Min More Cuffs & Collars

[Lee Borgersen]

     Minnesota Cuffs & Collars - February 7th, 2014

District 1 – Baudette area

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked anglers on Lake of the Woods. Enforcement action was taken for possessing filleted walleyes on a special regulations lake, for angling with extra lines, and for possession of marijuana.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) checked area anglers and monitored local snowmobiling activity. Enforcement action was taken for angling with unattended lines, angling with no license, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, no state trail permit, excessive speed on a snowmobile, and snowmobile registration violations.
CO Robert Gorecki (Baudette) monitored fishing and snowmobiling activity throughout the week. Numerous calls were handled ranging injured animals to snowmobile trail violations. CO Gorecki taught a snowmobile safety class and assisted in locating a lost angler.

District 2 – Bemidji area
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports spending time checking ice anglers and people spearing on local lakes and rivers.
CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) continued to monitor snowmobilers, anglers, and trappers. Plans continue for the upcoming MnUSA ride, and a complaint about deer eating cattle feed was received.
CO Tim Gray (Bagley) checked anglers and snowmobilers. He also assisted local emergency response personnel with a medical call.
CO Brian Holt (Bemidji) spent the week monitoring angling activity and patrolling area snowmobile trails. One day was spent working on Upper Red Lake.
CO Chris Vinton (Detroit Lakes) reports completing a background investigation for the upcoming DNR Conservation Officer Academy.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) patrolled area snowmobile trails, and anglers were checked. CO Peterson also continued to work on reports for ongoing cases.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls), along with CO Forsberg, spoke at the Fergus Falls Fish and Game Club annual meeting. Richards also spoke at a MTA Junior Trappers class in Fergus Falls.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) finalized a background investigation and conducted aeration inspections on area lakes and ponds.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked fishermen and snowmobilers. Fishing pressure is decreasing with the cold weather, but violation rates were high. Loud exhaust systems on snowmobiles are still being encountered along the trail. One operator with loud exhaust was asked why he put the loud exhaust on his snowmobile. He responded, “To make it sound cool.” When he was asked if he thought the people that live next to the trail thought it was cool to hear the exaggerated noise, he responded, “Probably not.” Proper paperwork was issued.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) spent time investigating fishing violation complaints, including extra lines and overlimits. Citations were issued for angling without a license and drug violations. Lawler participated in a work crew on Lake Osakis with several other officers.
CO Jeff Johanson (Osakis) continued to work fishing enforcement on area lakes, with another crappie overlimit violation handled on Lake Osakis. The area snowmobile trails are in the best shape of the season.
CO Tony Anderson (Morris) focused enforcement efforts on ice fishing, predator hunting, and snowmobiling activity. A few of the area snowmobile trails are being groomed for the first time this year. A complaint was received about having to obtain a permit to use radios for coyote hunting. Minnow transportation permits were issued.
District 4 – Wadena area
CO Sam Hunter (Park Rapids) checked snowmobilers and fishermen during the week. She also worked at a fishing tournament held on Fish Hook Lake near Park Rapids.
CO Gary Sommers (Walker) reported primary enforcement efforts this past week focused on ice fishing and snowmobiling activity. He also received a complaint regarding snowmobile trespass.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) continued to check anglers and snowmobile operators during the week. Enforcement action was taken for angling with extra lines, unattended lines, spearing without a license, fish house license and marking violations, and snowmobile violations.
CO Jeff Halverson (Staples) worked fishermen and snowmobilers in the area. He also fielded complaints about trespassing on open agricultural fields by snowmobile operators.
CO Colleen Adam (OHV recreation officer – Park Rapids) checked fishing activity and fish house identification on area lakes. She also spent time monitoring state and GIA trails for trail sticker compliance.
District 5 – Eveleth area
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked snowmobilers and a complaint about fish house litter. He also continued follow-up on several snowmobile violations committed by one snowmobiler, and worked on snowmobile and equipment maintenance.    
CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) investigated reports about dogs chasing deer. Enforcement action was taken for operating a snowmobile on the shoulder of the roadway. When CO Frericks stopped the snowmobiler, he asked him why he was riding on the shoulder when a grant-in-aid trail was about 50 yards away. The snowmobiler replied that the trail was usually very rough. Having ridden the trail earlier in the day, CO Frericks knew it was a great shape. A citation was issued.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) spent time on area snowmobile trails, checking for registration compliance and state trail speed enforcement. One individual stated he wasn’t watching his speed because he was busy reading the signs along the trail that said: speed kills. An individual was contacted whose sled was sitting on a trail, broken down, for the past two weeks.
District 6 – Two Harbors area
CO Sean Williams (Ely) responded to a call from an Ely resident who reported that she had a wolf living in her garage. When he arrived, no animal was found, but there was evidence of a canine being in the garage; the species could not be identified.
CO Marty Stage (Ely) worked fishermen and snowmobilers throughout the week and found little activity with the cold weather. Snowmobile registration continues to be an issue and people are reminded to follow the law concerning sticker and number placement on snowmobiles to avoid special attention from law enforcement.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports that the designated trout lakes gave up some nice fish during the week. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobiling and fishing violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked cross-country ski passes on state-funded ski trails. The officer also patrolled lakes, checking anglers and houses, as well as snowmobile trails, checking registrations and trail permits.
District 7 – Grand Rapids area
CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked anglers and patrolled area snowmobile trails. Enforcement action was taken for failure to display valid snowmobile registration and speeding.
CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) assisted with a big-game investigation. Violations of snowmobiles operating on the roadway and failing to display registration were encountered.
CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, trappers, and ski and snowmobile trails. He also taught students about Minnesota wildlife in four preschool classes during the week.
CO Shawn Wichmann (Hill City) followed up with a big-game investigation from the deer season that resulted in violations and seized firearms.
CO John Velsvaag (Northeast Regional ATV officer) finished up a trapping complaint this past week and took several phone calls relating to the case. CO Velsvaag also assisted with multiple stranded motorists and stuck vehicles, and also received calls about coyotes with mange.
Water Resource Enforcement Officer Tony Arhart (Grand Rapids) checked anglers, dark-house spearers, and bait on infested and on other areas waters. CO Arhart also issued a Wetland Conservation Act restoration order.
District 8 – Duluth area
CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reports a talk was given to nearly 60 youngsters who showed up for a class to receive their snowmobile safety certificates. A few calls were taken about the concern for local deer that appeared to be injured or suffering due to the extreme winter.
CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) spent the majority of the week completing a pre-employment background investigation for a possible new-hire conservation officer.
CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) reports working ice angling and snowmobiling activity throughout the week. Unlawful speed and operation complaint areas continued to be worked. Anglers were reporting a much slower bite during the week. One angler spent hours fishing for his eyeglasses, on the bottom of the lake, with the aid of his underwater camera. A trapping complaint involving a domesticated animal was investigated.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) reports an investigation into illegally set snares in the area is ongoing; several snares were seized.
Lake Superior Marine Unit
CO Matt Miller (Marine Unit) checked ice anglers on some of the frozen bays of Lake Superior. Snowmobilers were worked on area trails, and calls about injured and car-killed deer were handled.
CO Troy TerMeer (Marine Unit) last week worked snowmobiling, angling and off-highway motorcycle enforcement. He also worked on reports, evidence, and court preparation.
District 9 – Brainerd area
CO Jim Tischler (Cuyuna Country State Rec Area) monitored ice angling, cross-country skiing, and fat-tire biking, and patrolled snowmobile trails in the Brainerd area.
CO Mike Lee (Crosslake) spoke to anglers on the Whitefish Chain who were reporting slow activity, but dark-house spearers were doing well. Officer Lee received two calls this past week about deer coming into yards and dying. In the one incident, it appeared the deer had run itself to death from being chased by wolves or dogs. The other incident was a deer that had been struck by a car at an earlier date and later died of injuries from the collision.
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) completed his background assignment and worked snowmobile and trail enforcement. Landowners continue to complain about sledders trespassing across private property. An individual was cited for obstruction of a trail after intentionally placing a large amount of snow on the trail after groomers had completed trail grooming.  
District 10 – Mille Lacs area
CO Chris Tetrault (Isle) traveled to Ely to assist CO Williams with snowmobiling and fishing enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for a fish house without proper identification and lack of safety reflectors on the house.
CO Dustie Speldrich (Willow River) completed a background investigation on a potential new hire and submitted the report for approval. She also responded to a report about a car that hit and critically injured a wolf near Willow River. The individual reporting it stated that animal appeared to have head trauma and was walking into trees. Upon arrival, the CO was able to observe the same behavior, as well as severe injuries to the animal. The animal was dispatched. Officer Speldrich also picked up an incidental fisher seized from a local trapper who caught the animal in a snare.  
CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) patrolled areas in Pine and Kanabec counties during the week. He checked anglers, worked a snowmobile trespass complaint, and monitored snowmobile traffic on trails between Hinckley and Pine City.
CO Scott Fitzgerald (Malmo) reports checking fishermen throughout the week on Mille Lacs. Calls regarding possible abandoned fish houses and lots of fishing, snowmobiling, and ATV law-related questions were fielded throughout the week.
District 11 – St. Cloud area
CO Chad Thesing (Albany) worked anglers and snowmobilers. A work crew was worked on Lake Osakis resulting in citations for overlimits, extra lines, unattended lines, and drug and alcohol violations.
CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) conducted a minnow dealer inspection and reported to DNR Enforcement the issues and problems that surfaced during that inspection.
CO Joyce Kuske (Little Falls) received a complaint about a safety concern regarding someone feeding deer and causing deer to be hit on the roadway. While CO Kuske checked fishing licenses on an area lake, one female was found to not have her fishing license with her. She had told her fishing partner that she forgot her license when they had come out, but figured she would be fine, as she had never been checked by an officer. Later that day, CO Kuske checked a snowmobiler that had no registration displayed. It was a new machine, and the snowmobiler only had six miles on it when he was stopped by CO Kuske.
WREO Keith Bertram spent the week conducting aquaculture inspections, testifying at a deer season-related court trial, participating in a groundwater sustainability meeting, and answering AIS law questions at the Minneapolis Boat Show.
District 12 – Princeton area
CO Tony Musatov (Sauk Rapids) checked ice anglers and snowmobilers. Violations were found for unmarked fishing shelters, no state trail sticker, and operating snowmobiles in a WMA.
CO Mitch Sladek (Big Lake) worked fishermen on area lakes and took enforcement action on a number of snowmobiling violations. He followed up on a big-game TIP report; an
CO Angela Londgren (Princeton) spoke at snowmobile safety classes, had a ride-along, checked anglers/fishing contests, worked snowmobile enforcement, and followed up on a litter violation.
CO Rick Reller (Buffalo) followed up on several reports about injured trumpeter swans. These were handled with the help of volunteers who helped get them to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in St. Paul.  
District 13 – West Metro area
CO Steve Walter (Waconia) checked anglers on the Minnesota River and Crow River. Fish houses were monitored for litter, no identification, or reflectors displayed.
CO Brent Grewe (Minnetonka) spent the week checking anglers and snowmobilers. CO Grewe also finished investigating a trespassing complaint and followed up with other calls received throughout the week.
CO Kevin Neitzke (Ft. Snelling) gave presentations to youth snowmobile safety and firearms safety classes. He also did snowmobile enforcement in Dakota and Scott counties, and did aerator inspections in Dakota County.
CO Vang Lee (ELCOP) worked mainly ice fishermen and snowmobilers throughout the week. He also patrolled state parks and state trails in the metro area and answered questions about the small-game hunting season.
CO Thephong Le (ELCOP) patrolled the West Metro district for snowmobile and fishing activities. He also worked with USDA personnel regarding deer population control in Edina, and distributed the harvested deer to a local nonprofit organization.
District 14 – East Metro area
CO Scott Arntzen (Forest Lake) spent the week checking snowmobilers, ATVers, and anglers. CO Arntzen also responded to a call regarding an injured deer and patrolled WMAs in the area for recreational vehicle use.
CO Lisa Kruse (White Bear Lake) finished a background investigation for a CO applicant. She also assisted with a deer-removal program in Ramsey County and did aeration system inspections on area lakes.
CO Patrick McGowan (Hastings) continued to work on big-game cases from this fall. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobile speeding, registration issues, trespass, angling with extra lines, and unattended lines.
CO Vuthy Pril (ELCOP) worked snowmobiling activity on trails and Scott County lakes throughout the week. He continued to check anglers and ATVers. CO Pril also responded to injured animal reports.
CO Brad Johnson (Ham Lake) reports that he checked ice anglers and snowmobilers throughout the week. He also towed a vehicle that was stuck and abandoned at Carlos Avery WMA.
CO Amber Peterson (Maplewood) reports she investigated a trespass complaint, worked a security detail at an event, and checked anglers on area lakes. CO Peterson also patrolled area trails and worked with a neighboring officer on a complaint regarding snowmobilers entering a WMA. She also received a call about an injured swan in Bayport. With the assistance of a local officer, she was able to contain the swan and transport it to the wildlife rehabilitation center.
District 15 – Marshall area
CO Craig Miska (Ortonville) checked ice fishing, snowmobiling, and predator hunting activity during the week. A trespassing complaint involving predator hunters was taken. Predator hunters are reminded that using a motor vehicle to intentionally drive, chase, run over, kill, or take a wild animal is illegal. An investigation involving a deer that was shot and left in a field east of Ortonville was conducted.
CO Gary Nordseth (Worthington) checked coyote hunters and ice fishermen throughout the week. Snowmobile trails in the area remain in poor condition due to a lack of snow.
CO Jim Robinson (Slayton) spent the week working ice anglers and sledders. Blowing snow, rain, and sub-zero temps are wreaking havoc on snowmobile trails.
District 16 – New Ulm area
CO Jeff Denz (Willmar) assisted a warden from another state with an investigation. CO Denz also spoke at a local Pheasants Forever meeting and attended a meeting with area volunteer safety instructors.
CO Jen Mueller (Hutchinson) responded to a snowmobile on fire on a lake near Hutchinson. Mueller also attended training with other officers in Chaska.
CO Brett Oberg (Hutchinson) continued working snowmobile enforcement in the area. Oberg also attended first responder law enforcement training.
CO Jason Beckmann (Windom) spent the week working ice anglers. Snowmobile trails in the area are fair with a moderate amount of activity.
CO Mike Gruhlke (Jackson) worked ice fishermen, snowmobilers, small-game hunters, and ATVers. He also patrolled through Kilen Woods State Park.
CO Eric Schettler (Fairmont) monitored angling and shelter/fish house activity. Aerations systems were inspected.
District 17 – Mankato area
CO Chris Howe (St. Peter) completed aeration system inspections and a ginseng inspection.
CO Brent Ihnen (Waseca) spent the week patrolling for fishing, ATVing, and snowmobiling activity. Ihnen also checked predator hunters and monitored trapping activity.
CO Corey Wiebusch (Mankato) checked area lakes and found plenty of activity this past week. The recent snow allowed the officer to patrol the trail system on snowmobile.
CO Steve Chihak (Spring Valley) spent the week monitoring snowmobile and ice-fishing activity. A few complaints about nuisance wildlife were resolved, as was a TIP call.
WREO Julie Siems (Southeast) finished a CO applicant background investigation and checked angling and snowmobiling activity. Information on aquatic invasive species was provided at a sporting show.
District 18 – Rochester area
CO Joel Heyn (Plainview) worked anglers and snowmobilers during the week. Heyn also attended a meeting with the Great River Ridge Trail group to discuss use by unauthorized motor vehicle operators.
CO Phil George (Rochester) worked the week checking anglers and snowmobile operators. Enforcement action was taken for not displaying current snowmobile registration and possessing trout without a trout stamp.
CO Kevin Prodzinski (Wabasha) reports working on fish and snowmobile enforcement. Additionally he closed out some investigations from this fall.
CO Tom Hemker (Winona) spent time trying to locate people regarding fishing shelter violations. He also attended a natural resources class at a local high school and a fishing day  put on by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.