(Editor’s note: A criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the state of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.)
Spring pesticides enforcement
(Suffolk County)
On April 24, ECO Jeremy Eastwood and DEC pesticide inspector Joe Cutrone conducted a patrol for pesticide compliance among landscapers in Riverhead and Southampton. Seven tickets and one written warning were issued for various violations that day, including operating an unregistered pesticide business, applying pesticide without certification, storing pesticides in an unlabeled container, failure to place warning markers, and failure to display decals properly on equipment. One company alone was issued five tickets for various violations. In another enforcement case on April 27, Eastwood and ECO Brian Farrish checked a company applying pesticides at Jiffy Lube in Riverhead and found that there was no certified applicator or registration information at the site. The company was charged with operating an unregistered pesticide business, applying pesticides without certification, commercial application of pesticides without a valid applicator card, failure to place warning markers, failure to display decals on two sides of equipment, and improperly labeled service container. Each charge faces a possible fine of up to $2,500 in Riverhead Town Court.
Out of the field and into the frying pan
(Essex County)
On the evening of April 25, ECO Maxwell Nicols received a tip about a Facebook post showing multiple turkeys killed prior to the season opener with a subject claiming to have harvested the birds during the youth weekend. Nicols located the photographer at his home, and after a conversation, the man admitted to harvesting three of the birds. When asked where the meat from the birds was, the man hung his head and looked into his kitchen, where a family member was cooking dinner. Upon further investigation, the officer determined that the subject had prior convictions barring him from possessing any firearms. The defendant was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, taking turkeys during the closed season, and hunting turkey without turkey hunting privileges. All charges are returnable to Essex Town Court. The shotgun and remaining turkey meat were seized as evidence, and dinner was allowed to proceed as planned. The investigation continues into who took the fourth turkey.
A day at the circus
(Broome County)
On April 25, Lt. Kenric Warner and ECOs Tony Rigoli and Andy McCormick conducted a compliance inspection of the Garden Bros. Circus before the scheduled afternoon performance at the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton. The inspection focused on the permits required to exhibit elephants in New York state. In 2017, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a law that goes into effect on Oct. 19, 2019, prohibiting DEC from issuing any license or permit authorizing the use of elephants in entertainment acts. Until that time, a permit issued by the DEC is required to exhibit elephants. The officers found that the two elephants traveling with the circus were covered by valid DEC permits. ECOs also found no violations of laws involving other animals traveling with the circus.
Taking swans and possessing drugs
(Suffolk County)
On April 25, ECOs Kyle Bevis and Emma Carpenter observed three males throwing rocks at gulls and swans in the town of Brookhaven. While interviewing the three individuals, Bevis and Carpenter found bags of marijuana, cartridges of THC oil, edible marijuana treats and containers of THC wax. ECO Landon Simmons then responded to assist. The one suspect not in possession of drugs was issued a ticket for unlawful taking of a protected bird and released. The two additional suspects were arrested. One was charged with three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 7th degree, criminal possession of marijuana, and unlawful taking of a protected bird. The other was charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 7th degree, unlawful possession of marijuana, and unlawful taking of a protected bird.
Lost and found
(Suffolk County)
On April 25, while on patrol in Montauk, ECO Sean Rockefeller came across a lost dog wandering down the road. The friendly dog, named Jerri, wore a collar with tags on it. Rockefeller was able to contact Jerri’s owner and returned the missing dog to his grateful family.
A helping hand
(Suffolk County)
While on patrol in the Great Peconic Bay on the afternoon of April 25, ECOs Ike Bobseine and Jordan Doroski spotted two individuals on the end of a 400-foot-long, wave-swept rock jetty. As the officers watched, a little girl appeared frightened and would not cooperate with her grandmother in leaving the breakwater. Doroski cautiously positioned the 31-foot patrol boat into the wind and tide and let Bobseine jump off onto the rock wall. Bobseine joined up with the stranded duo and after some light conversation with the 4-year-old about her favorite colors, goldfish names and birthdays, he was able to help the two back to shore.
Off-duty Lt. alerts ECOs
(Suffolk County
ECOs Evan Laczi and Landon Simmons caught two men in possession of five undersized striped bass on a beach in the town of Brookhaven after receiving a tip from off-duty officer Lt. Matt Blaising, who was enjoying a day at the beach with his family on Easter Sunday. Blaising provided a great description, location and even a picture of one of the men. The fishermen were each charged with taking undersized striped bass and possession over the limit of striped bass, with the tickets returnable to the Suffolk First District Court.
Genesee River snagging
(Monroe County)
On Sept. 23, ECOs Spencer Noyes, J.T. Rich, and Evan McFee were monitoring fishing activity during the salmon run at the Lower Falls of the Genesee River in the city of Rochester when four fishermen “snagging” fish near the waterfall caught the ECOs’ attention. The ECOs walked into the gorge and discovered the fishermen as the group was walking out. Eight salmon and one walleye were found to be caught illegally, all foul hooked. The fishermen denied any wrongdoing until they were found to be in possession of large, weighted treble hooks used to snag the fish. The four were issued tickets for snagging fish, possession of foul hooked fish, and taking over the daily limit for salmon.
On the morning of Sept. 29, ECO McFee returned to the Lower Falls and again found illegal snagging activity on both sides of the river. ECOs Rich and Lt. Bruce Hummel responded to assist McFee. Several fishermen were fishing legally but others were observed adding illegal treble hooks and weights. By the end of the day, 19 tickets were issued for various fishing violations including taking fish by snagging, use of treble hooks contrary to special regulations, use of weighted hooks contrary to special regulations, possession of foul hooked fish, taking over the daily limit for salmon, possession of trout and salmon eggs over one quart, and discarding fish carcasses within 100 feet of the shoreline. All of the tickets issued on the two dates were returnable to Rochester City Court.
Conservation Field Days
(Monroe County)
Lt. Bruce Hummel and ECOs John Lutz, J.T. Rich, and Eoin Snowdon participated in the annual Monroe County Conservation Field Days from Sept. 18-20, at Ellison Park in the town of Penfield. The interactive environmental education event draws classes of 5th graders from schools across Monroe County. The ECOs gave 20-minute presentations to students focusing on issues regarding the environment, conservation, wildlife, and extinct animals, including a “Feast or Famine” conservation experiment led by Lutz. The presentations were well received by students and teachers alike, and the event was rewarding for the participating ECOs.
The post New York Outdoor News Cuffs & Collars – May 31, 2019 appeared first on Outdoornews.
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