CO Report: Driver jumps ice heave, launches through air

CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) checked area lakes and Mille Lacs Lake. Varied weather temperatures made for hot and cold bite pattern on fish. Mille Lacs Lake walleye bite remains steady. A fishermen contacted on Mille Lacs stated he witnessed a car traveling at a high rate of

speed that hit an ice heave and was launched several feet in the air. It then went spiraling in circles for about 50 yards. The driver exited and began picking up bumper parts and other miscellaneous pieces. The fisherman said it was quite the site and the driver only had to slow down and pass over a road bridge which was about 10 yards away.

CO Amber Ladd (McGregor) worked anglers this week as the trails were fairly quiet. She followed up on an ATV trespass call and had a trespass call for anglers illegally accessing an area lake. Officer Ladd also worked the Jaycees Fishing Extravaganza on Gull Lake.

CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) reports activity this week of checking winter trout season activity, and working fishing and snowmobile enforcement along the Canadian border in the Voyageur's National Park area.

CO Patrick McGowan (Pine River) patrolled for angling activity throughout the week. Officer McGowan also fielded TIP calls, and worked a Lake of the Woods detail. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations.

CO Sam Hunter (Park Rapids) checked snowmobilers and fishermen. Officer Hunter followed up on cases from the previous week and received calls of questions on snowmobile registration.

CO Jim Guida (Brainerd #2) worked sport fishing and ATV enforcement this week. Numerous contacts were made for registration violations. Officer Guida testified in court on an illegal party hunting violation. The judge made the determination and the defendant was convicted.

CO Eric Sullivan (Pequot Lakes) completed an investigation on the destruction of a beaver lodge. Officer Sullivan checked fish houses on area lakes for proper identification and shelter licenses. He also assisted with the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza. Enforcement action was taken for the destruction of a beaver lodge, ATV passenger violations, tip-up greater than 200 feet, and possession of controlled substances.

CO Tim Collette (Crosslake) checked snowmobilers and anglers, did follow-up work on cases from deer season, attended a lake association meeting, and was part of a work crew for the Brainerd Jaycees Fishing Extravaganza tournament. Enforcement activity included unattended lines, angling with extra lines, contractors doing lake/shoreline work without proper paperwork, possession of marijuana, and expired ATV and snowmobile registrations.

CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) worked angling and associated ATV/snowmobile activity. Assistance was given to the Aitkin Sheriff's Department with a youth ice fishing event. Outdoor information was also discussed with the local radio station.

CO Gregory Verkuilen (Garrison) worked angler enforcement including assistance with a local fishing contest. Area fishing success has generally slowed down and lakes are mostly bare ice. A lot of ATVs are on the ice which often equates to lack of registration, helmets, and safety training. Officer Verkuilen also responded to an injured wildlife call, monitored a trespassing complaint, and answered questions regarding ice house removal.

CO Scott Fitzgerald (Malmo) reports checking fishermen throughout the week and weekend.

Area snowmobile trails were monitored but traffic was light due to lack of snow. The Officer assisted the local Sheriff's Dept. with a Kids Ice Fishing day on a local lake. Around 80 kids were able to get a chance to catch some fish and learn about ice fishing techniques and equipment. Officer Fitzgerald also assisted a neighboring officer with a call of a trespasser crossing private land to access a lake and many outdoor law related questions were answered.

Officer Fitzgerald and the Wealthwood Officer received a call of a deer on Mille Lacs Lake that could not get off the lake because of the glare ice. Officers were able to capture and transport the exhausted deer to a wooded location.

CO Dan Starr (Onamia) worked a good fishing bite on Mille Lacs Lake and found anglers to be averaging several fish per day with some in the keeper slot size. Many anglers are enjoying the warmer weather, but travel on the lake has gotten worse and very slippery. Coyotes are starting to get active as their breeding season approaches.