This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.
NORTHWEST REGION
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Faris Livesay checked a vessel during a commercial IFQ (Individual Fishing Quota) inspection on Bayou Chico. Officer Livesay found several safety violations and five undersize triggerfish on the commercial vessel. Written warnings for the safety gear violations and a notice to appear citation for possession of undersize triggerfish were issued.
Lt. Brian Lambert was on water patrol near the Three Mile Bridge in Pensacola Bay. As he approached a vessel for a fisheries inspection, the owner stated they caught one 26‑inch red drum. While getting the fish out, one of the occupants “accidentally” dropped the red drum overboard. Lieutenant Lambert retrieved the fish and measured it at 29 inches. One of the individuals admitted to catching the oversize red drum. The inspection also revealed several safety gear and license violations on the vessel. Warnings and citations were issued for the violations.
Officers Steve Hoomes and Ben Pineda were on water patrol conducting fisheries inspections in Escambia Bay when they observed occupants fishing from a vessel under the Three Mile Bridge. As the officers checked the vessel, the operator admitted harvesting several species of fish. When the officers asked to inspect the harvested fish, the man stated that he also had a redfish. When the officers looked in the cooler, they observed a redfish that measured 33 inches. Officer Hoomes issued the subject a notice to appear for possession of an oversize redfish.
Officer Joe Murphy and Lt. Dan Hahr were on water patrol on the Perdido River when they observed a vessel come around the corner with two people dangling their legs over the front of the vessel. When the officers stopped the vessel to address the violation and conduct a safety inspection, the operator showed signs of impairment. Field sobriety tasks were conducted and determined that the man was impaired. The vessel operator was transported to the Escambia County Jail where he provided a sample of his breath for testing. The result was .156 g/210L. The vessel operator was cited for careless vessel operation and boating under the influence. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail.
Lt. Brian Lambert observed a vehicle swerving badly on the Three Mile Bridge in Pensacola. Lieutenant Lambert stopped the vehicle, made contact with the driver and observed several signs of impairment. The driver performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and was arrested and transported to the Escambia County Jail. The subject provided a sample of his breath. The result was .089 g/210L. He was charged with driving under the influence.
Officers Ben Pineda and Kenneth Manning were on water patrol near Pensacola Pass and observed a vessel returning from a day of fishing. The officers conducted a boating safety and fisheries inspection of the vessel. During the inspection, Officer Pineda observed five red snapper on board. The vessel occupants stated they heard red snapper were back in season. The vessel captain was cited for possession of red snapper during the closed season.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Officers Sulin Schafer, Pete Rockwell and Lieutenant Keith Clark were on water patrol near Crab Island. Officer Schafer observed an eastbound personal watercraft (PWC) entering Crab Island with the operator not wearing a life jacket (PFD) as required. Two passengers on the PWC were wearing their life jackets. Officer Schafer stopped the PWC to address the violation and during a boating safety inspection, the operator showed signs of impairment. Due to the location of the stop and the high vessel traffic area, Officer Rockwell decided to relocate to the U.S. Coast Guard Destin Station for further investigation. After arriving, the operator attempted field sobriety tasks and performed poorly indicating impairment. The vessel operator refused to provide a sample of his breath for testing purposes. He was issued a citation for failure to wear a PFD while operating a PWC, charged with boating under the influence, transported and booked into the Okaloosa County Jail.
Officer Ryan Nelson was on water patrol conducting boating safety inspections in the Destin Harbor area when at approximately 11 p.m., he stopped a 23‑foot pontoon boat. While conducting a boating safety inspection, Officer Nelson observed signs of impairment from the operator. Officer Nelson provided instructions for the vessel operator to attempt to perform field sobriety tasks and determined that the man was impaired. The vessel operator was transported to the U.S. Coast Guard station where he refused to provide a sample of his breath for testing purposes. He was charged with boating under the influence, transported and booked into the Okaloosa County Jail.
Officer Ryan Nelson was on water patrol conducting boating safety inspections in the Destin area when he received a call from U.S. Coast Guard Destin personnel for assistance in a possible boating under the influence investigation. Officer Nelson met the Coast Guard personnel at the U.S. Coast Guard Destin Station where they were administering field sobriety tasks, which the vessel operator performed poorly, indicating impairment. The vessel operator refused to provide a sample of his breath for testing purposes and was charged with boating under the influence, transported and booked into the Okaloosa County Jail.
Officer Matt Webb was on water patrol near the Destin Pass area and inspected numerous vessels as they returned from a day of fishing. During the inspections, Officer Webb discovered undersize king mackerel, possession of red snapper during closed season, undersize cobia, and undersize grey triggerfish. The operators of the vessels were cited for the violations.
Officers Ken White and Pete Rockwell stopped a personal watercraft (PWC) after observing the vessel violate the idle speed zone around Crab Island. While addressing the violation with the operator, the officers observed signs of impairment. Field sobriety tasks confirmed the subject was impaired. The PWC operator was transported to the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Destin where he agreed to a state certified breath test. The breath test revealed the subject’s breath alcohol content was .241g/210L. The operator was issued a citation for the idle zone violation, charged with boating under the influence, transported and booked into the Okaloosa County Jail.
Officer Alan Kirchinger and Reserve Officer Jeff Hahr observed a personal watercraft (PWC) violating the idle speed zone near Crab Island. When the officers made contact with the operator, he displayed signs of impairment. Field sobriety tasks confirmed he was impaired. The subject was transported to the U.S. Coast Guard Station where he provided a breath sample which revealed his breath alcohol content was .124 g/210L. The operator was issued a citation for the idle zone violation, charged with boating under the influence, transported and booked into the Okaloosa County Jail.
Officer Ryan Nelson responded to a boat taking on water in Boggy Bayou. Officer Nelson transported U.S. Coast Guard personnel and a pump to the sinking vessel. Upon arriving, he observed two individuals in the water next to the sinking vessel. The U.S. Coast Guard personnel provided assistance with the pump and the vessel and occupants were towed to a local boat ramp.
Officers Pete Rockwell, Ken White and Lt. Keith Clark were on water patrol conducting state fisheries inspections in the Gulf of Mexico when they observed a small vessel at anchor with four individuals fishing near the Okaloosa Gulf Pier. The fisheries inspection revealed 11 undersize Spanish mackerel out of the 15 fish caught. The operator identified the fish as Spanish mackerel and had a Florida Sportsman measuring tape attached to the inside hull of the vessel which had the correct size requirement for Spanish mackerel. The vessel operator was cited for possession of the undersize fish.
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