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New heights in crime prevention: Plane spots illegal dumping in St. Clair County

BY JACQUELINE LEE

News-Democrat

Five men are accused of illegally burning and dumping debris after authorities took environmental crime prevention to new heights in St. Clair County.

The St. Clair County Sheriff's Department's Environmental Specialist Unit and the Illinois State Police Air Operations teamed up July 26 to fly a plane over the county to spot open dumping, open burning and air pollution violations.

"It's an easy way of spotting illegal burning and dumping," said Capt. Steven Johnson of the Sheriff's Department. "In the air, you can see it for miles. When you're on the ground, it's harder to figure out where the smoke is coming from. Open dumping is significantly easier to see from the air."

Johnson said Sheriff Mearl J. Justus came up with the idea of teaming up with the Illinois State Police, who own the plane, because the department has received complaints from residents on a regular basis.

The operation did not require additional funding by either department because it was operated by deputies who were scheduled to be on-duty and the plane would have been used by ISP anyway.

The departments plan on using this tactic in the future. Johnson said the most important thing is for residents to learn that they need to dispose of toxic items properly.

"Some of them were unaware that some of the things they were burning, they could not burn," Johnson said. "Some of them were in remote areas and were shocked that we discovered them."

Anthony D. Fry, 51, of Keyesport -- who was given three citations for open dumping, open burning and air pollution at a property in Cahokia -- said he was surprised when deputies showed up at 2302 Renois Lane.

"We didn't really think we were committing a crime," said Fry, who told officers he recently bought the property from a friend who had collected the debris.

Fry said he was doing his best to clean the property, and asked deputies: "I said, 'Can you give me a warning?' and they said, 'No, there's a no-tolerance policy.'"

Deputies saw black smoke coming from building materials, plastics, mattresses, vinyl siding and household waste.

Other persons charged include:

• Herb Endrijaitis, 76, of Belleville, was issued an open dumping citation for throwing away a large pile of debris -- including burnt mattresses, a plastic swimming pool and miscellaneous trash -- in Centreville.

• Daniel H. Wiskamp, 54, of Smithton, was cited for open dumping, open burning and air pollution when deputies saw black smoke coming from treated lumber, telephone poles, plastics and metal products.

• Patrick Erwin, 42, of New Athens, was cited for open burning and air pollution when deputies saw black smoke coming from a demolished building that consisted of treated wood and plastic. The area was 12 feet by 25 feet.

• Broderick J. Srogus, 29, of Smithton, was issued an open dumping citation for throwing away a pile of debris that consisted of painted siding, other assorted painted and varnished lumber. The pile was 20 feet in diameter and 12 feet in height.

All of the cases are pending.

Contact reporter Jacqueline Lee at jlee@bnd.com or 239-2655.

Sheriff's Environmental Specialist Unit

(See more pictures here.)

The Sheriff’s Environmental Specialist Unit (ESU) is in full swing again pursuing environmental crimes including dumping of trash and tires, open burning, junk and debris violations, air pollution and special waste violations. The unit is supervised by Sgt. Dan Stockett and consists of five Deputies (one full time and four assigned to shifts). Although several arrests have been made since the beginning of the year a sample of a few days work is summarized below:

· 01-24-08, 1130 hours – Deputy Dale Sauget was conducting surveillance near Route 13 and Route 156, New Athens. The Sheriff’s Department had received complains that trash trucks were spilling their load (trash) while driving from St. Louis to a landfill in Marissa (Cottonwood Hills Landfill). This was confirmed by the large amount of trash on the side of the roadways heading that direction. Deputy Sauget saw a 2007 Grey KW Semi-truck spilling its load (trash and debris made up of paper and plastics) all over the roadway. The tarp was not secured to the truck. Deputy Sauget stopped the truck owned by KR Drenth Trucking which was driving out of St. Louis, MO. He learned the trash was coming from St. Louis to the landfill near Marissa. The driver was identified as Anthony T. Davis white male 09-05-75 from Little Rock, AR. The driver was issued a traffic citation for spilling load on a highway and given a court date of 03-13-08

· 01-26-08, 1042 hours – Deputy John Pegg was patrolling State Park (unincorporated Collinsville) and noticed a large amount of trash in a yard at 211 Joe Street, Collinsville. He saw a large amount of car parts, multiple tires without rims strewn all over the yard, old wood piled up, a car engine on the ground, boat motors, compressed tanks and other miscellaneous trash and debris. Deputy Pegg made contact with the homeowner, Georgia R. Whitton white female 05-10-45. She stated her son had been working on cleaning the trash and debris up for several years. Deputy Pegg issued her a citation for open dumping violations. She was given a court date of 03-19-08. Several other investigations of dumping were opened up on Joe Street as a result of this investigation.

· 01-27-08, 0906 hours – Deputy Gerald Brown and Deputy Lee Graham responded to 2730 Nature Way, Lenzburg. They had previously (01-09-08) contacted the owner and had warned him to clean up a large pile of garbage. The large pile had not been cleaned up and in fact an additional large pile of tires was located behind a shed. A derelict vehicle was also tagged with a 7 day notice of tow. The homeowner was not present but the Deputies signed a complaint again him (RobeRoute D. Casey white male 49 y/o) for his arrest for open dumping.

· 01-27-08, 1024 hours - Deputy Gerald Brown and Deputy Lee Graham were on a traffic stop in the 5900 block of Route. 159, Smithton when they observed large black smoke coming from a farm field. They searched the area and found the smoke coming from 5414 Brick School Road, New Athens. They made contact with Ryan C. Grohmann (white male 01-02-83 3051 Floraville Rd., Smithton) who had started the fire. He said he was burning old barn wood and trees. Upon inspecting the fire, Deputies also found a refrigerator and assorted metal in the fire. Deputies issued him citations for open burning and air pollution violations. He was given a court date of 03-19-08.

· 01-27-08, 1147 hours - Deputy Gerald Brown and Deputy Lee Graham were patrolling and saw a red pick up with a large amount of tree branches in the bed of the truck. They followed the vehicle to check and see if the driver was going to illegally dump the branches. The truck pulled up to 4700 Knab Road, Smithton in the front yard of a residence. The Deputies could see a large couch and a pile of furniture in the front yard. They set up a vantage point of surveillance and saw the subject light the tree branches, couch and furniture on fire causing a large cloud of black smoke. They approached the subject and he was identified as Anthony J. Watchel white male 04-16-70, 512 North Lincoln, Smithton. Smithton Fire Department responded to the scene and put out the fire. The suspect was issued citations for open burning and air pollution violations. He was given a court date of 03-19-08.

· 01-27-08, 1239 hours - Deputy Gerald Brown and Deputy Lee Graham were patrolling near the area of Schiermeier Rd and Country Side lane, Freeburg. They observed a large black smoke cloud coming from the west side of Route. 159. Upon searching the area they located the cause of the smoke at 5455 W. Prairie Rd, Belleville. They made contact with Gene L. Willmann white male 02-05-39 same address. He stated he was only burning some old trees. Deputies inspected the fire and found lawn furniture, mattresses, vinyl siding, insulation and trailer skiRouteing. The fire was extinguished. The suspect was issued citations for open burning and air pollution violations. He was given a court date of 03-19-08.

Capt. Steve Johnson said “The Sheriff’s ESU is working hard to arrest and prosecute people who dump junk and debris and hurt our environment. Anyone who is aware of such violators is asked to contact the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department.”

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Captain Steve Johnson

Chief Investigator