A CPO arrested a Winnebago County man for unlawful operation of a snowmobile on a highway without a valid drivers license or snowmobile safety card and for operation of an unnumbered snowmobile. Another subject arrested on similar charges was also wanted on a warrant for failure to appear for driving while his license was suspended.

A CPO and District Sergeant worked opening day at LaSalle Lake. Sixteen citations were written and seven warnings were issued.

A CPO assisted ISP with evidence collection on the Vermilion River that could be linked to the murder of a seven year old boy.

A CPO assisted the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department with the investigation of a fatal tiger attack that occurred in the county. The owner/trainer of the three tigers was in the exercise pen with the cats when one of them grabbed him by the neck and killed him. County deputies killed two of the three tigers to get to the victim. This occurred at the same residence where in May of 2002, a seven-year old girl was attacked by a tiger. This same tiger was shot and killed by CPOs after it escaped from its transportation cage at a rest area in Bloomington, Illinois.

A CPO arrested a Streator man for DUI at Starved Rock State Park. After the stop it was determined that the subject was suicidal. He was transported to the LaSalle County Jail and was placed in a padded cell for his protection. His BAC was .12.

CPOs patrolled the Illinois River and checked some tournament fishermen who were “pre-fishing” for the tournament. Two individuals were cited for possession of short walleye and one for possession of cannabis.

A Marseilles man was arrested for DUI and possession of cannabis after a traffic stop at the Starved Rock Lodge.

A CPO arrested a subject on two warrants, one from 1996 and the other from 1998. The

subject had been living in Florida for the past six years and had recently moved back to Illinois when his luck ran out.

A CPO wrote multiple citations to commercial fishermen for unattended devices and failure to check their devices. Their nets were full of dead fish of various species.

A CPO arrested a subject for trapping out of season and trapping without a license. A farmer observed the subject on his property and took down the vehicle description. A CPO investigated the complaint and citations were issued.

Region II/Lake Michigan Enforcement Operations

A CPO arrested two subjects shining a spotlight from a vehicle at the Iroquois Wildlife Area and adjacent private woods near St. Anne. The subjects were found to have a loaded .22 magnum rifle and a fresh pheasant wing. One of the subjects commented he had eaten the pheasant two days ago.

A CPO arrested a Morris man for shining from a vehicle and for weapons transportation violations. The arrest was part of an ongoing investigation into deer poaching in southern Grundy County. The violator had three loaded rifles equipped with scopes and high powered lighting devices.

A CPO responded to information received by Willow Springs Police Department regarding a subject in possession of a mounted Coopers Hawk. After the subject was arrested, she told the CPO that she had received it as a birthday gift from someone who she had met only once in her life.

A CPO conducted a lengthy and thorough investigation of wrongful tree cutting in Will County, stemming from a March 10^th timber truck inspection. A Marshall County timber buyer reached an out of court settlement with the 85-year old landowner. A $5,000 settlement was agreed upon by both parties for the wrongful cutting of six black walnut trees.

A CPO handled two separate snowmobile accidents. One subject ran his snowmobile into a drainage ditch and sustained a broken wrist while the other ran into a tree stump and sustained a broken leg.

On March 5, a CPO responded to three separate snowmobile accidents in Lake and McHenry Counties the same evening. Only one of the accidents resulted in serious injury with one subject sustaining a broken vertebrate.

On March 4, CPOs stopped a snowmobile for operating less than 10' from the roadway. The operator’s speech was slurred and he was arrested for OUI. The subject currently has a DUI charge pending.

A Harvard man arrested for dove hunting and possession of cannabis and an unplugged shotgun was fined $681 and given one year probation.

A CPO appeared in Cook County Court with three individuals charged with unlawful possession of a deer and illegal method of taking deer. The three men had been at a construction site when they saw a deer that they wanted to kill and eat. The men threw bricks at the deer until it was knocked down. They dragged the deer into the unfinished house and killed it with bricks and 2x4's. All three men pled guilty to the charges and each was fined $150.

A subject arrested for DUI last June was fined $800 and sentenced to attend Level 3 DUI school. He was ordered not to have alcohol or firearms in his possession for one year and was given one year probation.

A subject arrested for DUI last August was sentenced to 90 days in the Lake County Jail, DUI school, and 240 hours of public service. He was ordered not to possess any alcohol or drugs or be in a place where alcohol is served and was ordered not to drive. The subject was ordered to pay $1,200 in fines and fees and sentenced to 18 months probation.

A subject arrested in JoDaviess County during the second deer season was found guilty of participating in a hunting party, after taking his legal limit of deer, and failure to check in harvested deer at the check station on the same day taken. The subject was fined $500 and ordered to pay $200 in court costs.

CPOs participated in public speaking events throughout the month.

Region III

A CPO assisted Dewitt and Piatt County deputies in an armed robbery pursuit that passed near Clinton Lake. The pursuit eventually ended in the middle of a field on the Dewitt and Piatt County lines. The CPO became the main negotiator with the suspect out in the field and was injured by friendly fire during the incident. The CPO was transported to the hospital and treated for his injuries and released the same night. He spent a brief time at home recovering from his wounds and has since returned to work.

A CPO was called to investigate a possible timber theft in Shelby County. The alleged theft centered around where the actual property line was dividing the two properties. As in most cases, neither landowner agreed where the line was and neither landowner was willing to pay to have a survey conducted to determine the line. The CPO determined that criminal charges were not appropriate for the situation. The landowner is now pursuing the matter civilly.

A CPO is investigating a theft of timber in Vermilion County. The theft occurred on land that was in a family trust that a farm manager managed. The farm manager actually caught the timber cutters on the property and advised them that they were not on the right property. The investigation is continuing into this timber theft.

CPOs in District 8 have been investigating numerous grass fires that have been set on Moraine View State Park property and Clinton Lake properties. These fires have been occurring throughout the winter and now have continued into the spring, during the nighttime. The arsonist is setting fires in the outlying areas around these state parks. A CPO was called to one of the latest fires near Clinton Lake and he observed a vehicle leaving the area as he approached. A traffic stop was initiated on the vehicle and the officer found the underage occupants of the vehicle consuming alcohol. The CPO and a Dewitt County detective interviewed the subjects regarding the fires but were unable to make a case. The subjects were charged with transporting open alcohol and underage consumption.

A CPO was called to investigate a timber theft in Iroquois County. A landowner discovered that several of his trees were cut without his permission by a timber buyer working on the adjacent landowner’s property. The CPO’s investigation shows that the timber cutter had gone beyond the landmarks provided him by the timber seller. Charges are pending against the timber cutters.

While on patrol at Kickapoo State Park, a CPO made a vehicle stop on a car for speeding. A check of the driver’s license found that his license was suspended. Also found was a one hitter pipe. Both occupants of the vehicle admitted to smoking cannabis just prior to the stop. Charges are pending on the driver of the vehicle.

A CPO arrested a Vermilion County man for littering and no valid driver’s license in Kickapoo State Park. While on patrol in the park, the CPO watched a subject leave all of his picnic trash on a picnic table in the day use area. The CPO initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle as it drove away from the site and found that the driver did not have a valid driver’s license.

A CPO investigated a canoe capsizing at Moraine View State Park. The operator of the canoe advised that this was the maiden voyage for his recently purchased canoe. While paddling, the canoe capsized, dumping the operator and the canoe contents into the lake. The operator was able to reach his life jacket and put his arm through it as he swam approximately 80 yards to shore. An ambulance was called to treat the operator for hypothermia. The operator was not transported to the hospital.

A CPO received the disposition of a resisting/obstructing a peace officer arrest that he made at the Clinton Lake Marina. One Dewitt County man pled guilty to an amended disorderly conduct charge. He paid $686 in fines and costs and was placed on six months of court supervision. His supervision is also costing him a $25 per month fee. The second subject pled guilty to another charge in a negotiated plea and paid $660 in fines and costs.

A CPO reported that a Logan County man who he arrested for possession of less than 2.5 grams of cannabis pled guilty in Dewitt County court and paid $799 in fines and costs for his arrest.

A CPO advised that a Ford County man, who she arrested for driving while revoked, was found guilty of driving while revoked and sentenced to seven months in jail and ordered to pay fines and costs of $530.

District 8 officers presented a certificate of appreciation to Craig Cummings for his generous donations of $5,000 towards the construction on a building and donation of a jon boat to the district.

Region IV

On March 1, a CPO cited a Red Bud man for killing a Canada goose out of season. The subject shot the bird from the road with a .22-250 rifle.

On March 2, a CPO cited five subjects for criminal trespass to state supported property. The subjects were in Illinois Caverns State Natural Area when the area was closed. Two of the subjects were also arrested for felony theft for stealing some cave formations.

On March 4, a CPO was dispatched to the campground at Eldon Hazlet to investigate a report of a suspicious vehicle. She arrived to find an intoxicated, suicidal subject in possession of a shotgun. The Officer was able to talk to the subject and get him away from the vehicle and the gun. The subject was arrested for being in possession of a firearm with a revoked FOID. After sobering up in the county jail overnight, a local mental health agency was able to assist him.

On March 5, a CPO cited a St. Louis, Missouri man for no fishing license and illegal snagging at the Carlyle Lake spillway. The Officer observed the subject snag two catfish.

On March 7, two Smithton men were cited for criminal trespass. The subjects were hunting shed antlers on property owned by Peabody Coal Company.

The crappie are biting at Chautauqua Wildlife Refuge. Between March 13-15, a CPO cited nine subjects for either over limits of crappie or possession of undersized fish. One set of subjects were cited two days in succession. Another group possessed 24 undersized fish.

On March 17, a CPO was dispatched to Pere Marquette State Park in response to a call of shots being fired behind the water treatment plant. A Troy, Illinois and a Mercer Island, Washington man were found to be shooting .22 caliber rifles in the area. This occurred near a state highway and a campground. Both men were arrested.

District 10 officers kept an illegal hoop net placed in Lake Springfield under surveillance for several days. Finally on March 29, two subjects showed up to run the net. Numerous citations were written.

In a previously reported case, two Augusta men, in separate trials, were found guilty of several deer violations in Schuyler County. The charges included taking deer out of season and shooting from a roadway. Between the two, fines totaled $1,960. Two rifles were also confiscated and awarded to the Department.

Region V

A CPO cited a Bonnie, Illinois man for dumping trash at the Rend Lake Wildlife Management Area. Four bags of rubbish were removed from the site after the subject was issued the appropriate citations.

A CPO cited a Chicago man for transporting aquatic species and raccoon carcasses without proper tagging and labels as required for protected species and gift of wild game. The officer seized 15 raccoon carcasses and parts of various species of fish.

CPOs arrested a Mt. Vernon man on a valid arrest warrant for failure to appear on an obstruction of justice charge. The man was apprehended after being caught fishing without a license at Rend Lake.

A CPO cited a Beardstown commercial fisherman, along with a Missouri fisherman, for selling aquatic fish species without a valid wholesale fish dealer’s permit. The driver of the truck was also cited for failure to appropriately tag/label fish species for transportation.

A CPO discovered a working meth lab near his rural residence. After setting up a surveillance of the area, a van occupied by two subjects arrived at his location. One subject began an inspection of the lab components when the CPO approached him identifying himself as a police officer. The subject then fled to the waiting vehicle with the CPO in pursuit. An ISPERN dispatch was put out and eventually the two subjects turned themselves into the White County Sheriff’s Department. During an interview both men indicated that they had observed the lab from the roadway and were in the process of destroying it as any “Good “Samaritan” would. Further questioning revealed that one subject had been out of prison for six days after serving a three year sentence for the manufacture of methamphetamine. Charges in the case are pending.

In an incident that occurred earlier this year in which a couple of subjects were stopped after having an altercation with a CPO in his driveway, one subject was arrested for DUI. An arrest warrant was issued for the assault on the CPO.

A CPO reported that an Effingham man was found guilty of attempting to take an overlimit of deer and failure to tag a deer. The subject paid fines and costs of $675.

Two Union County men pled guilty to taking a deer during closed season and paid fines and civil penalties of $1,411. They were also given 18 months supervision.

The subjects arrested in Shelby County on the Kaskaskia River by CPOs for possession/manufacture of a controlled substance were sentenced to serve four and nine years respectively in state prison. They were also ordered to pay fines and costs totaling $5,675, and their handgun and other items were forfeited to the IDNR.

In a plea agreement, a timber buyer arrested for two counts of failure to pay 4% harvest fees, and three counts of buying timber without a license, pled guilty to one count of failure to pay 4% fees and was fined $500. He was ordered to pay $558 in restitution and court costs of $210. He was also sentenced to one year conditional discharge.

A deer hunter arrested for DUI during the 2002 firearm deer season pled guilty and was fined $1,000, ordered to pay court costs of $888, and to pay DUI equipment fees of $100. He was also sentenced to two years of probation, and to attend an alcohol treatment and impact program.

A CPO is investigating a hunting accident involving two Robinson men whose rifle discharged inside of their vehicle. The bullet passed through the roof causing a portion of the roof to strike one subject causing injuries. The incident is still under investigation.

CPOs attended Hunter Safety and Trapper Education Classes in Region V.

A CPO gave a presentation to the ALHAMBRA & 4H Club about the duties of a CPO.

The Region Captain, Lieutenant and a CPO attended the Mid-South Border Conference at Reel Foot Lake in Tennessee. In attendance were the states of Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri. All states provided training and updates pertaining to current issues and ongoing matters throughout the mid-south region.

Division of Investigations

DOI Staff completed their work on the background investigations for the recruit class applicants.

DOI staff members were in court this month in Jasper County on a meat processor investigation. Over half of the defendants in the case have pled guilty so far to their charges, with more than $10,000 in penalties being assessed. A van, butchering equipment, and numerous firearms that were seized in the search warrant have been forfeited to the IDNR. To date, four of the defendants will lose their hunting privileges. One of the defendants will begin serving a 90 day jail sentence starting April 4^th.

DOI staff have begun work on an environmental investigation in Region I and IV based on information obtained from the USEPA. The investigation involves the unlawful disposal of waste.

DOI staff met with prosecutors from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to file felony charges of unlawful criminal disposal of waste on a Coles County subject. The case was investigated in November 2002 and the investigative followup occurred throughout the winter.

Training

Investigating Police Officers Involved Use of Force and Shootings: a 16-hour course held March 3-4, 2003 at the Champaign Police Department; sponsored by the East Central Illinois Police Training Project; prepares supervisors for investigating use of force incidents and use of deadly force incidents; attended by a Region Lieutenant.

Principles of Leadership: an 8-hour class held at the Champaign Police Department on March 7, 2003; sponsored by East Central Illinois Police Training Project; instructed by Timothy Goergen; covering leadership development for first line supervisors; attended by a Region Lieutenant.

Critical Incident Response: a 24-hour course held March 25-27, 2003 at the Champaign Police Department; sponsored by East Central Illinois Police Training Project; instructed by Dick Fairburn and Lt. Kim Rhodes, ISP; prepares officers to respond to all types of critical incidents ranging from natural disasters to terrorists attacks; attended by a Region Lieutenant.

Rifle/Carbine Training & Qualification: an 8-hour class held March 26-27, 2003 at the Marseilles National Guard Range; instructed by a Lieutenant and one Officer; attended by a Lieutenant, three Sergeants and fourteen Officers.

Confidential Informants: a 16-hour course on documentation and handling of confidential informants; held on March 5-6, 2003 at the Elgin Police Department; sponsored by the Public Agency Training Council; instructed by William Wagner; attended by three Investigators.

Chemical and Biological Terrorism: an 8-hour course held on March 7, 2003 at Rochelle; instructed by Craig Gundry, S2 Safety and Intelligence Institute; attended by a Lieutenant and one District Sergeant.

Bomb Countermeasures for Law Enforcement: an 8-hour course held on March 6, 2003 at Rochelle; instructed by Craig Gundry, S2 Safety and Intelligence Institute; attended by a Lieutenant and one District Sergeant.

Critical Incidents/Use of Force: Dealing with the Aftermath: an 8-hour course held on March 3, 2003; attended by one Officer.

Investigating Officer Involved Shootings & Other Critical Incidents: an 8-hour course held on March 4, 2003; attended by one Officer.

Leadership Through People Skills/DMT II: this one week 32-hour school was held at the Illinois State Police Academy on March 31-April 4, 2003; the course emphasizes effective communication skills related to direct reports, peers, and supervisors; how to motivate others; the Five-Step Format; the Dimensional Management Model; and extensive feedback on managerial skills; attended by one Lieutenant and one District Sergeant.

Juvenile Court Act Update: an 8-hour class held at the East Central Law Enforcement Training Center on March 4, 2003; attended by one District Sergeant.

Advanced Environmental Crimes Training Program: conducted March 10-21, 2003 at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia; attended by one Officer.

CPR/AED/First Aid: an 8-hour class held on March 26, 2003 at the Eagle Creek Resort; instructed by two Officers; training included the use of an AED and treatment of life threatening injuries; attended by one District Sergeant and ten Officers.

Hazardous Materials/Terrorism Refresher: a 4.5-hour refresher class held at the Eagle Creek Resort on March 27, 2003; instructed by two Officers; sponsored by IEMA; attended by one District Sergeant and seven Officers.

Bloodborne Pathogens/Hazardous Materials Refresher: a 4-hour refresher class held in Benton on March 27, 2003; attended by two Officers.

CPR Refresher: a CPR re-certification class held on March 27, 2003 at the Greenville Fire Station; attended by a Region Captain, a District Sergeant and two Officers.

CPR/Bloodborne Pathogens: a 4-hour refresher class held at the ISP District 2 Post, Elgin on March 20, 2003; instructed by Kevin Scott; attended by a District Sergeant and eleven Officers.

First Responder/Bloodborne Pathogens/CPR: a 4-hour class held on March 7, 2003 at the ISP District #8 Headquarters; instructed by Trooper Ingler; attended by a Region Captain and three Officers.

First Responder/CPR/Bloodborne Pathogens: a 4-hour class held on March 10, 2003 at the ISP District #8 Headquarters; instructed by Sergeant Fred Winterroth; attended by a District Sergeant and four Officers.

Hazardous Material Recertification: a 3-hour course held in Princeton on March 10, 2003; instructed by Michael Jobst, State Certified Hazardous Material Inst.; attended by two Officers.

Hazardous Materials: held on March 26, 2003 at the Wildlife Prairie State Park; sponsored by ISP and IDNR-Law; instructed by ISP Ron Davis and Mike Ortega; attended by two District Sergeants and eleven Officers.

CPR/Bloodborne Pathogens/1st Responder/AED: held on March 17, 2003 at the ISP District #8 Headquarters; attended by a District Sergeant and two Officers.

            One Officer attended the same training on March 21, 2003.

Defense Tactics: a 4-hour session held at the Wildlife Prairie State Park on March 26, 2003; topics included Use of Force Policy, Joint Lock, Control Principles, and Handcuffing; instructed by three Officers; attended by a Region Captain, two District Sergeants and eight Officers.