The Peru Gazette

Animal Abuse Investigation in Jefferson County, Long Haul Violations in Sullivan County, and Ice Fishing Violations on Oneida Lake

Animal Abuse Investigation – Jefferson County
On Jan. 30, Environmental Crimes Investigator Jackson responded to a call from a concerned resident who reported finding the carcass of an animal believed to be a coyote near Skinner Road in the town of Ellisburg. Investigator Jackson arrived at the location and determined it was a domestic dog that had been shot from the roadway. The next day, while following up with neighbors in the area, Investigator Jackson observed a small black and white puppy wandering near the area where the deceased dog was found. An investigation led Officers to the owner of both dogs and determined that the subject had been traveling through Jefferson County to either abandon the dogs or leave them with a friend when the larger of the two dogs jumped into his lap, causing him to crash his vehicle into a guard rail. Investigators say the subject then allegedly shot and killed the larger dog out of anger. The subject was arrested and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle (misdemeanor), discharging a firearm over a public highway (misdemeanor), abandonment of animals (misdemeanor), and aggravated animal cruelty (felony). He was arraigned in Jefferson County Criminal Appearance Court and is being held in the Jefferson County Jail until a future court date in March. Investigator Jackson managed to rescue the puppy found wandering in the area, and safely transported it to Jefferson County Animal Control office for a check-up and eventual rehoming. 

Long Haul – Sullivan County
On Feb. 3, ECO Heckler and Lieutenant Bello observed a tractor-trailer hauling what appeared to be dirt waste on Route 17 in Bethel. The tractor trailer’s registration number was displayed, which typically indicates a truck is hauling regulated waste, but the registration failed to note a company name or regulated waste haul number as required in New York State.

Officers followed the tractor-trailer from a distance and observed it enter a previously registered solid waste management facility where it dumped its dirt load. While at the facility, ECOs observed a second tractor-trailer tandem truck dumping similar fill material. The officers determined that both trucks carried dirt waste, which was documented as restricted-use fill on their waste tracking documents. DEC’s Division of Materials Management and Office of General Counsel confirmed the Sullivan County facility was not, nor was it ever, permitted to accept restricted-use fill. ECOs ticketed both drivers and the transportation company for both trucks for failing to produce regulated waste registrations, failure to display regulated waste permit numbers on two sides of a trailer, and transporting waste to an unauthorized facility.

Joint Ice Fishing Detail – Oneida Lake
On Feb. 8, ECOs in two DEC regions teamed up to conduct ice fishing compliance checks on Oneida Lake in Oneida and Oswego counties. Region 6 ECOs Starczek and Lakeman joined Region 7 ECOs Grisolini, Burdick, Prentice, Plows, Wing, Kostuk, and Bonilla in checking hundreds of anglers for compliance with New York’s fishing regulations. Officers checked for fishing licenses, catch size and limits, and compliance with New York State recreational vehicle laws.

ECOs issued 32 tickets and four written warnings for fishing without a license, catching undersized walleye, unregistered and uninsured snowmobiles, unregistered All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), and failure to wear approved helmets. For more information on ice fishing rules and regulations in New York, as well as important safety information, visit the DEC website.