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 Kenneth Manning and Faris Livesay were working a trespass and night hunting complaint on a private farm field off Pineville Road. The officers had information that vehicles were attempting to herd and run down deer in farm fields in the Enon area. Officer Livesay observed a pickup truck display a spotlight and enter the farm field and attempt to run down several deer. Officer Livesay followed the vehicle to Highway 97A and Pineville Road where Officer Manning assisted with the vehicle stop. Two males and a female occupied the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed a prescription drug (subject had no prescription), less than 20 grams of cannabis, and drug paraphernalia (drug pipe). The three subjects were charged with the contraband and attempting to take deer with a motorized vehicle. Escambia County sheriff’s deputies transported the male subjects to the Escambia County Jail and released the female to her mother. The truck was released to a family member. Contact was made with the landowner who advised he wanted trespass charges filed.
Officer John Bell was on water patrol near Pensacola Pass conducting boating safety and state fisheries inspections when he observed a vessel returning from the Gulf of Mexico. During the stop and safety inspection, Officer Bell determined the vessel, with three occupants on board, was returning from fishing. The fisheries inspection revealed the occupants were in possession of five undersize greater amberjack. Citations were issued for possession of over the bag limit and for possession of undersize greater amberjack. Warnings were issued for boating safety violations discovered during the safety inspection.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Howard Jones was conducting ATV patrol on an Eglin archery area where a variety of reports of illegally placed bait have been received. Officer Jones discovered some scattered corn on a four wheeler trail with no sign of a stand nearby. A broader search of the area on foot revealed a 20 pound pile of corn, a game camera, and a tree stand. Surveillance was conducted and later in the afternoon, the hunter and a companion returned to retrieve the camera. Officer Jones contacted the individuals and interviewed them. One of the two admitted to having illegally placed the corn over a period of time. The hunter gave a sworn written statement after Miranda. A notice to appear citation was issued for distributing bait on a wildlife management area. The companion was issued a warning for not having his Eglin permit in possession.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Officer Van Barrow was dispatched to a single vessel boating accident in Santa Rosa Sound near Liza Jackson Park. The preliminary investigation revealed that a thirteen- year-old child was independently operating a personal watercraft (PWC) The vessel was approaching the shore when it struck an adult who was standing near the water. The injured adult was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. The victim sustained a fractured tibia. The adult was a member of the party with the child operating the PWC. The investigation is on-going and charges are pending.
Officer Van Barrow was assigned to investigate a shooting/killing of a bald eagle that occurred on October 15. Lt. Keith Clark was dispatched to a call of a dead bald eagle in Shalimar near Fort Walton Beach. The witnesses on scene stated the mature eagle struck a power line. The eagle still had a coot in its talons. The eagle was delivered to a local wildlife sanctuary where a veterinarian determined the cause of death. The local wildlife sanctuary notified Lieutenant Clark that the eagle had been shot. The investigation is ongoing and in cooperation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Bay County
Officers Neal Goss, Kenny Atkins, and Mike Nobles were working in East Bay when they located two individuals using an illegal gill net to catch mullet. Both were charged with possession of mullet with an entangling net, possession of an entangling net on state waters, and possession of an entangling net with a mesh greater than two inches. Approximately 100 pounds of mullet were seized.
Officer Nick Price checked two fishers at Burnt Mill Creek who said they had caught some croakers. An inspection of their cooler revealed a legal redfish and an undersize redfish that had been filleted that they had failed to disclose. A citation was issued.
Jackson County
K-9 Officer Mike Guy received a complaint regarding night hunting that occurred the previous night on Avery Road. Upon arriving at the location, the complainant advised that he had located a freshly killed doe deer in a peanut field adjacent to his residence. He also located a high powered rifle hidden in nearby bushes and a wallet lying in a ditch along the roadway that had apparently fallen out as the suspect ran to his vehicle. Officer Guy collected the rifle and wallet as evidence and contacted Officer Scott Cassels to assist with setting up surveillance on the area. It wasn’t long before a white vehicle entered the field where Officer Guy was set up. The passenger exited the vehicle and began searching the field along the tree line. Officers Guy and Cassels made contact with the two subjects, one of which was identified by the driver license in the found wallet. When questioned about the events of the previous night, the two men admitted to killing the doe deer in the peanut field and hiding the rifle before fleeing when they saw the landowner’s vehicle coming from his residence. Appropriate charges are being filed with the State Attorney’s Office.
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