Conservation officers' tales for August 2005 (2005-09-06)

FAMILY AFFAIR

Conservation Officer (CO) Todd VanderWeyst (Paynesville) made contact with a female fishing without a valid license in possession. During the affidavit process, it was learned that she had purchased a husband and wife license with her brother.

THREE WRONGS DON’T MAKE A RIGHT

CO Dan Starr (Tower) and CO Mary Manning (Grand Marais) spent considerable time last week on Lake Vermilion. They checked campsites, anglers and boaters. One boat contacted for having no navigational lights on 45 minutes after sunset, showed a 1986 registration sticker and the operator was a juvenile without proper training.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT KIND OF CALL YOU’LL GET

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) reported a baby eagle was returned to the area of its nest with the help of a licensed rehabilitator. An adult joined it shortly after release. Assistance was provided to the sheriff's department on a call of domestic rabbits being released and taking over the neighbor’s property.

(MORE) YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT KIND OF CALL YOU’LL GET

CO Cary Shoutz (Crosslake) received a call about a noisy boat on Goodrich Lake. Upon investigating, Shoutz located the watercraft operating with an illegal exhaust system and noted the boat was named “Public Nuisance.” The boater was escorted from the lake. While on the lake Schotz told two canoeists to put their canoe away since it had an expired license on it. A quick check of the lake 30 minutes later revealed the two had ignored the warning and had returned to the lake. This time they were ticketed for an unregistered watercraft. Shoutz also stopped an ATV for invalid registration and found the driver had a cancelled license, two outstanding Ramsey County warrants and gave a false name when questioned. On his way to jail, he said he gave the false name in order to avoid paying child support.

SPEAKS THE TRUTH

CO Brad Schultz (Center City) worked night patrol on area lakes where he encountered a 21' boat operating at full throttle without any navigation lights. The operator was subsequently charged with BWI and jailed. Officer agreed with driver's assessment that, "It was a stupid thing to do."

SNAKE CHARMER

CO Scott Fritz (LaCrescent) relocated two rattlesnakes that were living in a rock wall next to a rural residence. The homeowners were glad to see the snakes leave. They did comment that snakes did a fine job reducing the chipmunk population.

AN OPEN INVITATION THAT STINKS

CO Stuart Bensen (Erskine) reported a person had left the doors to his house open to cool it down as temps were in the 90s. Upon returning home several hours later, the owner’s dog began to fight with a skunk that had taken advantage of the open door invitation and was found in the living room. The end result was the house being filled with skunk spray.

THERE'S A BETTER WAY

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) reported an angler who didn't like unhooking northern pike decided that the best way to unhook them was to give them an airborne ride on the end of his line. After many 360 degree circles, the line broke. He was advised that there were better ways of unhooking and releasing fish and was cited for another offense.

EXPLAIN IT TO THE JUDGE

CO Bret Grundmeier (Mora) reported four ATVers were found riding in Chelsey Brook which flows through Snake River State Forest. One of the riders told Grundmeier it was impossible to harm the river or the bed of the river by riding an ATV in it, and the law that forbid riding in rivers disappointed him greatly. All four operators will have the opportunity to express their disappointments in court.

DRUNKENESS IS NO EXCUSE

CO Jeff Birchem (Baudette) is assisting in the investigation of someone cutting a tree in a state park. The tree cutters explained that they were too drunk to drive to the check station to get wood.

RETIRED FIREMAN DOES ILLEGAL BURNING

CO Dale Ebel (Duluth) noticed a plume of smoke and thought a structure was on fire due to the heavy black smoke. Upon further investigation, he came upon a residence that had just burned a small building along with tires, telephone pole, appliances and assorted garbage. After asking a few questions, the person responsible for starting the fire claimed he didn’t know he couldn’t burn those items. The fire department was called to put the fire out. Before they arrived, the subject in question pulled Ebel aside and told him he had retired from the very same fire dept that was responding to his fire. This person now has a court date.

DRUNK DRIVING ON A STATE TRAIL

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) responded to a call where a truck was parked in the middle of a state trail with someone sleeping in the front seat. Upon arrival, the person in the vehicle was found to be very intoxicated. He was cited for operating the truck on a closed trail and litter. He was taken into custody by the local sheriff's dept. and transported to detox. The vehicle was towed.

SOMETHING TO SEE

CO Lloyd Steen (Ray) received a call from International Falls Police about a whitetail doe with twin fawns that has been observed several times within the city limits. The doe had an arrow sticking out of her shoulder.
 

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