"Operation Dry Water" BUI Awareness & Enforcement Campaign

East Haddam Police:  Boat Patrol on the Moodus Reservoir

Law enforcement officers across the United States are gearing up for "Operation Dry Water" – the nation’s boating under the influence (BUI) awareness and enforcement campaign. The nationwide event will take place June 27-29, 2014. Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in recreational boater deaths in the United States.

During the three-day Operation Dry Water weekend, law enforcement officers at local, state and federal levels will be on heightened alert for those violating boating under the influence laws. In 2013, officers contacted 144,044 recreational boaters and made 290 BUI arrests during the three-day weekend.

Thousands of law enforcement officers, along with their boating safety partners, will be on the water during Operation Dry Water educating boaters about the dangers of boating under the influence of drugs and alcohol as well as removing from the water those who choose to boat impaired.

"The mission of Operation Dry Water and the law enforcement officers who participate is to reduce the number of alcohol- and drug-related deaths on the water,” says John Fetterman, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Deputy Executive Director. “Boating should be a fun and enjoyable time spent with friends and family; we are asking that boaters make sure their voyage remains enjoyable by boating sober. Too many accidents and deaths are caused by those who choose to boat under the influence.”

In 2009, NASBLA, in partnership with the United States Coast Guard, launched Operation Dry Water to help draw public attention to the dangers of boating under the influence of alcohol and drugs. According to the 2013 U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Boating Statistics, from 2009 to 2013 there has been a 37 percent decrease in the number of recreational boater deaths where alcohol use was listed as the known primary contributing factor. From 2012 to 2013, there was a 31 percent decrease in the number of alcohol- related recreational boater deaths – the most significant decrease in the past five years.

For more information on Operation Dry Water, please visit OperationDryWater.org

Fatal Motorcycle Crash, Burglary, Criminal Mischief, Disorderly Conduct, DUI's and Motor-Vehicle Rollover through 6-17-14

The East Haddam Police and the Connecticut State Police, Troop K in Colchester report the following incidents:

FAILURE TO GRANT THE RIGHT OF WAY AND FAILURE TO RENEW REGISTRATION - On June 5 at approximately 5:02 p.m., Nicholas Fischlein, 28, of William F. Palmer Road, Moodus was traveling eastbound on Route 149 in the area of Town Street in Moodus, driving a 2000 Hyundai Elantra. Melvin Woody, 80, of Beaver Brook Road, Lyme was traveling northbound on Town Street, operating a 2008 Subaru Forester. Police said that Woody failed to grant the right-of-way at the intersection, while attempting to make a left turn in front of Fischlein's vehicle, resulting in a collision. No injuries were reported, but both vehicles sustained moderate damage. Police issued Woody an infraction for Failure to Grant the Right-of-Way at an Intersection, and Fischlein was charged with Failure to Renew a Motor-Vehicle Registration.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT - On June 5 at approximately 8: 40 p.m., Eugene Harding, 40, of Leesville Road, Moodus was arrested and charged with the above violation. Police said that Harding had been involved in a domestic incident with his spouse. He was processed and released on a $500 bond without incident, and scheduled to appear at Middletown Superior Court on 6/6/14.

TRUCK VS. UTILITY POLE & WIRES - On June 6 at approximately 1:15 p.m., Mike Hunt, 63, of Camelot Road, Bloomfield was traveling southbound on Main Street in East Haddam, operating a 1999 Sterling dump truck. Police said that as Hunt turned his truck to the left in an attempt to avoid colliding with stopped vehicles in the roadway, he struck a utility pole causing wires to fall onto the roadway and onto a 2004 Kenworth construction truck being operated by Brian White, 46, of Cow Hill Road, Clinton. Police determined that Hunt was driving too fast, based on the weight of his vehicle and issued a written warning for Traveling Too Fast for Conditions and Making an Improper Turn.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AND/OR DRUGS - On June 7 at approximately 2:26 p.m., Kevin Visintainer, 48, of West Drive, East Hampton was arrested and charged with DUI, Operating Without Insurance and Improper Parking as a result of a traffic-stop investigation by police. Visintainer was released on a $500 bond and given a court date of 6/17/14 at Rockville Superior Court.

MOTOR-VEHICLE ROLLOVER - On June 9 at approximately 6:55 p.m., Tucker Kerner, 22, of Tater Hill Road, East Haddam was traveling southbound on Route 82 in East Haddam near the intersection of Mount Parnassus Road, driving a 2000 Honda Civic. Police said that Kerner veered off the right side of the roadway and rolled into a ditch, and the vehicle came to a final rest on its driver's side. Kerner and a two-year-old child that was a passenger in the vehicle were transported to the Marlborough Emergency Clinic for evaluation and treatment of minor injuries. Police issued Kerner a written warning for Making an Improper Right Turn.

MOTOR-VEHICLE VS. TREE BRANCH - On June 14 at approximately 6:13 a.m., Courtney MacNeill, 22, of Adema Way, Old Saybrook was traveling southbound on Hedlund Road in East Haddam, just north of Route 82 in a 2012 Nissan Sentra. Police said that MacNeill ran over a tree branch, causing damage to the vehicle's front end. No injuries were reported.

BURGLARY AND CRIMINAL MISCHIEF - On June 15 at approximately 12:22 a.m., State Police were dispatched to investigate a disturbance at a Clark Hill Road, East Haddam address. After a subsequent investigation, a 17-year-old juvenile was taken into custody and charged with 3rd-Degree Burglary and 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief. The juvenile was later released on a Written Promise To Appear and scheduled to appear at Middletown Superior Court on 6/18/14.

MOTOR-VEHICLE VS. TREE - On June 15 at approximately 10:55 a.m., Marilyn Fraser, 71, of Cove Road, Moodus was traveling northbound on Route 149, just north of Creek Row in a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. Police said that Fraser's vehicle drifted off the roadway and struck a tree. Fraser was transported to the Marlborough Emergency Clinic to be evaluated for head and chest pain. Fraser received a written warning for Failure to Keep Right on a Curve or Hill.

FATAL MOTORCYCLE CRASH - State Police are investigating a fatal motorcycle accident that occurred on June 17 at approximately 4:58 p.m. Derreck Green, 33, of Northwest Oakmont Way, Bremerton, Washington had been operating a 2008 Honda CBR-600 on Hopyard Road in East Haddam and died as a result of the injuries he sustained. Police are asking anyone with any information to contact East Haddam Resident Trooper Thomas Kelo at the East Haddam Resident Troopers' Office at 860-873-1226.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AND/OR DRUGS - On June 17 at approximately 10:28 p.m., State Police initiated a motor-vehicle stop on Route 149 in East Haddam. Michael Sadlier, 36, of Clark Gates Road, Moodus was subsequently arrested and charged with DUI, Operating with a Suspended License and Failure to Drive Upon the Right. Sadlier was released on a $500 bond and scheduled to appear at Middletown Superior Court on 6/30/14.

An arrest or infraction does not indicate a conviction, and all individuals listed in these reports are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

If you would be interested in receiving these reports as they are posted, just send a request to TheNeighborhoodWatchReport@gmail.com

Assault, Breach of Peace, Risk of Injury to a Minor, Burglary, Larceny and Criminal Violation of a Protective Order through 6-2-14

The East Haddam Police and the Connecticut State Police, Troop K in Colchester report the following incidents:

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AND/OR DRUGS - On May 22 at approximately 6:54 p.m., Walter Kobs, 59, of Town Street, East Haddam was arrested and charged with DUI. Kobs was later released on a $500 bond and scheduled to appear at Middletown Superior Court on 6/4/14.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND ASSAULT - On May 23 at approximately 7:30 p.m., Victoria Case, 26, of Mount Parnassus Road, East Haddam was arrested for Disorderly Conduct and 3rd-Degree Assault. Case was released on a $500 bond and given a court date of 5/27/14 at Middletown Superior Court.

BURGLARY AND LARCENY - On May 23, East Haddam Police received a complaint of stolen copper, a propane tank and numerous tools from the Banner Estates on Banner Road in Moodus. Anyone with information that could help police with this investigation is asked to contact Corporal Karl Karabeinikoff at the East Haddam Resident Troopers' Office at 860-873-1226. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, you may leave a voice-mail on the (confidential) Crime Tip Line at 860-873-5013.

ASSAULT, BREACH OF PEACE AND RISK OF INJURY TO A MINOR - On May 26 at approximately 9:11 p.m., State Police were dispatched to investigate a disturbance between two males during a custody exchange, at the Liberty Bank parking lot on William F. Palmer Road in Moodus. Joseph Long, 27, of Saybrook Road, Haddam and Nicholas Fischlein, 28, of William F. Palmer Road, Moodus were both arrested and charged with the above violations. They were later released on $6,000 bonds each, and both scheduled to appear at Middletown Superior Court in Middletown on 5/27/14. Police said that the one-year-old and four-year-old children involved were not injured.

LARCENY - On May 27, East Haddam Police received a complaint from an employee at Banner Lodge, reporting the theft of 12 flags from the Banner Lodge Golf Course on Banner Road in Moodus. The case is under investigation, and anyone with possible information is asked to contact Corporal Karl Karabeinikoff at the East Haddam Resident Troopers' Office at 860-873-1226. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, you may leave a voice-mail on the (confidential) Crime Tip Line at 860-873-5013. 

CRIMINAL VIOLATION OF A PROTECTIVE ORDER - On May 27 at approximately 7:42 p.m., Nicholas Fischlein, 28, of William F. Palmer Road, Moodus was arrested and charged with the above violation. Fischlein was released on a $5,000 bond and scheduled to appear at Manchester Superior Court on 5/28/14.

LARCENY AND CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT LARCENY - On May 30 at approximately 8:20 a.m., Denise Karle, 48, of Mill Street, Colchester turned herself in to Troop K for servicing of an outstanding warrant for 6th-Degree Larceny and Conspiracy to Commit 6th-Degree Larceny. Karle was released on a Written Promise to Appear and given a court date of 6/24/14 at Middletown Superior Court.

MOTOR-VEHICLE ACCIDENT - On May 31 at approximately 11:46 a.m., Robin Sorey, 35, of Stony Brook Drive, East Haddam pulled over onto the right shoulder of Boardman Road in East Haddam, in a 2007 Subaru Legacy, with three passengers in the vehicle. Azad Ali, 38, of Webster Street, Hartford turned onto Boardman Road from Evergreen Lane, driving a 2009 Ford E-150 cargo van. Police said that Ali subsequently side-swiped the left rear quarter-panel of Sorey's vehicle. Police issued Ali a verbal warning for failure to maintain a safe traveling distance. No injuries were reported.

LARCENY FROM A MOTOR-VEHICLE - On June 2, East Haddam Police received a complaint of tools missing from a vehicle, from a resident of Lookout Drive in Moodus. Anyone with information that could help police with this investigation is asked to contact Corporal Karl Karabeinikoff at the East Haddam Resident Troopers' Office at 860-873-1226. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, you may leave a voice-mail on the (confidential) Crime Tip Line at 860-873-5013.

An arrest or infraction does not indicate a conviction, and all individuals listed in these reports are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

If you would like to receive future reports as they are posted, send a request to:

TheNeighborhoodWatchReport@gmail.com