On Dec. 12, ECO Michael Wozniak responded to a complaint of a deer running through a wooded park in Staten Island with an orange arrow sticking out of its neck. ECO Wozniak picked up a blood trail and began tracking the injured deer. Due to inclement weather, the officer discontinued the search. The ECO later spotted an individual acting suspiciously near where the injured deer was last seen. After questioning, the individual provided ECO Wozniak with a home address, but the wrong identification. ECO Wozniak, with assistance from ECO Ryan Grogan, went to the address and continued questioning the man, who was later identified as John Anderson of Staten Island. In a written statement, Anderson confessed to shooting the deer while target shooting with his recurve bow. The ECOs seized both the bow and additional arrows from the home for evidence. Anderson was issued a notice of violation for hunting big game without a hunting license and for taking antlerless deer in a closed area without a permit. The subject paid a $1,000 penalty, with an additional $1,000 suspended penalty in the event he does not violate any further state Environmental Conservation Laws in a two-year period.
ECO Michael Wozniak with seized hunting implements
ECO Michael Wozniak with seized hunting implements
