Illinois Cuffs & Collars – October 5th, 2012

Region I

A fisherman reported seeing the roof of a submerged vehicle in Mississippi River Pool 16 in the Rock Island City area (Sylvan Slough). A CPO teamed up with the Living Lands and Waters founder to get the car removed from a very difficult location. His crew handled all dive and rigging operations. Debris and mud around the base of the vehicle had to be removed with high-power water hoses to break the suction on the vehicle. A long barge rope was then attached to the cable of a large semi-sized wrecker provided by Grisham’s Towing of East Moline. The vehicle was pulled to the river’s bank, where it was quickly determined the car was stolen earlier this year from Port Byron. The car then had to be pulled up the steep bank, across rip-rap and multiple obstructions, onto a bike path then lifted over a 7-foot high fence before it was placed on a flatbed truck and hauled away. Grisham’s Towing provided their time, equipment and services at no cost to DNR. This successful and difficult operation was covered by multiple media sources in the Quad Cities area.
A District 6 CPO was driving back to his residence from a detail at the World Shooting Complex in Sparta. The officer stopped at a rest area on I-55. As the officer exited the rest area building he was stopped by an individual. The individual asked to talk to the officer. The officer assumed the man had a hunting or fishing question, but he was wrong. The individual turned out to be a truck driver who was a recovering alcoholic. He had been alcohol-free for four years, but had fallen off the wagon. He had parked his truck in at the rest area the night before and proceeded to drink a large amount of whiskey. The individual wanted to be admitted to a hospital. The officer contacted the local Illinois State Police district. ISP contacted EMS who responded to the rest area. The officer made sure the man’s semi-truck was secure and informed ISP the truck would remain at the rest area until the trucking company made arrangements to have it removed.
A District 6 CPO found a fisherman in possession of an 11-inch smallmouth bass and an 11-inch largemouth bass near Marseilles on the Illinois River. The possession limit is one bass and bass must be a minimum of 18 inches to keep in possession. The largemouth bass was still alive and was released into the river. The smallmouth bass was dead. Enforcement action was taken.
A District 6 CPO located an individual fishing without a valid sport fishing license at LaSalle Lake. During a routine check through the Illinois State Police, it was determined the individual was wanted on a warrant out of Livingston County. He was transported to the LaSalle County Jail.
A CPO was involved in a search for a person from whom hikers reported hearing cries for help. The CPO and district sergeant responded to the scene and spoke with the hikers who stated they thought they heard a man yelling that he fell in a hole and needed help. After rescue and fire departments were dispatched, a large number of personnel hiked the area extensively and were unable to locate anyone.
While checking anglers in Winnebago County, a CPO encountered two women (an 18- year-old and 20-year-old) sitting along the bank of an area lake. While conducting a check for fishing licenses and creel limits, the CPO noticed a cannabis pipe inside an open tackle box tray. Further investigation resulted in the discovery of alcohol containers at the scene. The 18-year-old was charged with consumption of alcohol by a minor and released to a parent at the scene. The 20-year-old woman was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia/ possession of less than 2.5 grams cannabis and lodged at the Winnebago County jail.
Receiving a complaint about subjects at the Steel Dam, a CPO responded to the area.  Watching a group of fishermen for 3½ hours, the CPO observed the subjects repeatedly taking fish with a casting net. Catching the subjects as they left after dark, the CPO seized three smallmouth bass (two undersized), six white bass, 16 catfish, three bluegills, five carp, a crappie and 62 freshwater drum. Five citations were issued to the group of fishermen.
A District 7 CPO located two subjects trespassing on Ameren Cilco power plant property. One subject was fishing, while the other was not. During an inventory of fishing equipment, cannabis less than 2.5 grams and a smoking pipe were located. Multiple citations were issued with a mandatory court date.

Region II

While on a foot patrol of Rock Creek, a CPO arrested a subject for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of cannabis.
While on a boat patrol of the Illinois River, CPOs arrested a boat occupant for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of cannabis.
A CPO stopped a van occupied by a male driver, his wife and their four children ages 6, 8, 9 and 17. Indicators of alcohol impairment were observed on the driver. After failing a field sobriety test, he was arrested for DUI. He had a BAC of 0.095 percent.
A CPO arrested a fisherman on a warrant for aggravated battery (battery causing great bodily harm). Bond was set at $3,500.
A Grundy County Sheriff’s Deputy requested the assistance of a CPO on a traffic stop. The CPO responded to the area. The deputy received a complaint of three subjects driving around and shooting doves from the vehicle/roadway. After observing a vehicle matching the description from the complainant, he initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. Upon searching the vehicle, he located a loaded, uncased handgun and an uncased air rifle. Interviews were conducted by the deputy and CPO. One subject admitted to shooting a dove off a power line from the vehicle. Enforcement action was taken for hunting with the aid of a conveyance, transportation of an uncased gun, hunting from the roadway and hunting without a hunting license. Both guns were seized.

Region III

A district sergeant and CPO, while on boat patrol on Lake Shelbyville, stopped a boat operated by a Villa Grove man that was in violation of “improper display of registration.” The man failed field sobriety tests and was arrested for operating a watercraft under the influence of alcohol with a 0.152 BAC and was transported to the Moultrie County Jail.
A CPO, while patrolling Eagle Creek State Park in Shelby County, stopped a Blue Mound man operating a vehicle with no visible registration. The man failed field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI with a BAC over 0.08 percent, improper lane usage and operation of a motor vehicle with no valid registration. The man had a 0.177 BAC and remained in the Shelby County Jail awaiting bond.
CPOs assisted in a sonar search for two missing victims on Lake Carlyle.
A CPO cited a St. Joseph man for having three crappies over the limit and five crappies under the 10-inch limit on Lake Shelbyville in Moultrie County.
A CPO cited a Decatur man for hunting doves with an unplugged shotgun on the Shelbyville Wildlife Management Area in Moultrie County. The man was also issued written warnings for no HIP number and no free site permit.
After finding a boat adrift on Lake Shelbyville with no operator, CPOs discovered that the last registered owner had sold the boat to an Argenta man. The boat, which had been tied to shore, drifted away during the night. A CPO located the new owner in Coon Creek campground. The man was issued two boat written warnings and a citation for Failure to Transfer Certificate of Number.
A CPO stopped a truck near Lake Mattoon that was losing brush onto the roadway. The driver, a Mattoon man, had a suspended driver’s license. The CPO transported the subject to the Shelby County jail and issued him citations for driving while license suspended and no insurance.
While working Clinton Lake bank fishermen, a CPO arrested a female subject who was wanted on a warrant out of McLean County. The female subject was transported to the Dewitt County Sheriff’s Office for booking.
While investigating a raccoon complaint, a CPO found the offender to be wanted on a warrant out of Piatt County. The raccoon complaint was unfounded, but the CPO transported the subject to the Piatt County Sheriff’s Office for booking.
A CPO investigated a boating accident on Clinton Lake. The operator of a house boat struck a fishing boat, causing the fishing boat occupant to be thrown into the water. Nearby boaters rescued the subject. Clinton ambulance transported the subject to John Warner Hospital in Clinton. The house boat operator was found to be under the influence of alcohol and was arrested by the CPO for OUI. The operator had a 0.22 BAC.

Region IV

A CPO used sonar on Carlyle Lake to help look for two missing boaters. Additional officers, along with COE rangers, continued searching for the missing subjects on the surface.
A District 13 sergeant and CPOs attended U.S. Coast Guard training on Lake Michigan.The training involved the operation of the new port security boats.
While checking a group of three dove hunters, a CPO found two of the hunters to have more than three shells in their shotguns. One hunter did not have a plug in the gun and had five shells in it. The other hunter had a plug in the gun, but had floated a fourth shell in the carriage. Citations were issued.
A CPO was patrolling department lands in the metro east area. He observed two white males fishing Cahokia Canal on the east side of Route 203. Their vehicle was parked in front of the sign stating no trespassing, hunting or fishing. Both subjects had valid sport fishing licenses. The CPO asked if they were aware that they could not fish this area without the permission of the landowner and they stated “no.” One of the males stated that a Fairmont City officer ran them off of one of the canals the previous day. They both received a citation for fishing without the consent of the landowner.
A CPO investigated information related to baited dove fields in St. Clair and Madison counties.
A CPO and district sergeant checked approximately 45 dove hunters at a hunting club south of Carlyle. Several violations were cited.
A CPO was working dove hunters on opening day when he located five hunters on a freshly baited field. The subjects had broadcasted wheat in a mowed grass field prior to hunting. They even had the partial bag of wheat with them when the officer made contact with them.
A CPO interviewed two subjects in Jersey County for taking frogs before season. Two bags of frog legs were seized. One subject admitted to taking them early and the other subject admitted to cleaning them.
CPOs worked the Stump Lake area at the opening of teal season in Jersey County and issued the following citations and warnings: three counts of failure to maintain separate bag limits, three counts of unlawful take prior to legal shooting time, two counts of having an unplugged shotgun, one count of having no state waterfowl stamp and no HIP.
A CPO received a tip from a subject in Greene County regarding digging ginseng out of season. He interviewed the landowner and obtained information on the subject digging on their land. He interviewed the subject, who admitted to digging ginseng out of season. He seized 63 dry pounds of wild ginseng as evidence.
A CPO was patrolling Adams County when he observed a truck parked in the middle of the road with the passenger and driver doors open. He observed a subject throw something in the bed of the truck. Two subjects got in the truck and drove away. The CPO stopped them and asked them what they were doing. During the stop, the CPO observed turtles in the bed of the truck. He also observed a pistol in the holster and long gun case in the truck. The two subjects admitted to shooting turtles with a rifle and pistol. Neither had a fishing license.
A CPO received information of a subject unlawfully taking deer in Adams County. Several interviews have led to the subject admitting to possession of another person’s deer permit, taking an antlered deer without a permit, and falsification of a deer harvest report.

Region V

CPOs responded to a complaint of shot hitting a house from hunters in a private dove field in Perry County. The field was loaded with cracked corn. The case was referred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the violation of hunting doves over bait.
A CPO and district sergeant recovered a stolen vehicle at the Mount Vernon Game Farm. The vehicle was reported stolen a few hours earlier.
A CPO wrote citations in Fayette County to two goose hunters – one for using an unplugged shotgun, the other for having no waterfowl stamps.
A CPO issued a citation to a dove hunter for shooting across a roadway in Clay County.
A district sergeant and CPOs worked a dove field in Jackson County on opening day and discovered multiple violations including unplugged guns and licensing violations. Multiple citations and warnings were issued.
A CPO cited a Carterville man for dove hunting with a gun capable of firing more than three rounds.
A district sergeant and CPOs assisted Region IV at Carlyle Lake searching for two men that had drown. The search covered approximately six square miles of water and there was no known location where the accident had actually occurred. Grid searches were conducted and nothing was located with sonar.
A CPO cited a Jefferson County man for driving his vehicle off the road in Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park. He also found two Franklin County men hunting doves in a closed area and had an OUI disposition at Rend Lake. The subject received 12 months supervision and was fined $934.
A district sergeant caught a Jefferson County man operating an ATV on private property without permission, operating on a railroad, operating on the roadway, and the man increased speed to try and evade upon a signal to stop. Appropriate enforcement action was taken.
A CPO received a disposition on an Indiana man hunting in White County last deer season. The man was given a $250 civil penalty, a $500 fine and forfeited a mounted 17-point white-tailed deer.
CPOs made several cases on the opening of teal season at Rend Lake. They cited four hunters for shooting teal prior to legal hunting hours. Hunters were also cited for shooting wood ducks out of season and shooting a Cormorant illegally. One hunter also had an unplugged shotgun while waterfowl hunting.
On opening day of teal season, CPOs wrote six citations for shooting before legal hours and one CPO wrote eight citations for shooting before legal hours.