PRELUDE: MYSELF AND OFFICER 2 RESPONDED TO A BOAT ACCIDENT AT THE MORSE MARINA. WE INTERVIEWED THE INVOLVED PERSONS AND COMPLETED A BOAT ACCIDENT REPORT.

INVOLVED PERSONS:
V1 OPERATOR - OPERATOR ONE
V2 OPERATOR - OPERATOR TWO (OWNER) 
INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER 2 - OFFICER

DETAILS OF THE INVESTIGATION:
ON SUNDAY JULY 30, 2023, AT APPROXIMATELY 3:30 PM I INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER 1 RESPONDED TO A BOAT ACCIDENT WITH INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER 2.

OFFICER 2 INTERVIEWED V1 OPERATOR AND I INTERVIEWED V2 OWNER.

V2 OWNER STATED HE WAS WEIGHING IN WITH HIS FISH AFTER A BASS TOURNAMENT AND HIS BOAT WAS DOCKED IN A SLIP WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. V2 OWNER ALSO ADVISED THAT V1 OPERATOR WAS TRYING TO LEAVE THE SCENE AND ONLY LEAVE HIS PHONE NUMBER AFTER THE ACCIDENT. 

V2 OWNER EXPLAINED THAT WHEN V1 OPERATOR WAS ATTEMPTING TO DOCK HIS RENTAL PONTOON ANOTHER BOAT WAS LEAVING THE DOCK AND IT SEEMED LIKE V1 OPERATOR TRIED TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE IN REVERSE TO AVOID COLLISION WITH THAT VESSEL. ALTHOUGH V1 OPERATOR ACCELERATED FORWARD CAUSING THE MID PORT SIDE OF HIS RENTED VESSEL TO COLLIDE WITH THE REAR PORT SIDE OF V2 OWNER'S BOAT. V2 OWNER ALSO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS ADDITIONAL DAMAGE INCURRED ON HIS BOAT FROM CONTACTING THE DOCK. 

DURING THE COURSE OF OUR INVESTIGATION, ICO DISPATCH INFORMED OFFICER 2 AND I THAT V1 OPERATOR HAD AN ACTIVE WARRANT OUT OF MARION COUNTY. OFFICER 2 ASKED IF DISPATCH COULD CONFIRM THE WARRANT WHILE I TOOK V1 OPERATOR INTO CUSTODY. DISPATCH CONFIRMED THE WARRANT TO BE ACTIVE AND THEY ADVISED THAT MARION COUNTY WOULD EXTRADITE AND PICK UP V1 OPERATOR FROM THE HAMILTON COUNTY JAIL.  

WHILE PREPARING A SUPPLEMENT REPORT, OFFICER 2 DID AN NCIC SEARCH FOR V1 OPERATOR AND HE CAME BACK SUSPENDED INFRACTION. ICO DISPATCH DID NOT INFORM ME OR OFFICER 2 OF THE SUSPENSION WHILE WE WERE ON SCENE AND CONDUCTING OUR INITIAL INVESTIGATION.

IN TOTAL, THERE WAS DAMAGE ON THE PORT SIDE FIBERGLASS FROM THE INITIAL CONTACT OF V1 OPERATOR'S BOAT AND ON THE STARBOARD SIDE FIBERGLASS FROM COLLIDING WITH THE DOCK. ALONG WITH THE DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR COWING, THE PORT SIDE POWER POLE AND MOUNT, CRACKED GEL COAT, BENT JACK PLATE, AND THE BOARDING LADDER.  

ATTACHMENTS: (ON I:DRIVE)
17 PHOTOGRAPHS 

CURRENT DISPOSITION: SUBMITTED TO DISTRICT 4 HEADQUARTERS FOR REVIEW.
Morse Reservoir
Noblesville                   