Three Groton Men Arrested for Illegal Deer Hunting

Five men, including three from Groton and one from Mystic, were arrested Wednesday for illegal deer hunting, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection reported in a news release.

Environmental Conservation police arrested the men for hunting on private land in Cornwall, the release said.  

Officers were on routine patrol when they saw the men hunting on the property and determined they didn't have written permission from the property owner to hunt there, the release said.

In addition, the men weren't wearing fluorescent orange required by law for safety reasons, the release said.  

Arrested were: Gregory Dubrule, 60, of Groton; Ryan Dubrule, 28, of Groton;  Stephen Hickey, 47, of Groton; Randy P. Harris, 30, of Mystic; and Michael Wagner, 25, of Gales Ferry.  

Officers reported Wagner was allegedly in possession of an AR-15 style rifle not permitted for deer hunting, the release said. 

Police also found a .22 caliber rifle with a homemade silencer, which is illegal, in the hunting cabin where the men were staying.    

The five were charged with deer hunting without written consent of the property owner and failure to wear fluorescent orange.  Harris, Wagner and Hickey were also charged with illegal deer hunting.

Each charge carries a possible penalty of a $200 to $500 fine and/or imprisonment.  Police seized six rifles, including the .22 with the silencer and the AR-15 style rifle.  

The men were released on bond and are due to appear in court in Superior Court in Bantam on Dec. 5.