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
Lt. Dan Hahr was on patrol within the Perdido River Wildlife Management Area when he located a vehicle off a closed road and parked in an open area. There was a bloody handprint on the exterior of the unlocked vehicle. Inside were a drivers license of the registered owner and personal gear. A subsequent investigation revealed a bloody cloth dropped at the front of the vehicle. A search of the area yielded an adult male who was attempting to commit suicide. The male was weak from blood loss after slashing his left wrist. Lieutenant Hahr contacted FWC Communications and requested a response from emergency medical personnel and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. After being treated at the scene, the victim was transported to a local hospital. He was later placed into protective custody under the Baker Act by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Lieutenants Dan Hahr and Brian Lambert were on patrol within the Perdido River Wildlife Management Area when they observed two subjects in possession of alcoholic beverages, which is prohibited in the management area. A computer check revealed that one of the subjects was wanted on outstanding felony warrants out of Alabama. After confirming the warrant, the man was arrested and transported to the Escambia County Jail where he was booked on the warrant.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
On Escambia Bay, Officer Nick Barnard observed an oyster harvesting boat operating in an unusual manner. The officer continued to watch as the occupants of the boat harvested oysters by dragging an oyster dredge along the bottom. This is an illegal method of harvest. Officer Howard Jones responded to the location by patrol vessel and confronted the occupants of the oyster boat. They admitted to the violation. By that time, the dredge had been abandoned in the water. The officers followed the harvesters to the location and retrieved the dredge, which was seized as evidence. The two oystermen were charged with harvesting by a mechanical means other than hand tongs.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Officers Ryan Nelson, Pete Rockwell, and Ken White were on vessel patrol conducting boating safety inspections and state fisheries/Joint Enforcement Agreement duties near the Destin Pass when Officer Nelson observed a boat returning from the Gulf of Mexico. Upon stopping the vessel and conducting a boating safety equipment inspection, it was determined the vessel was returning from a fishing trip. The fisheries inspection revealed a grossly undersized greater amberjack measuring 25-¾ inches. The vessel operator identified the fish as a greater amberjack and was cited for the violation.
Officers Andy Maltais and Matt Webb responded to a boating accident in the Gulf of Mexico when FWC Dispatch received a call from the U.S. Coast Guard regarding a capsized boat near the Okaloosa Island fishing pier. Officer Webb responded by land and Officer Maltais responded by vessel. Upon arrival, the officers learned there were two individuals on a 22‑foot Pathfinder with a 7‑foot cobia tower installed. One observer was in the tower when he noticed a large wave. He alerted the operator who then quickly attempted to turn the bow of the vessel toward the wave. The large wave struck their vessel on the starboard side bow, causing the vessel to capsize. No injuries occurred. The accident is under investigation.
Officer Alan Kirchinger observed a large alligator snapping turtle in the bed of a truck parked at the Rivers Edge boat ramp on the Yellow River. The turtle was approximately 80 pounds and appeared to have been caught with a bush hook. An empty boat trailer indicated the owner of the truck was still out on the water. Lt. Mark Hollinhead and Officer Danny Arnette searched for the subject while on water patrol and located him a short time later. Officer Arnette confirmed the subject had caught the turtle on a bush hook and that his bush hooks were not properly tagged with his identification. The subject was issued a warning for possession of an alligator snapping turtle and for failure to have his bush hooks properly tagged.
WALTON COUNTY
Officer Espy Letcher was dispatched to a local fish camp called “Simplers.” The Walton County Sheriff’s Office had responded to a domestic violence/child neglect complaint at the fish camp. During the Sheriff’s Office investigation, they received a call from a concerned citizen who advised they needed to check a cooler under the gazebo. The deputies observed a 3‑foot alligator that had been shot. The deputies notified FWC of their discovery. Within a few minutes, deputies observed two juveniles on a jon boat landing at the bank. The deputies asked the juveniles if the cooler was theirs and they initially stated yes. Officer Letcher arrived on scene and met with the deputies. Officer Letcher gained consent to inspect the jon boat during which he discovered fresh blood near the bank and a gig. Officer Letcher interviewed the juveniles with their father present and one of the juveniles admitted to shooting the alligator with a .22 caliber rifle. The juvenile was cited for unlawful possessing/taking of an alligator.
RESOURCE PROTECTION UNIT
LEON COUNTY
Plain-clothes officers observed an individual cast netting in Lake Talquin in the area of Williams Landing. After observing the subject with largemouth bass, the officers conducted a fisheries inspection. The subject was found to be in possession of five undersized bass and 29 panfish. The cast net and illegal fish were seized and the subject was cited.
Wakulla COUNTY
Plain-clothes officers observed a vessel leaving a local boat ramp at approximately 3 a.m. As the officers followed the vehicle, the suspect vehicle pulled over alongside another vehicle occupied by individuals who had been fishing with the boat owner. The suspect vehicle had run out of gas. Officers stopped to render assistance and discovered that the individuals had just come from offshore fishing. One of the suspects had a previous record for resource violations. A fisheries inspection revealed the subjects were in possession of undersized red grouper and ten red snapper. The fish were seized as evidence and the subjects were cited.
http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments
No comments:
Post a Comment