FWC DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
FIELD OPERATIONS
WEEKLY REPORT
August 5 - 11, 2011
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 conducting state and federal fisheries enforcement in the Gulf of Mexico. The officers stopped to check a vessel that was anchored with divers in the water. One of the divers soon surfaced with several egg- bearing slipper lobster in his possession. The diver was cited for the violation.
Officers Rockwell and Webb were on vessel patrol conducting state and federal fisheries enforcement and stopped a 30-foot vessel south of Pensacola Pass. The fisheries inspection revealed an undersized red grouper measuring 16 inches. The legal size is 20 inches or greater. The vessel operator was cited for the violation.
While on patrol in Perdido River Wildlife Management Area, Officer Ben Pineda observed an individual fishing for freshwater fish. The subject appeared unusually nervous and upon further investigation, dispatch advised that the subject had an active warrant for violation of probation. The subject was arrested for the warrant and transported to the Escambia County Jail.
While on patrol in the Perdido River Wildlife Management Area, Officer Ben Pineda observed an older car with a odd license plate. A computer checked revealed the tag was registered to a newer model truck. Officer Pineda stopped the vehicle and discovered the driver did not have a valid driver’s license, but possessed an expired Florida ID card. The driver admitted that he had placed the tag on vehicle. The driver was charged with driving without a license and attaching a tag not assigned to the vehicle.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Ben Pineda and Nick Barnard were on water patrol when they stopped a vessel to conduct a fisheries inspection. The vessel operator stated they had caught several Spanish mackerel. Officer Pineda asked if he had measured the fish; the captain advised he had and that they were all 12 inches or larger. Upon inspection of the catch, the officers observed two undersized Spanish mackerel measuring 10.5 inches and 11.5 inches. The vessel operator was cited for possession of undersized Spanish mackerel.
Officer Ben Pineda received a call at approximately 11 p.m. regarding a vessel accident in Navarre. Officer Pineda arrived on scene and observed a 23-foot bay boat completely out of the water on shore and upside down. The four people onboard had been trapped under the vessel after it hit the shore and turned upside down. The occupants had to dig their way out to get from under the vessel. A nine-year-old boy was treated for lacerations and contusions. The other occupants sustained minor injuries. The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Officer Matt Webb was on vessel patrol conducting boating safety inspections and state fisheries inspections near Destin Pass when he observed a 15-foot boat returning from the east Destin jetties. A fisheries inspection revealed two red drum fillets in a zip lock plastic bag. The operator was cited for failure to land red drum in whole condition.
Officers Pete Rockwell and Matt Webb were on vessel patrol conducting state and federal fisheries enforcement in the Gulf of Mexico. Officer Rockwell observed what appeared to be a charter boat adrift with individuals fishing. The fisheries inspection revealed a grossly undersized greater amberjack measuring 22 inches and five undersized gray triggerfish. The legal size for greater amberjack is 30 inches or greater fork length and gray triggerfish is 14 inches or greater fork length. The deckhand admitted to the officers that the greater amberjack was going to be used as bait. The deckhand accepted responsibility and was cited for possession of an undersized greater amberjack and undersized gray triggerfish.
Officer Alan Kirchinger stopped a vessel after observing it operating on a full plane within the no wake/idle speed zone near Destin bridge. While Officer Kirchinger addressed the violation and conducted a safety inspection, he noticed the operator displayed signs of impairment. The operator stumbled around the vessel and told Officer Kirchinger that he was “a little inebriated.” Field sobriety tasks confirmed the operator was impaired. He was placed under arrest and transported to the Destin Coast Guard Station where he agreed to a state-certified breath test. The breath sample provided revealed the subject’s breath alcohol content was .239. The subject was charged with BUI and transported to the Okaloosa County Jail.
WALTON COUNTY
Officer Don Walker responded to an alligator bite report near a restaurant in south Walton County. The bite occurred on the bank of a retention pond. The intoxicated individual was bitten in the calf and refused medical treatment (minor injury). The investigation is ongoing.
BAY COUNTY
Officers Pete Rockwell, Ryan Nelson, and Nick Price were on vessel patrol conducting state and federal fisheries enforcement in the Gulf of Mexico. The officers conducted an impromptu joint effort with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol personnel on an inspection of a commercial long-liner vessel. A computer check revealed that a crewmember had an outstanding warrant out of Bay County for violation of probation on a past DUI charge. The long-liner was escorted in and the individual was turned over to a Panama City police officer for transport and booking into the Bay County Jail.
Officer Nick Price responded to a complaint of a subject spearfishing under the Panama City Beach Pier. Upon arrival, fishermen on the pier pointed to a speargun lying underwater about 20 feet from the pier. No one was in the water; however, the fishermen indicated the spearfisher had taken a red drum to some people on the beach. The speargun was recovered and soon afterward a subject came forward to claim the gun. It was determined this subject had speared an oversized red drum and had no fishing license. Citations were issued for spearfishing under the pier, illegal method of take and taking oversized red drum. A written warning was issued for the license violation.
Officer Ken Atkins was working the Econfina Creek Wildlife Management Area when he found a subject consuming an alcoholic beverage. The individual admitted that he knew alcohol was not allowed in the area. A citation was issued.
Officers Nick Price and Dennis Palmer were on patrol in St. Andrews Bay when they checked a fisherman who possessed six flounder (three undersized) and an undersized black sea bass. A citation was issued for the undersized flounder and a warning for the sea bass.
Lt. Jay Chesser and Officer Joe Chambers responded to an emergency call concerning a subject who dove into shallow water and lost feeling below his chest. The injured subject was transported to shore then taken by ambulance to a local hospital.
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Toni Brannon
Event Coordinator/Regional Knowledge Base Coordinator/Regional SharePoint site Administrator
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Northwest Region
http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments
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