Saturday, May 30, 2015

Sitka fisherman cited over undersized king salmon

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Undersized king salmon
On 5/19/15 Alaska Wildlife Troopers in Sitka received a report from Alaska Department of Fish and Game survey staff of the F/V Oslo attempting to offload undersized king salmon at a local processor. Investigation revealed Ryan Jones, 30, of Sitka, had retained seven king salmon less than the required length of 28 inches. The seven fish comprised a total of 10 percent of the vessel's overall catch for that fishing trip. Jones was issued a misdemeanor summons.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Troopers twice ticket Sitka salmon troller

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Commercial troll closed waters
On 5/13/15 troopers patrolling the waters of Sitka Sound in a state aircraft observed the F/V Saturday fishing more than two-tenths of a mile into closed waters. Investigation revealed Bradley Anderson, 31, of Sitka, and Kristopher Foster, 39, of Sitka, were the captain and deckhand aboard the vessel. Both men admitted fishing in the area and denied any knowledge the area was closed to commercial fishing. Anderson was issued a misdemeanor summons. Foster was issued a minor offense citation.

Location: Sitka
Type: Commercial troll closed waters
On 5/23/15 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Sitka Post, cited Bradley Anderson, 31, of Sitka, after an investigation showed he was fishing on 5/3/15 more than two miles into an area not open to commercial trolling. Anderson is the permit holder and operator of the F/V Saturday. Arraignment set for 6/9/15 in Sitka District Court.

Saturday, May 23, 2015

F/V Blue Attu racks up citations at Dutch Harbor

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Dutch Harbor
Type: Assault
On 5/22/15 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Dutch Harbor Post, issued a citation to Steven Gilvaja, 26, of Hickory, N.C., for assaulting a fellow commercial fisherman aboard the F/V Blue Attu near St. Paul Island on 4/20/15. Arraignment set for 6/9/15 in Unalaska District Court.

Location: Dutch Harbor
Type: Crew license
On 5/22/15 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Dutch Harbor Post, issued citations to Renee Perez, 51, of Waco, Texas, and David Main, 35, of Old Town, Florida, for commercial fishing aboard the F/V Blue Attu without a valid license. Wayne Oxton, 55, of Rockport, Maine, was cited for employing unlicensed crewmembers.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Dutch Harbor report

From the local police blotter:

Suspicious activity, May 11 — An itinerant told police that the sounds of sex in the parking lot in which he was sleeping had kept him awake for at least five hours. When he tried to locate the source of the sounds, disembodied voices began calling him a pervert and threatening to kill him, all of which he believed was in reference to the pornography he had earlier viewed on the library computer. The itinerant later advised an officer that he thought the voices were probably just in his head, and that he planned to attend Bible study in the morning.

Assist other agency, May 12 — Officer assisted Alaska State Troopers with the investigation of an alleged assault that had occurred in state waters.

Criminal mischief, May 15 — Vessel personnel reported that a rental vehicle, which had been left undamaged at their dock about 12 hours earlier, had a shattered rear window. No items were reported stolen and the responding officer noted that there was little to no glass inside the vehicle.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Dutch Harbor report

From the local police blotter:

Ambulance request, March 10 — EMS personnel provided care and transport to a man whose fingers had been crushed in a piece of processing equipment.

Trespass, March 12, 2325 hours — Officer issued a trespass advisement to a drunken misogynist whose extraordinarily discourteous behavior had made him unwelcome with the barmaids.

Liquor law violation, March 12, 2341 hours — Officer advised a drunken misogynist that he was not allowed to enter or remain at any other licensed liquor establishments this night. The inebriated chauvinist, who threatened to defecate on the responding officer's patrol car, finally left after making several sexist remarks.

Assault, March 15 — Two men got into a fight after one man, attempting to protect his buddy's Tater Tots, told the Tater-taker that he was the bigger and badder man. The Tater Tots skirmish ended with one bloody nose and two ripped shirts.

Assistance rendered, March 15, 0225 hours — Officers responded to a dock regarding a man who had fallen off a vessel but had been caught by lines strung between dock and boat. The man had already been extricated by the time officers arrived, and refused medical care.

Assault, March 15, 0242 hours — A fight, of indeterminate origin, broke out on the vessel from which a man had recently fallen. The four involved men were all intoxicated and could not explain exactly how or why the fight started. No significant injuries were reported.

Found property, March 22 — A wallet, in a crab pot.

Traffic, April 3 — Complaint about a reckless driver. An officer located the suspect vehicle and learned that the driver had been responding to a report that his boat was sinking. The vessel crew was warned about reckless driving.

Assault, April 4 — The captain of a fishing vessel told police that one of his crew had, against orders, returned both late and inebriated to the vessel. The crewman had, after being told several times that he was an idiot for having done so and an idiot for then arguing about it, punched his captain in the neck. The captain did not wish to pursue charges but asked for help getting the angry inebriate off the vessel.

Welfare check, April 4 — A welfare check was requested for an individual who was reported to be intoxicated and possibly on drugs while using power tools on a docked fishing vessel.

Fatality, April 5 — Officers responded to a vehicle that had rolled off the hillside just above a local boat harbor. Driver of the vehicle perished due to injuries sustained in the accident.

Assault, April 9 — Officers responded to seafood plant for a report of an assault. It was found that a harassing party participant had a gash on the back of his head. Witnesses stated that he tripped and hit his head on a desk while the injured male stated that someone broke a bottle over his head. No parties wished to pursue charges.

Suspicious person, April 14 — Officers responded to a report of a male individual removing his clothing outside a bunkhouse. Officers found the individual on all fours with his pants at his ankles. The male individual stated that he was having a baby. He knew this because he was visited on 6/6/06 by an angel who told him that he would have a baby. Subject was taken to the clinic for observations.

Assault, April 14 — Officers responded to a report of a fight in progress at the local airport. Officers contacted the intoxicated individuals who were involved in the fight, which apparently was over a guy's little brother being fired from a vessel. Ofisa J. Asoau, 27, was arrested for assault.

Trespass, April 16 — Officers trespassed unwanted deckhand from vessel upon request of vessel manager.

Assistance rendered, April 18 — Officers assisted with a report of an individual in the water at the Spit Dock. The on-duty harbor officer was already on scene and with the individual when officers arrived. The inebriated subject was extracted from the water and transported to the clinic. Other than exposure, subject suffered no injuries.

Drunk disturbance, April 21 — Caller reported an individual passed out on the stairwell at a local hotel. Police responded and found the harbor officer and security helping a Hispanic male stand up. The intoxicated subject stated he drank until he ran out of money. A coworker was located nearby and agreed to bring the inebriate back to his room at a local processing plant.

Environmental, April 29 — U.S. Coast Guard officer reported that a fishing vessel spilled about 100 gallons of diesel fuel into the bay. Officers responded to the scene and found that the cleanup was under way.

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Troopers cite Sitka troller

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Commercial troll closed period
On 5/3/15 at approximately 0820 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Sitka Post, responded to a complaint of unlawful fishing by vessels participating in the commercial troll fishery in Sitka Sound. Troopers contacted the F/V Shelley J operating commercial power troll gear in waters not open to commercial fishing. Terry L. Friske, 66, of Sitka, the owner and operator of the vessel, was cited for trolling during a closed period, with arraignment set in Sitka District Court.

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Southeast seiner fined, ordered to pay fish tax

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sitka
Type: Conviction
On 4/28/15 Christian Buschmann, 27, of Petersburg, operator of the F/V St. Teresa, pled guilty in Sitka District Court to one count of filing false fish tickets. Buschmann was fined $3,500 with $1,500 suspended and was ordered to pay $1,121 in unpaid fish tax to the Department of Revenue. The charge resulted from a 2013 investigation where the St. Teresa was documented seining for salmon in the Hidden Falls area by Hidden Falls hatchery staff. The catch from Hidden Falls was later reported by Buschmann to another area. Hidden Falls, at the time of the fishing, had a 20 percent tax in place. The area the catch was falsely reported into had a 3 percent tax.