Former Hartford police officer plans to remove vessel from Crescent Beach
East Lyme — The sailboat of a former Hartford police officer remained on the sandy shore of Crescent Beach on Tuesday, but Harbormaster Richard Morris said the operator has notified officials about plans to have the vessel removed.
Kenneth Elyosius of Bristol, the operator, informed police that he abandoned the sailboat as of 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday and plans to call a salvage company to remove it, Morris said.
Morris said Elyosius beached the boat over the weekend after experiencing mechanical issues.
"The inlet engine cooling line failed through corrosion, and the boat was taking on water too fast," Morris said. "The operator didn't want to sink the vessel because the mast would stick up and be a navigational hazard."
Elyosius had previously discussed plans to repair the vessel and sail it from the beach with the help of his son.
But Elyosius determined the issues were beyond his scope to fix, according to Morris.
Morris said additional conversations are ongoing among the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, law enforcement and himself regarding the removal of the boat.
He will be closely monitoring the vessel, particularly with the potential of upcoming storms.
Elyosius was arrested several times in the area this summer, including during boating-related incidents in Groton Town, Stonington and Mystic.
Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich
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