Belle Isle Citations - March 16-31, 2014

The following is a list of citations written and arrests made on Belle Isle, March 16-31, 2014, as released by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in its Bi-Weekly Conservation Officer Report.

Sgt. Tom Wanless stopped a vehicle for traveling at a high rate of speed on Belle Isle.  The operator had a suspended driver's license and multiple warrants for his arrest.  The passenger had an open container of intoxicants.  Enforcement action was taken and the operator was turned over to the Redford Township Police Department for three of his five warrants.

COs Kris Kiel and Phil Hudson were called to back up a MSP trooper on Belle Isle where the subjects had warrants and the odor of marijuana was present.  When the COs arrived, a search of the vehicle was conducted.  A bag with approximately one half pound of marijuana was located in the trunk.  The driver was arrested and transported by the COs to the Detroit Detention Center on felony possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.

While patrolling Belle Isle, COs Kris Kiel and Phil Hudson backed up a MSP trooper on a traffic stop.  The driver was arrested for operating while impaired and carrying a concealed weapon while intoxicated.  One passenger was arrested on outstanding warrants.

While patrolling in Macomb County COs Ken Kovach and Todd Szyska happened upon four juveniles fishing on the north side of the Spillway Dam.  Upon their approach one of the teens lifted a net that had been submerged in the river and pulled a whiskey bottle out of it.  Another teen took the bottle and threw it into the Spillway.  Upon seeing this, the COs made contact and heard many excuses about the whiskey bottle.  In lieu of issuing a ticket to the 15 year old for littering, CO Szyska made him call his mother.  CO Szyska then explained to the parent what the teen had been up to.  The mother was very upset and said she would handle the situation.  This included the teen being picked up immediately.

While working on Belle Isle, CO Szyska was called by a MSP trooper to help with dogs at large.  The trooper had been chasing a pit bull around the roadways to get it to go back to its master, as the dog had been running in and out of traffic.  It was also discovered the subject had two other dogs, all of which were unlicensed.  The subject was issued a ticket for not having his dogs leashed in the park.

CO Al Schwiderson stopped two separate vehicles while working Belle Isle.  In both cases, the operators were driving on suspended licenses and both also had open intoxicants in the vehicle.  Enforcement action was taken.

Sgt. Kevin Hackworth was patrolling Belle Island when he observed a vehicle parked on the roadway near a "No Parking" sign.  The driver of the vehicle attempted to leave after noticing the patrol truck's emergency lights.  After a short distance the driver pulled over and stopped.  When asked, the driver said that he thought Sgt. Hackworth was signaling him to leave by turning on the emergency lights.  After a short discussion it was determined that the driver had a suspended driver's license and several containers of open intoxicants were discovered in the vehicle.  The vehicle was towed and tickets were issued for the driver's license violation.

Sgt. Kevin Hackworth was patrolling on Belle Isle when he witnessed a person drive across the MacArthur Bridge, cross the centerline and proceed the wrong way down a one-way road.  After stopping the vehicle it was discovered that the driver was intoxicated and transporting open intoxicants.  Enforcement action was taken.

CO Mark Ennett responded to a RAP complaint regarding the illegal shooting of a Canada goose on a small private pond in Monroe County. After a few minutes of speaking to the homeowner and his guest full confessions were obtained and the goose carcass was retrieved. The guest used the homeowner's rifle with a scope to shoot the goose from the house. The two had breasted the goose out and were preparing to eat it for dinner that night. CO Ennett ticketed the shooter for killing a goose out of season, gave numerous warnings, and seized the rifle from the resident for condemnation.

CO Jason Smith made several traffic stops addressing vehicle-related violations while patrolling Belle Isle.  These traffic stops resulted in enforcement action being taken for persons operating without driver's licenses, no operator's license on person, possessing/transporting open intoxicants and 19 warrants for wanted persons.  CO Smith also gave several warnings for other violations.

COs Pete Purdy and Chad Foerster assisted the MSP with a traffic stop on Belle Isle.  The driver of the vehicle attempted to enter the Island after hours.  The driver had a suspended driver's license and five misdemeanor warrants for his arrest.  The passenger had multiple warrants for her arrest out of three different courts.  Marijuana and street purchased prescription pills were also discovered in the vehicle.  The MSP trooper lodged the driver.  COs Purdy and Foerster turned the passenger over to the Sterling Heights Police Department for one of the outstanding warrants.  The vehicle was impounded.

While patrolling Belle Isle COs Pete Purdy and Seth Rhodea stopped a vehicle when they observed the driver disregard a stop sign.  Both the driver and passenger had felony warrants out of the State of Georgia for auto theft and larceny but the holding agency didn't want to extradite the subjects.  Both driver and passenger were also in possession of open intoxicants.  Enforcement action was taken.

CO Jason Smith and Lt. Sherry Chandler made a traffic stop on a vehicle with expired plates while patrolling Belle Isle.  The driver of the vehicle was unlicensed.  The COs also learned that the passenger in the vehicle had two outstanding warrants for his arrest.  Enforcement action was taken.

CO Jason Smith and Lt. Sherry Chandler conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that had swerved into the COs' lane almost striking their patrol vehicle.  CO Smith made contact with the three occupants and discovered that two of them had outstanding warrants.  CO Smith also located marijuana and open intoxicants in the vehicle.  Tickets were issued and one of the passengers was lodged.

While on a midnight patrol on Belle Isle, COs Todd Szyska and Al Schwiderson came upon a vehicle parked on Sunset after the park closure.  The emergency lights of the patrol unit were activated as well as the spotlights, at which point the suspect vehicle took off.  The vehicle continued onto the Strand where it pulled over to the shoulder.  While the COs attempted to contact the occupants, the vehicle again took off.  Finally the vehicle was stopped further down on the Strand.  The driver stated she did not stop due to the fact that Detroit Police Officers in the past used their emergency lights to let park goers know it was time to go.  She said she was not used to having to stop for the police.  Her driver's record was clear; however, her male passenger had a warrant out of Allen Park for traffic and a bottle of open intoxicants in the vehicle. Enforcement action was taken

While checking ice anglers at the Fair Haven Access Site, CO Ben Lasher observed an older angler who was parked near the end of the ramp who looked a little confused.  After dealing with some other anglers, CO Lasher approached the gentleman who explained that he had lost his car keys and was trying to retrace his steps to find them.  CO Lasher offered to help and after a few minutes he found the keys in the bottom of a bucket.  The man was very grateful since he was about to call his wife to come with the extra keys.

While patrolling on Belle Isle CO Ben Lasher was passed by a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed.  CO Lasher caught up to and stopped the vehicle, which was occupied by six subjects. The driver was suspended and the front seat passenger had two warrants out of Oakland County.  Enforcement action was taken, the vehicle was turned over to a valid back seat passenger, and a MSP trooper transported the passenger to Oakland County.

While working a shift on Belle Isle, Sgt. Arthur Green and Lt. Steve Burton conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that was observed driving the wrong way on a one way road and speed in excess of 10 mph over the speed limit.  The driver stated she could not find her driver's license and produced her U.S. Passport as identification.  The COs checked via LEIN and discovered she had an outstanding warrant from a local jurisdiction and her license was suspended.  She was issued a ticket for the traffic violations and arrested and conveyed on her warrant.

CO Dan Walzak observed a vehicle on Belle Isle traveling in excess of the speed limit.  The vehicle was pulled over and contact was made with the driver.  The driver stated that he was merely driving his girlfriend and her father around the island for her birthday.  A check of the occupants revealed that the father had one felony warrant and six misdemeanor warrants for his arrest.  The driver had 34 misdemeanor warrants for his arrest.  A verbal warning was given for the speed and both subjects were lodged on their respective warrants.  The girlfriend, with no warrants and possessing a valid driver's license, was released to finish her birthday tour of the Island by herself.

While working a Belle Isle midnight shift, CO Mike Drexler observed a vehicle operating the wrong way down a one-way street. A traffic stop was conducted and CO Chad Foerster arrived on scene shortly after contact was made. The operator was operating on a suspended license and had several outstanding warrants for his arrest. The passenger also did not possess a valid driver's license and open liquor was located in the vehicle.  Both the driver and passenger were arrested on their several outstanding warrants and lodged at the Detroit Detention Center. The driver also received tickets for a traffic violation and open intoxicants in a motor vehicle.

COs Mike Drexler and Shane Webster were patrolling Belle Isle when they observed a vehicle disregard two stop signs and driving recklessly.  A traffic stop was conducted and the operator was found to be driving on an expired license.  The vehicle was also occupied by three young children in car seats.  After the strong odor of intoxicants was detected and the driver's speech was slurred, the COs conducted field sobriety tests on the driver.  The driver was arrested for operating while intoxicated and lodged at the Detroit Detention Center.  CO Drexler obtained arrest warrants through the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office which included third offense felony operate while impaired and several other charges.

While assigned to Belle Isle, CO Mike Drexler and a MSP trooper responded to a call of a suicide in progress.  CO Drexler and the trooper arrived on scene within minutes of receiving the dispatch call and found a female who had cut one of her wrists in an attempt to commit suicide.  First aid was rendered until Emergency Medical Services (EM)S arrived on scene.  The female was transported to the Detroit Receiving Hospital.

While patrolling Belle Isle, CO Mike Drexler observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed without a visible license plate.  A traffic stop was conducted and the operator was found to have a suspended driver's license, and open alcohol was found in the vehicle.  The operator also had several outstanding warrants for his arrest. The vehicle was impounded and both the operator and passenger were issued tickets from CO Drexler and the MSP for open alcohol and traffic offenses.

While working a midnight shift on Belle Isle, COs Mike Drexler and Rich Nickols assisted a MSP trooper who requested back up on a traffic stop. The vehicle had four occupants and the strong odor of marijuana was detected coming from the vehicle.  Several open containers of liquor were also found throughout the vehicle.  COs Drexler and Nickols arrested one occupant on an outstanding child support warrant for $37,000 and several additional misdemeanor warrants.

CO Brandon Kieft responded to a complaint of a permanent ice fishing shanty left on an inland lake in Highland Township.  Although there was no name or address on the shanty as required by law, CO Kieft was able to find information that provided the necessary clue.  Using the dispatch center, CO Kieft traced the information to a subject in the Milford Township area.  After interviewing that individual, he was able to track down the owner.  The subject was ticketed for failure to remove the shanty by the March 1st deadline and verbal warnings were issued for no name and address on the shanty and two additional ORV violations.

CO Brandon Kieft followed up on a permanent ice shanty left on Walled Lake in the City of Novi.  The shanty was labeled with a name and address, but the owner had also left three unattended tip-ups out for several days.  A records check also showed that the owner had not purchased a fishing license in about seven years.  Enforcement action was taken.

CO Brandon Kieft located two unattended tip-ups frozen to the ice on Walled Lake in the City of Novi.  The tip-ups were labeled with a name and address and one of them had a 20" Northern Pike still on the line.  A follow up interview was conducted with the owner and he admitted to setting them weeks ago.  Enforcement action was taken.

While working a shift on Belle Isle, CO Brandon Kieft investigated a vehicle that was stopped in the middle on the roadway.  The driver stopped in the roadway so his passenger could step out and urinate.  The vehicle was stopped for impeding traffic and the driver was in possession of numerous open containers of alcohol.  CO Damon Owens assisted on this stop as well.  Enforcement action was taken.