Although the Cook County News- Herald knows that the majority of sportsmen and women are law-abiding folks, there are a few that run afoul of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Officers. Periodically, the DNR provides a report of some of the miscreants the Conservation Officers (CO) have encountered. The News-Herald shares these stories as a reminder to all to be safe and to follow the rules!
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) had a very busy week with multiple call outs for the fire investigation team. He assisted with fire investigations at Nimrod, Lake George and Finland. Until we get much needed rain, please use extreme caution with any type of fire. Remember to check with local burning restrictions and apply for burning permits if required.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) helped teach arrest and control tactics and firearms to CO candidates at Camp Ripley. At the local school, the officer participated in a course on integration of law enforcement, EMS and fire/rescue squads to hostile events as an instructor trainee. Manning also patrolled forest roads and was standing by to assist with evacuation if needed for a large fire in the Finland area; fortunately the fire was contained before it reached that point.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked trout anglers and monitored ATV activity. The officer responded to three area fires and several bear complaints that killed chickens. Wahlstrom assisted the volunteer firearms safety instructors with the field day. Enforcement action was taken for ATV, OHM, allowing illegal operation of an ATV by a juvenile and fire violations.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked angling, boating, and fire enforcement efforts during the week. Dry conditions in the area made for a very active fire weekend with fires spreading quickly.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) reports that an angler returned to the scene of the crime from 2015. He had no angling license and was also cited for angling after revocation as he had not taken care of an angling citation from 2015.
CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spent time checking anglers on Virginia area rivers. After watching a group of anglers in a secluded area of the St Louis River for about 30 minutes, Frericks watched one of them catch a walleye, fillet it and dispose of the remains. When the CO approached the angler, he denied catching anything. After speaking with the angler a little longer he admitted to finding a dead walleye on the shore. Eventually the fillets were located and seized. The angler was cited.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) and CO Hopkins were walking on a sidewalk in International Falls when a young man walked past reeking of marijuana. When confronted he threw a joint down on the sidewalk. He was relieved of the rest of his drug paraphernalia, cited and sent on his way.
CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) contacted many mothers on the water who were enjoying their special day. One father was cited for taking three bass out of season. It seemed as though the splashing water in the minnow bucket was from more than what a scoop of crappie minnows could produce.
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