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
Officers Nick Barnard and Faris Livesay were working in Pensacola Pass checking vessels returning from the Gulf of Mexico. During fisheries inspections, the officers found several fish violations on one of the vessels. Citations and warnings were issued for over the bag limit of red snapper, undersize red snapper, over the bag limit of greater amberjack, undersize greater amberjack, and undersize scamp.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Howard Jones and Nick Barnard were called to assist Santa Rosa County Sheriff's deputies on a waterborne response. In the pre-dawn hours, two Santa Rosa deputies fought with a wanted suspect at the Navarre Park on U.S. Highway 98 in Navarre, resulting in injury to one of the deputies. The suspect fled into the waters of Santa Rosa Sound. Officers Jones and Barnard both launched patrol boats at the Navarre Beach boat ramp where they were met by two deputies who joined the FWC officers on the waterborne search. At first light, while searching at the fender works under the center span of the bridge, Officer Jones saw a hand on the timbers that quickly disappeared. Moving directly to the location, the officers saw the suspect submerged below the surface. At that point, a Sheriff's Office boat also arrived on scene with two deputies onboard. The suspect continued to attempt to evade capture but later surrendered. He was taken aboard Officer Barnard's vessel and placed under arrest. The suspect was taken to the boat ramp where he was evaluated by emergency medical services and transported to the hospital for treatment of hypothermia.
Officers Joe Murphy and Royce Johnson were checking archery hunters in Blackwater Wildlife Management Area when they encountered a suspect driving through the management area with a loaded .22 caliber bolt-action rifle. Further investigation revealed the suspect was in possession of a freshly killed fox squirrel that had been shot three times. Officer Murphy issued the suspect a citation for the violations.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Officer Matt Webb was on water patrol conducting boating safety and fisheries inspections near Destin Pass. He cited three separate operators for possession of undersize greater amberjack.
Officers Alan Kirchinger and Pete Rockwell checked an area on Blackwater Wildlife Management Area that had been baited with corn for deer. A subject was observed in a tree stand hunting near the bait. The subject denied placing the bait on the management area, but knew it was present prior to hunting. He was cited for attempting to take deer over bait in a management area.
Officer Matt Webb was on water patrol conducting boating safety and fisheries inspections near the Destin Pass when he observed a boat returning from the Gulf of Mexico. Officer Webb stopped the boat and during the boating safety inspection determined the boat was returning from a fishing trip. The fisheries inspection revealed two undersize gray triggerfish. Officer Webb cited the operator.
WALTON COUNTY
Around 9 p.m., two vessels launched at the Choctawhatchee River to go flounder fishing. Around midnight, the two vessels became separated. One vessel with two occupants remained lost. The following afternoon, Lt. Keith Clark received a call from FWC dispatch concerning a search for the missing vessel and occupants. Officer Ken White was already enroute with a boat in tow to assist in the search. Officer Espy Letcher was contacted and he launched a boat from Black Creek Lodge boat ramp within 30 minutes. Lieutenant Clark arrived to the on-scene incident command where FWC efforts were coordinated with Walton County Sheriff’s Office, including use of the Walton County helicopter. The search centered on Choctawhatchee River and the surrounding creeks, canals, and bayous. The missing couple was located around sunrise near the mouth of the river. Apparently, the boat had experienced engine problems. As they did not have a cell phone, the couple spent the night near a sandbar. The individuals were treated by emergency medical services.
A Walton County deputy responded to an area on Highway 83 after receiving a citizen complaint about hearing a gunshot late at night. Upon arrival, the deputy stopped a subject in a truck and observed a freshly killed doe deer in the back of the truck. FWC assistance was requested and Officer Ken White responded and determined the subject shot the deer at night along Highway 83. The driver was cited for taking a deer at night with a gun and light and road hunting.
Holmes County
Officer Larry Morris and Lt. Hampton Yates completed a dumping investigation at Lake Cassidy by citing an individual responsible for dumping household garbage at the ramp and parking area. The subject’s power bill was in the trash, which determined the course of the investigation.
Washington County
Officer Kathy Jackson responded to a hunting incident northeast of Chipley. A seven‑year‑old boy was hit with birdshot during a family dove shoot on private property. Officer Jackson started a preliminary investigation at the Northwest Community Hospital in Chipley. The victim had several pellet wounds that broke the skin. The apparent shooter was the victim’s 11‑year‑old brother. An adult was supervising the boys at the time. FWC investigators took over the hunting incident investigation the following day.
Officer Kathy Jackson was at the Live Oak boat landing on Holmes Creek when a subject approached and stated he was looking for his missing 75-year-old uncle who had dementia. The uncle had gone for a walk before noon with his dog. The dog came back home alone about 30 minutes later. The nephew had been looking for him since then. Officer Jackson checked a couple of known areas and summoned the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for assistance. The Department of Correction’s K-9 team located the individual at approximately 8:30 p.m. in the woods where he had become lost. He was unharmed, but cold due to the evening drop in temperature.
Bay County
Officers Jeff Gager and Mike Nobles inspected commercial blue crab traps by pulling ten traps from each commercial trap line they located. Four citations and 20 written warnings were issued for violations, including no or blocked escape rings and no or improper trap markings.
RESOURCE PROTECTION UNIT (RPU) WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
GADSDEN COUNTY
Officers working on Lake Talquin observed individuals catching speckled perch. The officers exited their boats and walked onto a community fishing pier where a large group of individuals was fishing. After seeing undersize perch being caught, the officers identified themselves as Fish and Wildlife Officers. The individuals on the pier began throwing undersize perch back into the water. The officers made cases for possession of undersize speckled perch and interfering with an FWC officer.
Wakulla COUNTY
Officers were working the Apalachicola National Forest when they located individual sites where corn had been placed to attract deer. Surveillance was set up and two individuals were caught hunting deer over the corn. The subjects were charged and released.
Leon county
Officers were working at a local fishing pond in Leon County. During the operation, the officers apprehended individuals for possession of undersize bass and selling freshwater fish. The subjects were also charged with interfering with FWC officers after the RPU officers observed the individuals hiding fish from the uniformed officers conducting fisheries inspections.
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