Conservation Officers' Tales - February 2005 (2005-02-01)

HOUSE MADE OF STRAW

Conservation officer (CO) Paul Kuske (Pierz) reported an individual constructed a 10-foot-by-30-foot fish house on an area lake, using more than 250 bales of hay. The owner claimed it was cheap material and really warm. The CO explained the potential fire hazard as well as the litter problem with removal at the end of winter. To avoid any enforcement action the owner of the house decided to remove it.

HE DIDN'T LIKE THE LOOK

Lt. Norm Floden (Perham) came upon a pair of young men snowmobiling and noticed the registration numbers and stickers had been placed on the inside of the raised hood of a stalled sled. When asked why the registration was placed there, the young owner replied that he didn't like the looks of the registration on the outside of the hood so he put it inside. Floden asked the owner if he would put the license plate of his car in the trunk? He didn't think so. Both had completed snowmobile safety training. Enforcement action was taken for improper registration display on a snowmobile.

EXPENSIVE COOKIES

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) reported a 14-year-old was doing "cookies" on an icy county road on an ATV, while his 17-year-old brother was riding with him on a small OHM. The 14-year-old continued doing cookies while Bozovsky was behind them with lights and siren activated. After a half-mile, they finally stopped. The 14-year-old thought nothing of the unusual driving. There were a total of seven violations when it was all said and done. A parent was cited for allowing a juvenile to illegally operate an ATV.

A PURSUIT ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY

CO Dustie Heaton (Isle) was involved in a pursuit that was anything but ordinary. The suspect vehicle almost collided head-on with her squad causing her to attempt to make a stop. The driver continued on in apparent disregard for the lights and siren. Before the driver came to a stop 11 miles further, she had narrowly missed several other vehicles and had played a brief game of "chicken" with CO Heaton's vehicle in a parking lot. The driver was neither fleeing nor intoxicated. It was determined that the driver of the vehicle was having a medical problem.

OFFICER I'M TOO DRUNK TO BE FISHING

CO Travis Muyres (Ham Lake) checked anglers on area lakes. One angler was cited for fishing without a license despite his plea of innocence that he was too intoxicated to be fishing.

NOT FISHING?

CO Mitch Boyum (Rochester) assisted with enforcement efforts on Lake of the Woods and Red Lake. One subject had rented a shelter for two days but stated he was not fishing. The officers found a fishing pole pushed down the hole and the subject without an angling license.

44 MPH OVER THE SPEED LIMIT

CO Brad Schultz (Center City) was working snowmobile speed enforcement on Warroad River when a sled was clocked at 94 mph. During the contact, the rider stated, "Yeah, it isn't running worth a darn" (or words to that effect …). Mandatory court appearance for 44 mph over speed limit may have an impact on him.

ONE ANGLER, THREE LINES, ONE EDUCATION

CO Dale Ebel (Duluth) reported temps were 35 below when he walked up to a fish house with a light on and noticed the door was ajar. Looking inside he noticed one person fishing with three lines. When asked why he was fishing with three lines the angler responded he didn't think a game warden would be out on a night like this. He was educated.

I CAN'T SEE IT FROM HERE

While checking an angler, CO Jackie Glaser (Mound) asked if he had any tip-ups on the ice. He stated, "Yes, but I really can't see it from where I am sitting in my shelter." She issued the angler a citation after finding the tip-up more than 300 feet away.

WHAT'S THE FINE

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) reported in one incident, two snowmobilers were driving side-by-side on the Munger Trail at 91 miles per hour. They were stopped and cited for the violation. They wanted to know what the fine was so they could pay it. They were informed that at that speed they had to go to court and explain to the judge why they were going so fast.

WOLF TRAP

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) captured a timberwolf that wandered into someone's shed after the wolf had stepped into a trap. The snow was so deep that the wolf was able to walk right through an open window. The wolf was transported to a rehabilitator.

THAT STORY HAS HOLES IN IT

CO Todd Kanieski (Osseo) and K9 Saber responded to a deer poaching call in Brooklyn Park. The caller witnessed a male trailing a large buck that had been shot with an arrow, confronted him, and then called to report the incident. Saber was used to track the suspect. It was determined the suspect left the area after being confronted. CO Muyres assisted in searching for and locating evidence. The officers were certain the suspect would return for the deer and began a surveillance plan. The suspect eventually returned, denied shooting a deer, and gave what he thought was a convincing "story." His explanation had holes in it and he eventually confessed to shooting the deer out of season.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD

While CO Julie Siems (Faribault) investigated a fire, an individual behind her was watching the fire instead of the road. He drove into the ditch to avoid driving into the back of her pick-up. Also while on patrol, Siems pulled up to a bridge just after a snowmobiler failed to see open water. The sled sunk, but both occupants were able to get to dry land with only mild hypothermia.

CO WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

CO Lloyd Steen (Ray) had an interesting turn of events happened while visiting the Koochiching County Law Enforcement Center. Court administration requested any officer available to bring a camera and report upstairs to the courtroom. Steen responded and was surprised to find out that a wedding was taking place and their camera had malfunctioned. The bride and groom were most appreciative of the conservation officer, who took numerous pictures of their happy day for them.
 

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