Crime – Syndication Server

Poachers from Mexico busted with illegal red snapper haul off Texas

The three men, caught fishing north of the Maritime Boundary Line, were turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The U.S. Coast Guard this week seized a fishing boat with 200 pounds of red snapper caught illegally by Mexican fishermen in federal waters off southern Texas.

The agency explained in a news release that it also transferred the three fishermen to U.S. Customs and Border Protection “for further processing.”

Several Coast Guard crews participated in the bust Tuesday as the men were observed fishing illegally north of the Maritime Boundary Line.

They were aboard a sleek and speedy vessel known as a launcha. Launchas are typically 20 to 30 feet long and powered by a single outboard engine.

The low-profile boats, which can travel at 30 mph, are commonly used for illegal fishing within the United States Exclusive Economic Zone near the U.S.-Mexico border in the Gulf of Mexico.

Launchas are also used in drug-smuggling operations.

The fish were donated to the Harte Research Institute, and Sea Turtle, Inc., to feed turtles under rehabilitation.

Popular national park vandalized, perhaps by troubled visitor

Rocks and trees in West Virginia’s New River Gorge National Park and Preserve were covered with red paint, sparking anger and concern.

Authorities in West Virginia are seeking help from the public in identifying the person who painted over rocks and trees at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

“The park continues to request that anyone with information regarding the defacement of Long Point on or around 12/23/24 reach out,” the park stated Wednesday via social media.

Anyone with potentially helpful information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers West Virginia or telephone 304-255-7867.

Images shared by the park show extensive vandalism in the form of painted words, most of which are smeared. The most legible message reads, “Why me,” which caused some on social media to be concerned for the perpetrator.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DE2wWrVyXcr/?img_index=2

“This looks like it could have been done by a depressed juvenile,” one follower remarked via Facebook. “Hope that kid’s okay, if so.”

Another follower echoed this sentiment, but far more people expressed anger and bewilderment.

Painted message on rock surface. Photo: New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

The most popular comment on the park’s Instagram page:

“I can’t understand the rationale of someone who thinks, ‘What should I do today? I know, I’ll go somewhere beautiful to hike. And, I need to grab some spray paint to make it ugly!’ Please explain if you are one of those people.”

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is named after the scenic New River and famous for its stunning views from the river or the park’s many hiking and biking trails.

Angler arrested after drawing gun during ice-fishing argument

The 59-year-old man was arrested for endangering public safety during a confrontation on Wisconsin’s Racine Harbor.

An Illinois man was arrested Sunday in Wisconsin after allegedly drawing a gun during an argument over ice-fishing etiquette at Racine Harbor on Lake Michigan.

According to Fox6 in Milwaukee, the argument broke out when two men began to set up their shanty just yards from Justin Dilley and his girlfriend.

It was pre-dawn and the marina was deserted. Dilley told Fox6 that he approached the men in the hope of persuading them to set up farther away.

“It’s only us people by ourselves, nobody else is out here, I don’t know why you have to set up this close,” Dilley said. “I go, ‘I don’t understand you guys.’ ”

Dilley said one of the men got into his face while the other began waving a pistol “in my direction and all over the place.”

Dilley called 911 and officers with the Racine County Sheriff’s Office arrived and arrested Luis Herrera, 59, for disorderly conduct and endangering public safety with a weapon.

The gun was confiscated as evidence. Herrera is from Highland Park, Ill.

Said Dilley: “In my mind, I didn’t know what was going to happen. At first I thought I was going to get punched then I thought I was going to get shot.”

Endangered gray wolf poached in Oregon, reward set at $10,000

The radio-collared wolf, known to researchers as OR 159, was found dead in an area where the animals are federally protected.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in a case involving the illegal killing of a protected gray wolf.

The agency explained in a news release that the incident occurred in Morrow County west of Highway 395, where gray wolves are federally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

The radio-collared male wolf, known to researchers as OR 159, was found dead Nov. 8 on private property about 20 miles south of the county seat of Heppner.

The USFWS and the Oregon State Police are conducting a joint investigation.

The USFWS asks that anyone with potentially helpful information should call the Service at (503) 682-6131, or OSP Dispatch at (800) 452-7888, text *OSP (*677), or email TIP@osp.oregon.gov. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

Missouri deer hunter charged after shooting cougar from tree stand

Mountain lions are protected in Missouri and the animal was walking away from the elevated stand when it was shot.

A Missouri deer hunter who shot and killed a mountain lion as it passed beneath his tree stand last month has been charged with a misdemeanor.

According to KY3 News, Joseph Licklider of Desloge, Mo., informed the Iron County Sheriff’s Department on Nov. 16 that he had shot the mountain lion, or cougar, while in the tree stand with his partner.

Missouri does not have an established cougar population, but a handful of sightings are reported each year. The protected animals can only be killed in self-defense or to protect pets or livestock.

The cougar that Licklider killed was wearing research tags from the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, and walking away from the elevated stand when it was shot.

The charge for illegally killing protected wildlife was leveled after an investigation determined that Licklider’s action was unjustified. He’s scheduled to appear in court in February 2025.

Oregon hunters join effort to catch crossbow deer poacher

“The acts represent a multitude of violations including using a crossbow to kill big game animals and shooting in city limits.”

Authorities in Oregon are seeking information that could help them solve a case involving the recent poaching of two deer with a crossbow in Corvallis.

Joining in the effort is the group Traditional Archers of Oregon, which this week chipped in $500 to bring the reward in the case to $2,000.

Both deer were bucks that roamed Corvallis with arrows in their bodies before they died.

“The acts represent a multitude of violations including using a crossbow to kill big game animals and shooting in city limits,” the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife stated in a news release. “Several members of the public contacted Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Troopers to report the injured deer wandering in the area.”

Traditional Archery Hunters of Oregon President Riley Savage is quoted: “As you can imagine, being traditional archers, using a crossbow to commit such heinous crimes goes against everything we hold dear.

“The operator does not need the same skills required to use a handheld, vertical bow, like getting close and knowing when to draw and when to shoot. They are an assassin, lying in wait, at long distance, with no detectable movement visible to their prey.”

The bucks were shot on or around Oct. 25 and Nov. 18 near NW Walnut and NW Witham Hill Drive.

Anyone with potentially helpful information is asked to contact OSP’s Albany Fish and Wildlife office via dispatch at 800-442-2068 or *OSP (*677) from a mobile phone. Case reference number: #SP24-383408.

Alaska brothers’ fight ends badly for both men, and a pet crocodile

They were arrested after tossing each other’s toothy reptile from an apartment window. An alligator was rescued, but the croc is missing.

Two adult brothers were charged with animal cruelty last week in Alaska after getting into a quarrel and tossing each other’s pet reptile from an apartment window into the snow.

According to the Anchorage Daily News, the pets were an 18-inch alligator and 24-inch crocodile. The alligator was rescued but the crocodile was not recovered and is presumed dead.

While some might consider the men’s actions an odd way to settle their differences, some might also wonder if it’s legal to own alligators and crocodiles in Alaska.

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, it is legal to keep both species, just as it’s legal to keep snakes and lizards as pets.

However, releasing exotic pets into the wild, where they must try to fend for themselves, is illegal and could pose threats to native species. (Presumably, tossing an animal from a window and failing to retrieve it is a form of illegal release.)

Alligators and crocodiles prefer tropical climates and could not survive in the Alaska wilderness, especially during the winter.

Both men are in their early 30s and the incident occurred outside Wasilla.

Arkansas deer hunter accused of ‘contest fraud’ in Louisiana

An Arkansas man faces possible jail time after allegedly poaching a 15-point deer in Arkansas and entering the animal in a big-buck contest in Louisiana.

Andrew Riels, 27, of Crossett, Ark., was cited recently for hunting contest fraud and violating interstate commerce regulations by agents with the Louisiana Department of Fisheries and Wildlife.

The agents were informed of Reils’ activities by wildlife agents in Arkansas.

“During the investigation, agents learned that Riels illegally harvested a 15-point buck during illegal hours on Sept. 8 near Crosset, Ark.,” the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries stated in a news release. “Riels then entered the buck into the Simmons Sporting Goods Big Buck Contest in Bastrop [La.] later that same day.”

Riels was cited for the illegal killing of the buck on Oct. 30 in Arkansas.

Hunting contest fraud in Louisiana is punishable by a fine of up to $3,000 and one year in jail. Violation of interstate commerce regulations is punishable by a fine of up to $950 and 120 days in jail.

Maryland hunters go the extra mile to illegally bait bears

Nine hunters were cited for violating the ban during the recent five-day season; some had spread out a virtual smorgasbord.

Authorities in Maryland cited nine hunters for illegally using bait during the state’s recent five-day season for black bears.

But it was the extent of baiting and variety of items that stood out in a news release issued Friday by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

One hunter was issued two citations after he admitted to hunting from a stand overlooking an area baited with bacon grease, chicken grease, corn, molasses, vanilla icing, and licorice.

As if that weren’t enough, the hunter also possessed an illegal “bear bomb” spray to help lure bears to within shooting range.

In another case, two hunters were cited after hunting from separate stands over an area baited with cracked corn kernels and grease or lard spread onto a tree trunk near their stands.

Two other hunters, including an 84-year-old, hunted over a site baited with corn dispersed as close as 10 yards from their elevated blinds.

Another hunter was found to have used bacon grease, corn, apple peelings, and apple processing waste placed between 23 and 50 yards from his blind.

In yet another case, two hunters from Pennsylvania were cited for utilizing a site baited with dog food, animal carcasses, apples, syrup, strawberry jam, and shelled corn.

It was made clear before this year’s hunt, which concluded Oct. 26, that the use of bait or hunting near previously baited areas was prohibited. (The use of bait while hunting white-tailed deer is legal on private property in Maryland.)

According to the Maryland DNR, 950 hunters were randomly selected via lottery to participate in the annual black bear hunting season.

The nine who were cited face fines of up to $1,500 for a first violation, and up to $4,000 if there was a second violation.

Amid Montana investigation, deer left to roam with arrow in back

Authorities are requesting public assistance in an attempt to identify the person who fired the arrow.

Authorities in Montana are investigating a poaching case involving a mule deer buck that’s still carrying an arrow that somebody shot into its back.

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, wardens responded to a call from a Billings Heights resident about the wounded deer on Nov. 2.

Wardens located the deer and decided that it had been shot the same day, within city limits where hunting is banned. (Montana’s archery deer-hunting season ended Oct. 20.)

An image released to the media shows the arrow deeply embedded into the top of the deer’s back, near its spine. But the deer apparently has full mobility, so FWP decided against a capture effort.

Injured mule deer. Photo: Montana, Fish, Wildlife & Parks

“FWP does not believe the arrow wound will be fatal for the deer and at this time are not planning to capture the deer to remove the arrow,” the agency stated Tuesday in a news release.

Anyone with potentially helpful information is asked to call the regional warden at 406-860-7805, or submit a report via tipmont.mt.gov.