Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Office of Law Enforcement
Activities During October 2000

On the full-moon evening of Friday the 13^th, two Dixon eighteen-year-old subjects were arrested after they attempted to run down a deer with their pickup truck. The two were observed driving into a field entrance of a partially picked cornfield when they shut the headlights off and began to scan the field with a handheld spotlight. After they located a group of deer, they began to chase them through the field in their truck. They obtained speeds of 50 mph in the field and nearly ran a deer over before it escaped into the remaining standing corn. They were stopped as they pulled out of the field. The two stated that they were just out there to put up a tree stand, at 12:30 a.m., and that when they saw the deer they thought it would be a good idea to "shoo" them away so that their stand location was not discovered. Both subjects were charged with use of a light from a motor vehicle and unlawful hunting between half an hour before sunrise and half an hour after sunset. All shining equipment was seized. One of the subjects also admitted to shooting a deer at the same location with his bow two days earlier and not tagging it or checking it in.

CPOs investigated a fatal boat accident that occurred on October 22 in Fulton County. All evidence indicates that the operator failed to install the boat plug.

On October 20, the second day of the northern duck zone season, CPOs sat for approximately two hours observing a duck blind on private property off the Rock River in Whiteside County. When the two duck hunters left, they were approached and checked. The hunters showed the officers four wood ducks and two teal. A search of the containers they had in their possession revealed another wood duck hidden in the bottom of a bucket. At first the hunters claimed they did not know which of them shot it. When told they both could be charged with taking an overlimit, one of the hunters admitted it was his. One subject was charged with taking an overlimit of wood ducks and both subjects were charged with failure to maintain a separate bag. The overlimit of ducks was seized.

On October 2, a CPO was contacted about a baited deer stand in Green River Wildlife Area. The officer went to the area and found the subject. He was in a deer stand over a large amount of apples and an area where molasses had been poured on the ground. He had placed a bottle of "Grandma's Molasses" at the base of the stand. The subject stated that he didn't know about the apples until the day before and he threw most of them away from the area. He admitted to pouring molasses around the area and was arrested for hunting over bait.

An officer seized a goose from a hunter on the Mississippi River in mid-October. He was checking out duck blinds prior to the season when he heard a series of shots 100 yards from the blind he was in. He stuck his head through the opening in time to see a hunter finish off a goose in the channel. The officer realized he had checked the same guy crappie fishing a half an hour earlier on the Illinois side. He suspected the subject had flushed a goose on the Illinois side of the river where goose season was closed, and chased it into the Iowa/Illinois main channel. The hunter told the officer that he had no case against him. He presented all the legal Iowa licenses and stamps. He further stated he had his motor shut off in full compliance with Iowa law. He also told the officer that since they were between the buoy markers he was legal. Knowing what had happened but unable to prove it, the officer reluctantly released him. The officer drove 200 yards downstream when it dawned on him that Iowa goose season had closed the day before. He returned to the scene and seized the goose and appropriate enforcement action was taken.

A Peoria man was found guilty of an OUI after a jury trial on October 24. The subject was the operator of a boat the night of August 22, 1998, when he struck another vessel on the Illinois River. The accident sent four individuals to the hospital with one 16-year-old losing an arm. The operator will be sentenced in November.

While following up on a TIP Hotline complaint, officers stopped a pickup truck with a deer being transported in the bed. They learned that the deer had just been killed by the driver with a crossbow and was untagged. He and his two hunting companions were transporting their bows uncased. A citation was issued for the untagged deer. A number of other written warnings were issued.

On October 27, an officer received information of an archery deer hunter using salt blocks. On October 28, the same officer found the hunter in a tree stand with a mostly buried, but visible, salt block 15 yards in front of him. The subject was arrested for hunting deer over bait and his bow was seized as evidence.

On October 6, a CPO investigated a report of a Stockton farmer holding a coyote in captivity. While at the farm trying to locate the subject, the officer observed a van driving into the farm yard with two men dressed in hunting clothing. He approached them and asked if they were hunting. They stated they were squirrel hunting. He then observed two uncased guns in the rear of the van. As it turned out, the men were coming to the farm house to ask for permission to hunt. Both men were arrested.

A Fulton County man who was arrested for using a light from a motor vehicle and transporting an uncased firearm, pled guilty in Fulton County court and was fined $600 plus court costs.

On October 17, Officers and a Safety Education Coordinator attended the Knox County Conservation/Outdoor Education Day at Lake Storey/Galesburg.

REGION II

A CPO charged an archery deer hunter at Chain O Lakes State Park for putting up a tree stand a week prior to the opening day of archery deer hunting season in an effort to have an edge over other hunters.

Officers arrested a Chebanse subject for hunting deer over a salt lick. The subject stated the area had been baited for over 25 years. Four days later, the same officers again found the subject hunting in the same baited area. The subject was advised that additional charges would be filed with his already pending court date.

A CPO handled a hunting without permission complaint in the Clifton area which apparently resolved a long standing landowner dispute.

Two subjects were arrested on opening day of archery deer season for hunting over an area baited with corn.

CPOs arrested a non-resident deer hunter for hunting in a Will County Forest Preserve. The hunter was using corn and apples for bait, did not have an archery deer permit, and had an arrow nocked prior to legal hunting hours with a flashlight taped to his stabilizer. The officers also arrested an archery deer hunter for hunting over four salt blocks.

On October 8, CPOs arrested a subject who attempted to cover up something in his vehicle as he drove away from Silver Springs State Park. The item he attempted to cover up was discovered to be an open container of beer. A records check revealed the subject was suspended for numerous alcohol violations in the past. The subject was cited for driving while suspended and illegal transportation of alcohol.

On October 21, while checking the Fox River access areas for duck hunters, CPOs heard a radio dispatch concerning a "make your own case" regarding a possible DUI from Kendall County. The officers were two blocks from the location and traveling in the same direction. Subsequently they observed a car impeding traffic and weaving from side to side several times with at least half the car width over the white center lines. It was 7:00 a.m and the subject was attempting to drive from Joliet to Bolingbrook which was nowhere near his present location. The subject failed all field sobriety tests, however he passed a breathalyzer. He was then requested to submit to a blood test as trace amounts of cannabis had been discovered in his vehicle. He refused and appropriate action was taken.

Two subjects were arrested on drug-related charges at Des Plaines Conservation Area.

A CPO spoke to five grade school classes at Eastview Elementary School in Algonquin on duties of a CPO and also about owls and hawks. He also spoke to an organization in Algonquin about the Department and duties of a CPO.

CPOs gave a presentation to students at the Kankakee Area Career Center for their annual career days program.

CPOs received six hours of training on the use of the mobile data terminal installed in their patrol vehicles.

REGION III

While on patrol in Danville, a CPO heard a radio dispatch of a man beating a female driver of a vehicle and possibly holding a gun on her. The vehicle was right beside the officer who made a felony stop. The man was taken into custody by Danville PD while the woman ran to the officer saying the man was going to kill her. The subject had just gotten out of jail for battery. He had beaten and choked her, but no gun was used.

While responding to a complaint of archery deer hunting without permission on October 7,

a CPO developed a case against two Tuscola hunters and a license vendor. One of the hunters did not have a bow permit and ran to town to get one back-dated. The clerk filled out a false date and time. All were cited.

With the help of a very ethical deer check station operator on October 18, CPOs conducted several interviews to determine that a Casey man had killed a deer with a bow and transported it to the check station untagged. He then found a friend who would use his tag on the doe, so that he would not have to use his either sex deer tag.

In response to numerous complaints of illegal fishing from the Walnut Point State Park staff, on October 18, a CPO set up a surveillance. Dressed in camouflage clothing, he was able to get close enough to the suspect to find him using too many poles, in possession of an over the limit of blue gill, and in possession of under-sized blue gills. Appropriate citations were issued.

A CPO and Investigator worked together on October 21 to catch a Charleston man taking over the limit of trout at the Eastern Illinois University campus pond. The man was using a friend's bucket to attempt to hide his over limit.

A CPO worked with the DeWitt County Sheriff's Office to investigate the theft of a 1996 Coachman travel trailer from Mascoutin State Park at Clinton Lake. The Marquette Heights owner returned to his campsite to discover that someone had hooked onto his trailer and stolen the entire unit on October 30.

An officer and a trainee were called to a complaint of a bow hunter shooting a dog in Shelby County. Dog trainers were running squirrel dogs and the bow hunter claimed the dog was running deer so he shot the dog. Instead of the arrow hurting the dog, it squarely struck the dog's training collar and lodged in it. One officer matched the arrow to the hunter. With both individuals complaining about the other, they decided they did not want to file complaints. The officer filed a report and told the individuals to try to straighten out the matter.

While checking fishermen at Lake Shelbyville, an officer discovered a Washington man wanted on a probation violation.

While checking fishermen at a Coles County pond on October 11, officers found two Mattoon men in possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia.

While checking for hunting activity in rural Coles County on October 21, CPOs found two Charleston men in possession of cannabis, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a bag of cash. Drug task force officers were called and numerous charges were filed.

A District Sergeant investigated a fish kill that was caused by a semi truck that overturned in a tributary of the Kaskaskia River. The truck was carrying laundry detergent and killed fish in a four mile stretch of the river.

While traveling to meet his FTO on I-57, a PCPO was called for assistance by a State Trooper who had just stopped a suspicious vehicle and wanted a back-up. The officer provided back-up while the trooper searched the car finding a full kilo of cocaine.

A Heyworth man, cited for possession of a firearm while revoked, pled guilty and was fined a total of $210. He was placed on six months of supervision and the firearm was awarded to the IDNR.

Six public appearances were made during October.

A CPO attended "Use of Force" training taught by Kevin Burke at Mattoon MTU.

REGION IV

On October 3, a CPO cited a Griggsville man for no FOID card in response to a call for assistance from the Illinois State Police.

On October 8, a CPO arrested a Middletown man for taking two deer out of season. The subject at first claimed the deer were road kills but later recanted and admitted that he killed them with a .22 rifle.

On October 8, a CPO investigated a hunting accident. A Riverton man accidentally shot himself in the left foot while squirrel hunting.

On October 12, CPOs arrested a Barry man for criminal trespass. The subject was digging goldenseal.

On October 14, during the youth waterfowl hunt, an officer observed a Hardin man using a boat to rally coots. At least ten times the subject chased coots with his boat toward waiting young hunters.

On October 14, while checking fishermen in Macoupin County, an officer arrested an

East St. Louis subject for possession of marijuana.

On October 17, a CPO arrested a Rochester man for DUI and driving while revoked. The officer encountered the subject at Sangchris Lake State Park. Charges were later amended to a felony due to previous DUI convictions.

On October 19, a CPO cited two Benld men for harvesting ginseng without permission of the landowner.

On October 22, a CPO arrested a Quincy man and a LaGrange, Missouri man for taking deer without archery permits. The subjects stated that they had not gotten around to buying them yet.

On October 28, CPOs cited two Virginia men for taking geese by the aid of bait and live decoys. Numerous domestic ducks and one goose and several pans of cracked corn were near the hunters' blind.

In a previously reported case, a subject who had been arrested for possession of methamphetamine was fined $1,500 and sentenced to 14 months in prison.

On October 10, 12, and 13, officer gave approximately 22 presentations to grade school classes from all over Central Illinois. They utilized the Conservation Police Lodge trailer in presenting a program on the duties of a CPO and Illinois wildlife.

While in the performance of their normal duties, several CPOs arrested people wanted on various warrants.

REGION V

While arresting two subjects for fishing without permission, a CPO discovered that one of the subjects was wanted on two Jefferson County warrants: one for theft over $300 and one for indirect civil contempt. Total bond on the two warrants was $9,000.

An officer responded to a hunting without permission complaint in which the complainant stated he had seen two hunters on four wheelers riding on mine property. The officer was able to locate the four-wheelers but did not immediately find the hunters. While waiting on a tow truck, he located one of the hunters. The subject had recently had his hunting privileges revoked. The second subject was the brother of the first and could not be located in the field but was issued a citation at his home later that evening.

CPOs investigated a complaint of unlawful pursuing or taking of white tailed deer by use of a motor vehicle and criminal damage to property. After interviewing several individuals, they were able to charge a DeSoto man with criminal damage to property, unlawful pursuing of white tailed deer with a motor vehicle, and obstructing a peace officer. The obstructing a peace officer charge came about when the violator, whom they had been interviewing first, gave them a false written statement earlier in the day and then recanted after the two officers had found out what actually happened.

An officer received information from a Resource Watch volunteer in Franklin County regarding the possible killing of deer with a rifle. After interviewing two witnesses and further investigation, the officer was able to obtain a search warrant for an individual's property. The violator was charged with possession of a firearm without a FOID card, unlawful possession of deer during closed season, hunting without permission and hunting after hours. An ATV and a Ruger 6 mm. rifle with a scope were seized.

A District Sergeant stopped a vehicle that he had watched travel back into a grain field while shining. When the vehicle was stopped, the Sergeant found what appeared to be cannabis in plain view. All three occupants were issued appropriate citations and the driver was cited for possession of cannabis.

An individual who had been arrested for being a felon in possession of a firearm, pled guilty and was fined $2500. He was also given one year conditional discharge and forfeited a new Browning BPS 10 ga. shotgun to the Department. This is the third time this subject has been arrested by a Region V officer and this is the third gun he has had confiscated.

Region V participated in three open range programs with the State Police during the month of October.

A District Sergeant and a CPO attended a youth waterfowl camp at the Shawnee College for the youth waterfowl hunt. The CPO gave a presentation to approximately 110 children and their parents regarding boating safety while waterfowling.

A District Sergeant represented the OLE at the 54th Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies in Baton Rouge, LA.

District Sergeants and CPOs attended the Mid-South Border Conference at Lake Wapapello, MO. This one-day seminar was attended by officers from several surrounding states.

A District Sergeant spoke to the Ashley Sportsmen's Club regarding the new regulations on hunting and firearm transportation.

LAKE MICHIGAN ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS

Most of the month of October passed with enforcement emphasis being placed on illegal fishing along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Snagging was still an issue throughout most of the month, with other shoreline fishing being addressed as needed. Lake Michigan personnel issued approximately 150 citations for fishing violations in the month of October. Waterfowl hunting and archery deer hunting complaints were also handled, although neither presented serious issues. Fishing enforcement also resulted in two arrests of individuals wanted on warrants.

Field training of new personnel continued, with boat training taking priority for the officers who recently ended the official Field Training portion of their recruit status. Their skill development as boarding officers and potential boat operators will be critical to the efforts next year. With the loss of all but one of the primary patrol boat operators, the role that new personnel will play is an essential element to a successful boating enforcement program in 2001.

A CPO and PCPO investigated a boating accident on Lake Michigan. Apparently, a boat struck a submerged object in Lake Michigan while passing by the shoreline of Illinois Beach State Park. The boat lost power and the anchor failed to hold, causing the boat to drift into the beach.

A CPO made a presentation to the Arlington Heights Sportsmen's Club. Other officers attended a boating safety class in the northwestern suburbs.

DIVISION OF INVESTIGATIONS

An Investigator assisted District 2 officers at a duck club where a field of buckwheat had been mowed for waterfowl hunting. As the Investigator and the officers approached a blind, they saw one of the hunters shoot a mute swan. The owner of the club was charged with baiting. The man who shot the swan was charged with killing a protected species. A total of nine blinds were determined to be baited.

The OLE received information from a man in Arkansas via the Internet that a subject was selling Canada geese. An Investigator contacted the person in the Rockford area who still had the geese for sale. He did not have any of the required permits. The suspect was only 15-years-old. A CPO assisted the juvenile in obtaining the proper permits, record keeping and arranging for the juvenile to do community service at a State Park.

An Investigator assisted District 5 officers in making three arrests at Starved Rock State Park and Matthiessen State Park for sexual offenses.

An Investigator assisted District 14 officers with obtaining and serving a search warrant concerning the taking of a deer out of season. They seized an ATV, numerous guns, knives and deer meat.

The 1999 illegal taking of two trophy buck deer in Adams and Brown Counties was investigated. Both people gave written confessions and the deer heads were seized from them.

An Investigator conducted an audit of a Pike County timber buyer which resulted in the man being cited for insufficient records and failure to pay the 4% harvest fee.

An Investigator and CPO cited three people in Schuyler County for hunting migratory waterfowl over a baited area.

TRAINING

Police Defensive Driving (Winter Driving): A two-day course held at the Criminal Justice Institutes/Community Education College of Lake County, Grayslake, Illinois; the first day was classroom, with practical driving on day two; attended by several officers.

IVC, DUI, and PBT Updates: An eight-hour class held on October 16, 2000, in Chenoa at the MTU 8 Training Center; instructed by Doug Gerdes; attended by two officers.

Bomb Scene Training: An eight-hour class held at the Bloomington Police Department & Range; on October 6, 2000; instructed by the Secretary of State Police; focused on bomb recognition, hazards, and responses/protocol; and attended by two officers.

Check out our September report.