any deliveries to explain the tracks. CO Greenway checked her security cameras where she saw a male subject in camouflage and orange walking by her garage heading to the front door earlier that morning. CO Greenway followed the tracks in the snow as they led through her backyard to an area under some trees in the corner of her yard with blood, and disturbed snow and leaves. CO Greenway then saw a drag trail that led to her neighbors. She contacted her neighbor who said he had given a guy permission to hunt his property. The neighbor gave CO Greenway the guy’s name and phone number. CO Greenway continued her investigation and found where the subject had been hunting and found a spent shotgun shell on top of the snow. CO Greenway elicited the help of CO Kevin Bunce to go with her to conduct an interview with the subject. The subject was very cooperative. It was discovered he was hunting and shot a deer with a firearm during the closed season and shot the deer a second time within the safety zone of CO Greenway’s home without her permission. A full report will be submitted to the prosecutor’s office for review.
CO Kevin Bunce was on patrol in Osceola County when he received a complaint of a missing pudding stone from state land. Upon follow-up, it was learned that the pudding stone’s more accurate description was a “pudding boulder” measuring nearly five feet tall and five feet wide. The boulder, which the complainant’s hunting group would take an annual photo with, was believed to have been located by a member of the group at a nearby residence. Contact was made with a resident of the home, who claimed he “didn’t know” you couldn’t take rocks from public land and removed the rock from its resting place nearly 10 miles away with a backhoe. Rock collecting in the State of Michigan is encouraged, however, is limited to 25 pounds of rock per year. The rock has been removed with assistance from the DNR’s Forest Resources Division to be placed on display and a report detailing the event has been submitted to the Osceola County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
DISTRICT 5
CO Matthew Zultak conducted a traffic stop in Roscommon County for failing to wear a seat belt. A loaded, uncased firearm was in the back of the vehicle and pointed at another passenger. CO Zultak addressed the safety issue and issued a citation for having a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle.
CO Tyler Sabuda was at home after completing a full day of patrol when he received a call from Station 20 about a deer that had been shot from the road in Oscoda County. After obtaining a description of the suspect vehicle from the complainant, he proceeded to the scene where the deer had been shot. Upon arrival, he noticed headlamps in the woods and located the vehicle described by the complainant parked nearby. The individuals with the headlamps were indeed the suspects who had returned to search for the deer. CO Sabuda interviewed the suspects and is submitting charges to the Oscoda County Prosecutor’s Office for possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle and for hunting the deer from a motorized vehicle.
On Thanksgiving Day, CO Tyler Sabuda observed two vehicles closely following each other with the front vehicle shining its lights. CO Sabuda conducted a traffic stop on the shining vehicle and was able to contact the other vehicle, which had firearms in a case on the back seat. The magazines for those firearms were found in the drink holders between the two occupants. A citation for the shining violation was issued.
CO Joshua Jobin was alerted to a 6-point buck found on public land in Oscoda County with a rope on its antlers and a tag. He located the deer and identified the hunter, a 90-year-old man who recently had surgery. Determined to maintain his hunting tradition on opening day, he sat on a stump and successfully harvested the buck. However, he couldn’t drag the deer out due to his surgery. After seeking help from friends, they returned but could not find the buck. CO Jobin then recovered the head and antlers and returned them to the hunter.
CO Kyle Bader received a complaint about a possible felon who allegedly shot a deer during the 2024 firearm deer season. After conducting the investigation, CO Bader found evidence suggesting the deer was killed before the man obtained his hunting license. In an interview at the suspect's residence, the man confessed to shooting a 6-point buck and buying his kill tag afterward. Charges for taking a deer without a license are pending with the Iosco County Prosecutor's Office, which will also consider a possible charge for possession of a firearm by a felon.
CO Kyle Bader received a complaint about two untagged deer hanging at a residence near West Branch in Ogemaw County. Upon arriving at the location, CO Bader found one deer with a tag. However, upon inspection, it was determined that the tag was a base license rather than a valid kill tag. A second deer was also discovered in the back of a pickup truck in the yard. This deer had an appropriate tag, but during the interview, it was revealed that the hunter had purchased it after the deer had already been killed. The individual was cited for tagging violations.
COs Ryan Weakman and Joshua Russell participated in the Stuff a Truck event at Jay’s Sporting Goods in Clare. The COs collected numerous toys and gifts donated by Jay’s patrons that will be donated to local Toys for Tots for distribution this Christmas season.
DISTRICT 6
CO Adam Beuthin was on patrol at Crow Island State Game Area (SGA) when he observed a vehicle parked and an individual get in the passenger seat wearing hunter orange. The vehicle then drove toward the CO on state land, when the vehicle got closer, he got out and the vehicle stopped next to him. The CO asked if the individuals were doing any hunting that day and the driver explained they were doing some rabbit hunting and got one. The CO asked to see the rabbit and the driver got out and walked toward the back of the truck. When walking with the driver, the CO looked through the window of the vehicle and observed two uncased shotguns laying on the back seat. It was also discovered the driver did not have a valid driver’s license. The operator was issued citations for having an uncased firearm in a motor vehicle and driving without a license.
COs Kyle Romzek, Adam Beuthin, Paul Lyden, and Sgt. Seth Rhodea were checking duck hunters and anglers on Saginaw Bay. During their patrol, they witnessed a single angler fishing for walleye with six lines in the water. The COs contacted the angler, and a citation was issued for fishing with more than three lines. Several other citations were issued for unplugged guns, hunting without waterfowl license, and no Type IV personal floatation devices (PFDs) on the vessels.
CO Kyle Romzek was patrolling in Huron County when he observed someone walking in a fence line wearing all camouflage and no hunter orange. Upon contacting the subject, the CO recognized the subject from prior interactions. The CO knew that the subject was a convicted felon and had all hunting privileges revoked for life. After speaking with the subject for a short time, the subject finally admitted to hunting. The CO was able to locate the shotgun that the subject had thrown under a brush pile. The CO arrested the subject for felon in possession of a firearm and they were booked at the Huron County Jail on all charges.
CO Mark Siemen received a call regarding a group of subjects snagging salmon in the Lexington Harbor. CO Siemen responded and watched a group of anglers for a time and was able to observe three of the anglers snag and keep Atlantic salmon. After watching multiple salmon get snagged, CO Siemen contacted the anglers. CO Siemen explained to the anglers that snagging salmon was illegal, and citations would have to be issued. It was found that one of the anglers who snagged multiple fish did not have a valid fishing license. Enforcement action was taken, and the fish were seized.
CO Dan Robinson responded to a possible unresponsive person in Isabella County. The caller was the person’s mother who said she was trying to wake him up but could not get into the house. CO Robinson arrived and was told by the caller she had been there for several hours trying to wake him. The CO entered the covered porch and could see a person was on the bed but was totally covered. After watching for several minutes, CO Robinson could see the blankets moving with what appeared to be normal breathing. The CO waited for troopers to arrive and kept watching the person who did not wake with loud calls and banging on the door. Entrance was made into the house and the individual woke up and stated that he was fine, but it was evident the individual had a night of heavy drinking. Ultimately, he was arrested for two outstanding warrants and lodged at the local county jail.
CO Jacob Robinson was on patrol in Montcalm County when he followed up on a complaint referencing an 8-point antlered deer taken on private property where the hunter did not have permission to hunt. The CO contacted the hunter and was able to get him to admit to harvesting the 8-point antlered deer on the property in question along with using his wife’s kill tag to tag the deer. The CO seized the 8-point antlered deer and charges are pending at the Montcalm County District Court.
DISTRICT 7
CO Matt Page received information regarding a group of individuals with multiple untagged deer hanging in a tree near their residence. Upon further investigation, it was found that one of the individuals was a convicted felon. COs Page and Travis Dragomer made contact at the residence and observed four untagged deer hanging from a tree. While speaking with the homeowner he stated that three of the deer were shot by his son-in-law and he was unsure of who shot the fourth deer. The son-in-law confirmed that he shot one 10-point and two antlerless deer. When asked who shot the fourth deer he pointed at the homeowner and said, “That man standing right over there.” The son-in-law was in possession of a combo license as well as one antlerless license that were unused in his pocket several days after harvesting the deer. When asked why the tags were not on the deer he stated, “We butcher them ourselves so what’s the point.” The homeowner then admitted that he shot the fourth deer with a .44 mag without a license. When asked if he could possess a firearm, he stated that he could not because he was a convicted felon. Four citations were issued for possession of untagged deer. All the deer were confiscated, and the firearm used by the convicted felon was also seized. A report will be sent to the prosecutor regarding the felon in possession of a firearm.
CO Tyler Cole received a RAP complaint about a possible trespass that occurred the previous day. CO Cole met with the complainant who found a gut pile and ORV tracks next to his hunting stand. CO Cole walked the property and found evidence of ORV trespass and possible illegal hunting activity. After investigation, a suspect was identified. The suspect eventually admitted to shooting a 4-point buck on the neighboring property and then tracked the deer onto the complainant’s property without permission. The deer was field dressed and then retrieved off the property via an ORV. Warrant requests will be submitted for the violations.
CO Mark Reffitt was conducting a meat processor inspection when he located an 8-point buck with a suspicious tag on it. After conducting an initial investigation, CO Reffitt believed that the individual who tagged the buck also shot another 8-point buck and used another person’s tag on it. Later, CO Reffitt and Sgt. Jeff Ginn conducted interviews of the suspect and the other license holder learning that both deer had been shot by the first hunter within minutes of each other. Neither tag had been purchased until after the deer were killed. Charges were submitted to and approved by the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office for two illegal deer.
DISTRICT 8
CO Jeremy Woods received a complaint about a deer that had possibly been shot and then died in the middle of the driving range at a golf course in Clinton County. CO Woods responded and observed a deceased button buck in the middle of the driving range with an apparent bullet wound in its side. A witness stated the deer had just recently been shot and pointed to the direction he heard the shooting and where the deer came from. CO Marc Mankowski arrived to assist in a search of the woods and surrounding area. A set of footprints were located and tracked a few properties over. COs Woods and Mankowski contacted a person who lived at the property that the footprints led to. When confronted, the person admitted to shooting the deer with a .22 rifle, stating he didn’t think he would hit it. The suspect was also a felon. Charges will be sought through the Clinton County Prosecutor’s Office for the vast amount of hunting violations as well as felon in possession of a firearm.
CO Ed Rice was patrolling Lost Nation SGA in Hillsdale County, when he observed multiple flashlights. CO Rice pulled into the parking lot and contacted two hunters with loaded firearms after legal hunting hours. CO Rice requested hunting licenses. One of the hunters provided a single deer license and two antlerless licenses. CO Rice asked the hunters if they had any luck. One hunter stated he shot two button bucks, one in the morning and another that evening. CO Rice asked the man if he had any other tags, which he replied, no. The hunter took CO Rice back into the woods. CO Rice located two untagged deer, one hanging from a tree with an orange vest wrapped around it and the second laying in the middle of the trail. A citation was issued for failing to immediately validate kill tag.
CO Jason McCullough responded to a RAP complaint of a vehicle shooting at deer from the roadway. As CO McCullough responded to the area, he noticed the suspect vehicle traveling on another road approximately a mile away from the original call. The resulting traffic stop, and investigation, netted two deer shot from a roadway. The family event included a juvenile who had been dropped off on private property to retrieve one of the deer, another juvenile who was loading weapons from the back seat, two firearms hidden in a fencerow approximately a mile and a half from the dead deer, and numerous other violations. Charges are pending in the local court.
CO Lisa Taube responded to a self-report of a hunter in Livingston County shooting an antlerless deer on his own property on December 3rd, believing muzzleloader season was open as of December 1st. After shooting the deer, his neighbor notified him muzzleloader season did not open until December 6th this year. The hunter had reviewed 2023 regulations as he was never able to find the 2024 regulations in print. The hunter was educated and given a verbal warning for this mistake and the deer was donated to charity.
DISTRICT 9
CO Luke Robare was contacted by Corporal (Cpl.) Tom Peterson. Cpl. Peterson was out hunting a piece of property when he heard some duck hunters shooting from a pond on the property. No one was supposed to waterfowl hunt the pond that day. CO Robare responded to the area and located the vehicles for the hunters. They had parked at a house next to the river, then paddled their kayaks down to the pond, and started hunting. CO Robare waited for the hunters to come back to the truck to check them. When they arrived back at their vehicle, CO Robare asked if they had permission to be hunting on that pond and they stated that they have seen other people hunt it so they thought that they could. CO Robare confirmed that the property owner wanted to press charges against the hunters and CO Robare issued the two hunters trespassing citations.
CO Kris Kiel received a RAP complaint of a shot fired on December 1st and a subject bent over, possibly field-dressing a deer. CO Kiel arrived less than 10 minutes later and followed footprints in the light snow to the back of a barn. The barn door was open with two subjects skinning a deer hanging in the opening of the door. The deer was untagged and obviously gunshot. The one subject stated he had shot his muzzleloader to sight it in but shot the deer with a crossbow. He also stated that he was in a hurry to get to work, that is why he had not tagged it yet. When CO Kiel asked the subject to show him where he had shot the deer from; the subject walked him over to his deer blind. There was a pumpkin, a pile of sugar beets, and a mineral block in front of the blind. The subject stated that he did not put the bait out and that he does not shoot deer over bait. The deer was seized, and a warrant request will be submitted to the prosecutor for taking a deer with a firearm during archery season, taking a deer over bait, and failing to validate and tag a deer.
COs Brad Silorey and Joe Deppen were in route to Detroit for a meeting when a call was received from Macomb County Sheriff’s deputies. The deputies stated that they received a call from a homeowner who stated their house was struck by projectiles from nearby waterfowl hunters. COs Silorey and Deppen arrived on scene and began to investigate the careless discharge call. The COs spoke with two homeowners whose property was hit and damaged. The COs also contacted three hunters who were in direct line of sight of the homes but several yards outside their safety zone. The hunters placed their decoys between the homes and where they were sitting. The hunters were apologetic and cooperative. One of the callers had three broken windows and several other areas of damage. Through the investigation, COs Silorey and Deppen located pellets that were the same shot size as the hunters were using around the damaged areas. The investigation is ongoing, and charges will be sought through the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office.
CO Brad Silorey made arrangements with Cabela’s, located in Chesterfield, to conduct the annual DNR Stuff a Truck toy drive for the Toys for Tots donation. COs Silorey, Joe Deppen, and Zack Cardinal worked the event and had many great interactions with the public. The COs were able to get many new toy donations that will go to the great cause.
CO Sydney Griffor followed up with a complaint received on November 15th regarding recreational trespass, hunt over bait, hunt no license, no hunter orange, and felon in possession of a firearm by executing a search warrant on the suspect’s residence. CO Griffor was assisted by COs Bob Watson, Kris Kiel, Joe Deppen, Brad Silorey, Zack Cardinal, Sgt. Danielle Zubek, and the MSP Emergency Support Team. The search warrant resulted in the COs seizing eight firearms, ammunition, and methamphetamine as evidence. A report will be submitted to the St. Clair County Prosecutor’s Office seeking charges of the following: felon in possession of firearms, felon in possession of ammunition, possession of controlled substance/methamphetamine, recreational trespass, hunt over bait, hunt no license, and failure to wear hunter orange requirement.
CO Bob Watson was patrolling in Lake Huron and contacted a group of waterfowl hunters. The captain of the boat stated he was chartering/guiding the hunters. The guide was unable to produce a Commercial Guide License. One of the hunters being guided was also unable to produce any valid Michigan hunting licenses. Both the guide and the hunter were cited for failing to obtain the proper licenses.
CO Bob Watson was finishing up a supplemental report which involved arson that had taken place on state land in November. Sgt. Danielle Zubek was the lead investigator on the case and had handled previous calls involving the arson. The investigation was still ongoing. CO Watson reviewed the information which had been obtained and discovered that the two most recent reports of arson within the game area both had occurred on a Wednesday. Being that it was Wednesday, CO Watson decided to patrol to the area in which the arson was occurring in hopes of locating the suspect. Thanks to a hunter who had reported the most recent fire, CO Watson had a possible suspect vehicle description. Upon arriving at the location where the arson was occurring, CO Watson observed a vehicle that matched the suspect vehicle description. CO Watson snuck into the woods and was able to locate the suspect who was unaware of CO Watson’s presence. CO Watson observed the individual light two fires tending them until they became established and began to grow quickly. At that point, the suspect packed up his belongings and left the area. CO Watson contacted the suspect at his vehicle and advised the suspect they would need to return to the fire to extinguish it. Sgt. Zubek accompanied CO Watson while the suspect began extinguishing the quickly growing fire. Consent was given to search the suspect’s vehicle where Sgt. Zubek discovered multiple torch-type lighters and excessive amounts of “Fireball” alcohol. A report is being generated for prosecutor review.
GREAT LAKES ENFORCEMENT UNIT (GLEU)
Cpl. Chris Lynch and CO Steve Butzin contacted a suspect Cpl. Lynch has been investigating for some time. The suspect was convicted of 2nd degree homicide and cannot possess firearms. The COs had patterned the suspect through surveillance and contacted him riding an ORV on a public roadway without a helmet or ORV permit. Through interviewing the suspect, it was learned he had shot a deer with a firearm and the deer was back at his house. Once at the suspect’s house the COs checked the deer, which had an apparent single gunshot wound. They learned that the firearm used by the suspect was back at his blind and were making arrangements to retrieve the firearm when the suspect fled on his ORV in the direction of the blind. The COs took up a security perimeter and called for backup. After a short time, the suspect was ordered out and surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody. Through investigation, it was learned that the suspect had gone back to his blind, recovered the firearm, and hid it on his property. After an extensive search of the property the firearm was located, along with evidence of the deer harvest at his blind. It was also learned that there were several guns and ammunition in the suspect’s residence. After a search of the residence, 35 total firearms were seized, including 4 unregistered handguns. Cpl. Lynch is working with the ATF on firearm tracing and the MSP crime lab for evidence testing. The investigation is ongoing.
Cpls. Troy Van Gelderen and Jon Busken stopped a truck for excessive speed on US-31 in Oceana County. While Cpl. Busken was talking with the driver, Cpl. Van Gelderen saw a dead 4-point buck in the bed of the truck with a restricted combination deer license on it. Since the buck had two points on each side, Cpl. Van Gelderen asked the driver about it. The driver said that he did not know that it was illegal to do that. Cpl. Van Gelderen then found out that the deer was shot in Mason County, where antler point restrictions (APRs) make the deer illegal to take. The deer was confiscated, and the hunter was charged with an illegal deer. A verbal warning was given for the speeding.
Cpl. Tom Peterson was patrolling near Twin Lakes on a rural road and came upon a truck stuck at the end of a driveway. Cpl. Peterson noticed no one in the vehicle, and as he passed, he peered down the long private driveway and saw the top of a person’s head just above snow level. Cpl. Peterson got out of the truck and contacted what he found to be an elderly man in a light jacket and pajama pants. The man had gotten his truck stuck and fell in the deep snow and could not get up. He had been crawling for approximately 30 minutes and had made it 1/3 of the way back to the residence. When contacted by Cpl. Peterson, the man was unable to get up. Cpl. Peterson was able to lift, and backpack carry the man the remaining distance to the residence. Once inside, Cpl. Peterson placed him near the propane fireplace and got him a blanket. Cpl. Peterson recommended that EMS come to check him out just to be safe, but the man refused EMS. Cpl. Peterson stayed with the individual, gathering information and making sure the man was indeed ok. After approximately 30 minutes, there were no symptoms of hypothermia or other obvious injuries. Cpl. Peterson then offered to get EMS to the residence one more time, which was again refused.
