Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Norton Sound crabbers pinched in license case

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Nome
Type: No crewmember license
On 3/30/10 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, while on Norton Sound crab patrol via state snowmachines, contacted Nome residents Frank Carruthers and Phillip Pryzmont on the sea ice west of Nome while they were engaged in commercial crab fishing. It was determined that Pryzmont had neither a permit nor commercial crewmember license. Pryzmont was cited for no crewmember license and Carruthers was cited for employing an unlicensed crewman.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Fisherman without permit card charged at Dutch

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Dutch Harbor
Type: No CFEC card
On 3/22/10 Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers issued a summons to Tiafala Manu Lagai, 33, of Seattle, for possessing and landing groundfish within state waters without having a 2010 Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission permit card. Arraignment is scheduled for 4/8/10 in the Unalaska District Court.

Two King Cove men fined $250 on gear violations

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Valdez
Type: Update — improper identification of gear
On 3/30/10 Raymond C. Dushkin, 46, of King Cove, pled no contest in the Valdez District Court to the charge of improper identification of gear. Dushkin, who is the skipper and permit holder aboard the F/V Desirae Dawn, was fined $500 with $250 suspended and placed on probation for one year.

Location: Valdez
Type: Update — improper identification of gear
On 3/30/10 Dean Gould, 49, of King Cove, pled no contest in the Valdez District Court to the charge of improper identification of gear. Gould, who is the skipper and permit holder aboard the F/V Northern Star, was fined $500 with $250 suspended and placed on probation for one year.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Sitka fisherman cited for lack of vessel ID

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: No vessel ID
On 3/29/10 Harry M. Samato, 55, was cited for failing to properly display his Alaska Department of Fish and Game numbers on both sides of his commercial fishing vessel.

Troopers ticket unlicensed Sitka herring crewman

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: No crewmember license
On 3/27/10 Robert J. Bell, 38, of Sitka, was cited for participating in the Sitka herring sac roe fishery without a valid 2010 crewmember license. Fine is $260.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Troopers spot troller out of bounds in Sitka Sound

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka Sound
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 3/25/10 at approximately 1326 hours, a vessel was documented commercial power trolling in closed waters west of the Sitka Sound winter troll line by an Alaska Wildlife Troopers aircraft. Investigation on 3/26/10 revealed the vessel was the F/V Fireweed operated by Cleveland Eells, 19, of Port Alexander. Eells was cited into Sitka Court for operating commercial salmon power troll gear in closed waters. Arraignment is set for 4/13/10.

Friday, March 26, 2010

The Dutch Harbor report

From the local police blotter, as reported by the Unalaska Advertiser:

Criminal mischief, March 15 — A union member who does not see eye to eye with his laboring brethren found a skull and crossbones sticker on the door of his pickup. An officer removed the sticker.

Ambulance request, March 15 — EMS personnel provided medical attention and painkillers to a man whose genitalia had been injured when a line snapped.

Trespass, March 15 — An inebriate who was fired from a local processing plant was found passed out drunk in his former bunk room. Per the request of management, the drunk was trespassed from the property.

Trespass, March 16 — Trespass advisement issued to a man whom UniSea management no longer wanted on their property.

Animal, March 17 — A whale, acting in a manner which caused dockside workers to believe it was sick, swam up to a local processing plant. The whale later swam away.

Assistance rendered, March 18 — Officers responded to a seafood processing plant on a report of a hurt plant worker. The worker was taken to the clinic for evaluation.

Assault, March 19 — Thomas Warden, 43, of Maryland, was arrested after assaulting his roommate in the galley of a local processing plant.

Assistance rendered, March 19 — A Florida resident requested assistance in locating her brother on a fishing vessel, as she needed to contact him regarding a family emergency. The information was relayed to the man to call his sister.

Welfare check, March 20 — Officers responded to a bunkhouse on a report of a disturbance. Investigation determined that a couple of drunks got into an argument. A resolution was reached when the drunks staggered off in separate directions for the evening.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Getting loaded the right way at Dutch Harbor

Unalaska police are cracking down on improper hauling of crab pots.

KUCB radio has the story.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Troopers hand out a few tickets at Cordova

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cordova
Type: Employ unlicensed crewmember
On 3/18/10 Mihey V. Basargin, 23, of Homer, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Cordova Post, for employing Myron L. Basargin, who didn't have a commercial crewmember license, as a deckhand aboard the F/V Letun. Bail was set at $260 in the District Court of Cordova.

Location: Cordova
Type: No crewmember license
On 3/18/10 Myron L. Basargin, 18, of Nine Mile Falls, Wash., was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Cordova Post, for commercial fishing as a deckhand aboard the F/V Letun without having a commercial crewmember license as required. Bail was set at $260 in the District Court of Cordova.

Location: Cordova
Type: False statement
On 3/18/10 Brice Phillips, 23, of Cordova, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Cordova Post, for making a false statement on his 2010 Alaska resident commercial crewmember license. The false statement was found during a commercial fish boarding. Arraignment set for 4/7/10 in the District Court of Cordova.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Juneau crab crew hit with multiple gear violations

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Gustavas
Type: Gear violations
On 3/17/10 Sitka-Juneau Wildlife Troopers charged James M. Martin, 80, of Juneau, and crewmembers Kenneth Merculief, 51, Robert Mortell, 47, and Patrick Ellisoff, 47, all of Juneau, for multiple counts regarding gear violations in the Icy Strait commercial Tanner crab fishery. The investigation started 2/16/10 when several of Martin's Tanner pots were inspected. The pots displayed tags that had been sworn to be lost by Martin. Additional gear checks revealed Martin was operating pots which were unmarked, marked with the wrong Alaska Department of Fish and Game number, did not display any Tanner crab pot tag, displayed voided Tanner crab pot tags, did not have escape rings, had escape rings set too high above the bottom of the pot, and had oversize biodegradable cotton. The four men are scheduled for arraignment in Juneau court.

Unlawful storage of Dungeness pots draws citation

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Unlawful storage of Dungeness pots
On 3/19/10 Sitka Wildlife Troopers cited Peter M. Roddy, 57, of Petersburg, for unlawful storage of commercial Dungeness pots. Previous investigation revealed Roddy had left pots in the waters of Hood Bay after the season closed for commercial Dungeness fishing on 11/30/09. Arraignment is scheduled for 4/13/10 in Sitka.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Crewman jailed for spree with errant Trident cash

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Anchorage
Type: Theft of lost or mislaid property
On 3/16/10 general counsel for Seattle-based Trident Seafoods contacted the Alaska State Troopers requesting assistance due to a $233,000 wire transfer from the account of Trident Seafoods being inadvertently directed to the bank account of Timothy Andrew Boles, 37, a crewman of the F/V Cascade Mariner and an Anchorage resident. The money was intended to go to the owner of the Cascade Mariner, however, it went instead to Boles' account. Investigation revealed that Boles withdrew $3,000 from his account; that he purchased $5,600 in traveler's checks; he withdrew $115,000 in cash; he purchased a $90,950 cashier's check; and on 3/13/10 paid off $17,630 on a loan for his 2008 Chevy Silverado truck. Boles in turn sold his truck to Alaska Sales and Service in Anchorage. On 3/18/10, at approximately 0410 hours, Boles was contacted by the Soldotna Police Department on a noise disturbance call at the Aspen Hotel. Boles was found to be with a brand new 2010 Chevy Camaro SS, a $90,000 cashier's check, a wad of cash and other newly purchased items. Boles was arrested by Soldotna AST Patrol and remanded to Wildwood Pre-Trial Facility. The car was seized and impounded by AST. Boles was arraigned today. Bail was set at $75,000 cash only, and $25,000 performance bond.

Guilty plea on late fish ticket results in $500 fine

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Unalaska
Type: Update — failure to file fish ticket
On 3/18/10 Gerald A. Meals, 49, of Sparks, Nev., pled guilty in the Unalaska District Court to the charge of failure to file a fish ticket within seven days of landing. A second charge regarding permits to catch and possess fish was dismissed. Meals, who was the skipper and permit holder onboard the F/V Sea Venture, was fined $1,000 with $500 suspended and placed on probation for one year.

Skipper gets ticket for lack of ID number on pot

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cape Pankof
Type: Improper ID of gear
On 3/19/10 Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers summonsed Dean Gould, 49, of King Cove, for improper identification of gear after it was discovered that Gould, who is the skipper and permit holder aboard the F/V Northern Star, stored a groundfish pot in state waters which lacked an Alaska Department of Fish and Game number. Arraignment is scheduled for 0930 hours on 3/30/10 in the Valdez District Court.

Troopers ticket King Cove pot cod fisherman

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Volcano Bay
Type: Improper gear ID
On 3/11/10 Alaska Wildlife Troopers summonsed Raymond C. Dushkin, 46, of King Cove, for improper ID of gear after it was discovered that Dushkin, who is the skipper and permit holder on the F/V Desirae Dawn, commercially fished for Pacific cod while using a groundfish pot without a legible Alaska Department of Fish and Game number. Arraignment was scheduled on 3/30/10 for the Valdez District Court.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

The Dutch Harbor report

From the local police blotter, as reported by the Unalaska Advertiser:

Assistance rendered, March 8 — Multiple drivers unable to extricate themselves from the snow drifts into which they had driven.

Taxi violation, March 8, 1719 hours — Caller reported a former taxi driver was transporting passengers to Icicle Seafoods. The suspect maintained she had offered free transportation to her two passengers. Officers contacted the occupants, who stated they had paid nothing for the ride from the library.

Taxi violation, March 8, 2102 hours — A former taxi driver was cited for operating without a chauffeur's permit after an investigation revealed the driver had provided transportation to a passenger in exchange for a "tip."

Domestic disturbance, March 9 — Officers investigated a disturbance at a processing plant, apparently precipitated by one roommate keeping a logbook of the other roommate's every snore, cough and other non-verbal bodily noise. The subject of the log became rather perturbed when he discovered what was being written about him, and the two puerile processors subsequently engaged in a minor pushing match. No charges were filed.

Drunk disturbance, March 9 — Two more quibbling roommates required police assistance in settling their differences. An inebriated man made an unusual racket while stumbling into the room with a pizza. The noise disturbed his roommate, whose ire was not alleviated by offers of a slice. The bickering boys engaged in minor pushing and shoving. They were turned over to plant security.

Welfare check, March 9 — Processing plant reported a missing employee. An officer located the man in his room at the Grand Aleutian hotel.

Assault, March 9 — Officer responded to an alleged assault at a local fish factory and determined the primary complaint involved a plant processor knocking a coworker's hard hat off her head. No criminal activity was discovered during the course of the investigation.

Assault, March 13 — Officers responded to the Grand Aleutian hotel lobby, where an inebriate was nursing an eye wound. The drunken man believed he had been in argument with another person, regarding whose boat was "better," but was unable to provide any additional pertinent information. Witnesses did not see the inebriate get hit and believed he may have stumbled as he so often does.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Troopers cite bairdi crab fisherman at Deer Island

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Deer Island
Type: Crab gear violations
On 3/12/10 Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers issued citations to Nick August Carlson, 42, of Anchorage, for commercial fishing in the state bairdi Tanner crab fishery with a pot that did not have an Alaska Department of Fish and Game tag on the pot buoy, while a pot limit for the fishery was in effect. Carlson also had a pot with an illegible ADF&G number on the pot buoy. Arraignment on these and other gear violations is scheduled for 4/20/10 in the Valdez Superior Court.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Troopers ticket two halibut fishermen in Cordova

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Cordova
Type: No commercial crew license
On 03-13-09, at approximately 1300 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers from Cordova Post contacted Myron L. Basargin, 18, of Nine Mile Falls, Wash., during a Joint Enforcement Agreement halibut dockside boarding of the F/V Letun. Basargin was cited for not having a 2010 commercial crew license. Bail was set at $260.

Location: Cordova
Type: Employ unlicensed crewmember
On 03-13-09, at approximately 1300 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers from Cordova Post contacted Mihey V. Basargin, 26, of Homer, during a Joint Enforcement Agreement halibut dockside boarding of the F/V Letun. Basargin was cited for employing a crewmember who did not possess a 2010 commercial crew license. Bail was set at $260.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Skiff wreck in Wrangell Narrows results in ticket

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Petersburg
Type: Prohibited operation of watercraft
On 03/04/10 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Petersburg Post, responded to Channel Marker 18 of the Wrangell Narrows to investigate a boating accident. An investigation revealed Randy Hal Littleton, 58, of Wrangell, ran his 17-foot skiff aground. Littleton was operating his skiff after dark without any lights, resulting in him running aground on rocks he could not see. Littleton's vessel was not equipped with any of the required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment. Littleton suffered hypothermia and was flown to Seattle for treatment. After recovering, Littleton was released from the hospital. Littleton was issued a citation for prohibited operation of watercraft. A mandatory court appearance is scheduled for 03/25/2010 in the Petersburg District Court.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

The Dutch Harbor report

From the local police blotter, as reported by the Unalaska Advertiser:

Assault, March 1 — Two processors engaged in a battle for control of a yellow bucket full of soapy water. One processor conceded the sudsy bucket after his supervisor bade him yield, but later confronted the victor in a dark alley and allegedly slapped him across the face. There were no witnesses to the misdeed.

Suspicious person or activity, March 2 — A non-union APL employee reported swastikas had been drawn in the mud on her company vehicle. She believed the incident was likely due to ongoing dispute between management and union personnel.

Assistance rendered, March 3 — Officer contacted a drunk staggering in the middle of the roadway and found that his nose had been relocated to the left side of his face. The drunk told the officer he had been stupid this evening, but declined to provide any additional information. The officer provided courtesy transportation to the man's residence.

Welfare check, March 3 — Caller reported a missing fisheries observer, last seen leaving the Harborview Bar at closing the previous night. Approximately an hour later the missing man was found.

Theft, March 3 — Caller reported his rental truck had been stolen. Investigation revealed his rental truck had mistakenly been taken by the captain of another vessel, and had been left at another dock.

Ambulance request, March 3 — EMS personnel offered medical care to a trembling, drunken man with a bloody nose and the word "LOSER" written on his head. The inebriate refused care.

Assault, March 4 — Caller claimed he was being pursued by his captain and the captain's brother, both of whom had assaulted him. Responding officers contacted several participants and witnesses, who provided conflicting accounts about the initiation and termination of the brawl. No charges were filed.

Assault, March 5 — A man who was demonstrating how to properly position and drive a knife in order to achieve a fatal stab wound was kicked in his knife hand by an onlooker. When he confronted the kicker about the dangers of such actions, the kicker began punching him about the head and torso. Witnesses confirmed the victim's story. David Aaron Meeks, 39, was arrested for assault.

Double DUI, March 5 — Officers arrested two drunks for driving the same vehicle while intoxicated. Timothy P. Cosgrove and Kenneth L. Sjong left the Airport Bar and, unable to find a taxi, elected to drive back to their boat and promptly drove into a snow drift. Sjong, the first driver, left the area on foot. Cosgrove stayed in the vehicle and was apparently attempting to remove it when officers arrived. Both Cosgrove, 57, and Sjong, 57, were arrested for driving under the influence.

Found property, March 5 — Good citizen turned in a wallet with a significant quantity of cash in it. The owner of the wallet recovered it about an hour later and was greatly appreciative of the good citizen's actions.

Disorderly conduct, March 5 — Caller reported a man passed out in the Safeway deli. The responding officer found the man being helped to a taxi by two friends, who said they were taking the inebriate back to his boat.

Drunk disturbance, March 5 — A drunken man at Westward Seafoods was banging on doors and yelling obscenities at plant security officers. The drunk was advised to cease his behavior or face arrest.

Road hazard, March 6 — Large crab pot blocking roadway. An officer moved the pot to the side of the road.

Assault, March 7 — Officers investigated an alleged assault between two drunken processors at Westward Seafoods. Both parties had witnesses to corroborate their versions of events. The complainant ultimately elected not to pursue charges.

Troopers investigate sexual assault at Akutan

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Akutan
Type: Sexual assault
On 3/9/10 Alaska State Troopers in Dillingham received a report of a sexual assault that occurred in Akutan a few days prior. Alaska Wildlife Troopers aboard the P/V Stimson were in Akutan on 3/9/10 and interviewed several subjects about the incident. The incident is still under investigation.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Authorities investigate pollution at Auke Bay

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Juneau
Type: DEC violations
On 3/9/10 the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation contacted Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Juneau to seek assistance in investigating possible violations of Alaska water quality standards. The violations are a result of a broken outfall line from the Auke Nu Homeowners Association which discharges into Auke Bay. The initial break occurred on or about Feb. 9. DEC and AWT will be continuing the investigation.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Seward troopers issue bycatch, license citations

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Seward
Type: Bycatch
On 3/5/10 Ilia N. Kuzmin, 33, of Homer, operator and permit holder on the F/V Currency, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Seward Post, for exceeding the maximum bycatch allowed by regulation when directed fishing for Pacific cod. Arraignment was set for 3/23/10 in the Seward District Court.

Location: Seward
Type: License falsification
On 3/4/10 Christopher D. Clemens, 26, of Seward, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Seward Post, for making a false statement of a material fact on a 2009 resident commercial crewmember license. Arraignment was set for 3/23/10 in the Seward District Court.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Missing boater's body found at Juneau marina

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Juneau
Type: Search and rescue
On 3/6/10, at 2221 hours, Juneau AST received a report from the Juneau Police Department of a missing female. Investigation revealed that on 3/6/10, at 0130 hours, Sonja Ray, 24, of Juneau, had last been seen by her friend walking down the pier toward her boat in the Fisherman's Bend harbor. On 3/6/10, at approximately 1900 hours, Ray's friend received information that Ray was missing and went to Ray's boat to check on her, but she only found Ray's ID card on the pier next to her boat. On 3/6/10, at 2310 hours, two members from SEADOGS conducted a search of the pier near Ray's boat and the dogs alerted to an area near her boat. On 3/7/10, at 0839 hours, two volunteer divers located Ray's body in the water approximately 20 feet from where her boat was docked. The case has been turned back over to JPD for further investigation. Ray's next of kin have been notified.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Lack of crew license draws ticket at Dutch Harbor

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Dutch Harbor
Type: No crewmember license
On 3/4/10 Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers issued a citation to Jaime Hernandez, 44, of Rowland Heights, Calif., for commercial fishing without having a 2010 Alaska commercial fishing crewmember license. Arraignment is scheduled for 3/19/10 in the Unalaska District Court.

Vessel captain fined for improper opilio gear

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Unalaska
Type: Update — improper crab pots
On 3/3/10 John Duane Nes, 38, of Edmonds, Wash., pled guilty in the Unalaska District Court to the charge of improper mesh size on his opilio crab pot gear. Nes, who is the captain of the F/V Aleutian Spray, was fined $3,000 with $2,000 suspended and placed on one year probation.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

The Dutch Harbor report

From the local police blotter, as reported by the Unalaska Advertiser:

Trespass, Feb. 24 — Processing plant made arrangements for a former employee to pick up his belongings after he was released from jail, as he would not be allowed back on the property in the future.

Trespass, Feb. 24 — Officer responded to the Alyeska Trading Co. regarding an intoxicated, aggressive customer. Investigation revealed that the drunken customer found the store clerk far too effeminate for his tastes and subsequently threw his Ding Dongs, for which he had suddenly lost all appetite, into the trash. The clerk stated he felt threatened by the drunken customer and requested that he be given a trespass advisement.

Fire response, Feb. 24, 1958 hours — Fire and EMS responded to the report of visible flames at a company bunkhouse.

Assistance rendered, Feb. 24, 1959 hours — Officers assisted with traffic control and investigation at a fire response. The alleged fire was found to be a burning candle. Fire officers also found that the smoke detector had been taped shut. Don't forget to keep your smoke detectors in good working condition!

Assistance rendered, Feb. 26 — Captain of a vessel reported one of his deckhands was passed out in front of the Airport Bar. He asked that an officer contact the drunken sailor and advise him not to return to the vessel.

Ambulance request, Feb. 26 — EMS volunteers assisted a man who had been injured by a 17-pound block of ice.

Harassment, Feb. 27 — Young man reported his ex-girlfriend was sending him text messages ad infinitum. Officers contacted the ex, who admitted communicating with the young man but only after he asked her for a substantial sum of money. Officers advised the woman to cease communicating with the penniless youth.

Public safety, Feb. 27 — Advisory issued regarding a possible tsunami.

Drunk disturbance, Feb. 27 — Caller reported a large hairy male was screaming and grabbing at a woman in an effort to get her to accompany him from the hotel. Officers responded and found a drunken couple in a dispute about whether the woman was allowed to buy a potted plant.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Charges referred from Haines poaching case

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Haines
Type: Commercial fish closed waters, unlawful possession of illegally taken fish
On 8/5/09 at approximately 0900 hours, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commercial Fisheries Division contacted the Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Haines to report Robert Collier, 26, of Lakebay, Wash., was observed commercial fishing in closed waters. Investigation revealed Collier was the permit holder and captain of the F/V Brown Sugar. Two Fish and Game technicians, while en route to sample fish in District 15-C, observed the F/V Brown Sugar actively fishing with his gillnet in the water near Berners Bay. Collier is being charged with commercial fishing in closed waters. All charges are being forwarded to the district attorney's office for prosecution.