FWC
DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
WEEKLY REPORT
September 9 – 15, 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.
Patrol, Protect, Preserve
NORTHWEST REGION
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Faris Livesay
and John Bell worked a special detail utilizing the utility vehicle to
patrol an extensive section of Pensacola Beach checking shoreline
fishermen. During the detail, Officer Livesay cited
one individual for over the bag limit of pompano. Officer Bell cited a
second individual for possession of undersized red drum.
Lt. Dan Hahr was
conducting enhanced patrol in the Perdido River Wildlife Management Area
when he checked a man fishing without a license. A computer check
revealed that the subject was wanted on two charges of
violation of a court order. The man was arrested and turned over to the
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Lt. Brian Lambert was on
foot patrol at Muscogee Landing within the Perdido River Wildlife
Management Area when he observed two individuals smoking from a pipe.
When Lieutenant Lambert approached the individuals,
they attempted to hide the pipe and additional marijuana in the sand.
Alcoholic beverages were present. Two pipes and less than 20 grams of
marijuana were found in the sand along with three unidentifiable pills.
It appeared the numbers on the pills were rubbed
off intentionally. Citations were issued to the individuals for
possession of alcoholic beverages, possession of drug paraphernalia, and
possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana. As neither individual
could provide a prescription for the three pills, the
pills were seized for FDLE laboratory testing. Additional charges are
pending.
Lt. Dan Hahr concluded an
investigation regarding a large pile of construction debris and other
household garbage found dumped on the Perdido River Wildlife Management
Area. Lieutenant Hahr located the source of
the debris and the man responsible for the dumping. The subject admitted
to dumping the garbage to avoid paying a fee at the landfill. A warrant
will be requested charging the man with commercial littering.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
In the Yellow River
Wildlife Management Area, Officer Nick Barnard was working night hunting
complaints when he observed a vehicle approach a clear-cut area
frequented by deer at night. Officer Barnard saw the
vehicle driver display a spotlight onto the clear-cut, slowly sweeping
the light back and forth. The officer stopped the vehicle and found the
driver had a loaded rifle on the seat next to him. Officer Barnard
seized the gun and light and cited the individual
for the violation.
Officer David Jernigan
received a phone call from a citizen regarding possible trespass on
property. Officer Jernigan arrived on scene and found a truck backed up
to an abandoned mobile home. Additional surveillance
revealed two subjects removing metal from around the mobile home and the
property. Officer Jernigan arrested both subjects for trespass. Officer
Royce Johnson arrived to assist. A witness stated they saw one of the
subjects inside the mobile home earlier. Burglary
tools were found in the suspect’s vehicle and at the entrance to the
mobile home. Electrical wire found in the vehicle matched the electrical
wire found ripped from the walls and ceiling of the mobile home
interior. Additionally, the vehicle search revealed
an unknown possibly narcotic substance which Officer Jernigan seized for
laboratory testing. Both subjects were transported to the Santa Rosa
County Jail and charged with burglary, possession of burglary tools,
trespass on property, theft, and criminal mischief.
Additional charges are pending chemical analysis of substances found in
the suspect’s vehicle.
Lt. Dan Hahr responded to
a complaint of a man shooting songbirds. The lieutenant arrived at the
residence and observed several dead migratory birds, including mourning
dove, cardinals, and ground dove. He also
observed where the man had baited the birds with birdseed in his
driveway. The subject would sit at a window in his shed and shoot the
birds with his pellet gun as they were feeding. Lieutenant Hahr cited
the subject for possession of protected migratory birds.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Near Destin Pass, Officer
Matt Webb and Lt. Keith Clark were on vessel patrol conducting boating
safety inspections and state fisheries inspections when they observed a
35‑foot boat with four occupants returning
from the Gulf of Mexico. When the officers stopped the boat to conduct a
boating equipment safety inspection, Officer Webb determined the boat
was returning from a fishing trip. During the fisheries inspection,
Officer Webb observed eight greater amberjack
and 17 aggregate grouper species harvested. When Officer Webb explained
to the operator that they were over their individual bag limit of both
greater amberjack and grouper, the operator stated this was a two-day
fishing trip. Officer Webb asked the operator
if his boat was a charter vessel, the operator replied, “No”. Officer
Webb explained to the operator that only a charter boat is allowed to
have a two-day bag limit of regulated marine species. The bag limit for
greater amberjack is one per person and the aggregate
for grouper is four per person. The operator was cited. Four amberjack
and one snowy grouper were seized and donated to a local wildlife
sanctuary.
Officer Andy Maltais was
on foot patrol near Destin Bridge conducting saltwater fishing license
and fisheries inspections. Officer Maltais observed an adult female
leaving quickly from the fishing area carrying
a bucket filled with water. An inspection of the bucket revealed an
undersized spotted seatrout, measuring 13 inches in total length. The
legal slot limit is 15 to 20 inches. The female explained she was
instructed by her boyfriend to head to their vehicle
with the undersized spotted seatrout and store it there. Officer Maltais
went to the shore and spoke with her boyfriend. In plain view, Officer
Maltais observed a legally harvested spotted seatrout in a bucket. The
man admitted to harvesting the undersized
spotted seatrout and was cited for the violation.
Officer Andy Maltais was
on foot patrol near Destin Bridge conducting saltwater fishing license
and fisheries inspections. The officer observed a juvenile in possession
of a grossly undersized red drum measuring
14 inches in total length. The legal slot limit is 18 to 27 inches. The
juvenile explained that his mother had caught the fish. Officer Maltais
located the juvenile’s mother and confirmed that she harvested the
undersized red drum. She was cited for the violation.
Officer Matt Webb and Lt.
Keith Clark were on vessel patrol conducting state fisheries
inspections near Destin Pass. Earlier that morning, Officer Webb
observed three individuals fishing near the end of the west
jetties. As late afternoon approached, Officer Webb observed the three
individuals leaving for the parking lot. One of the three individuals
was carrying a large cooler strapped to his back. An inspection of the
cooler revealed six egg-bearing blue crabs and
one undersized black drum. One of the three individuals admitted to
harvesting the egg-bearing blue crabs and the undersized black drum. He
was cited for both violations.
Officer Matt Webb was on
vessel patrol conducting boating safety and state fisheries inspections
when he observed a boat with two occupants returning from the Gulf of
Mexico. During the boating safety equipment
inspection, Officer Webb determined the boat was returning from a
fishing trip. The fisheries inspection revealed 11 harvested mangrove
snapper. The bag limit is five per person per day. The operator was
aware of the size limit for mangrove snapper, but claimed
he did not know there was a bag limit. The operator was cited for the
violation.
Dispatchers received a
report of a bear cub injured by a vehicle north of Niceville. The
25-pound cub ran into the running board of a moving vehicle and was
stunned. Lt. Mark Hollinhead, Investigator Eddie Gatlin
and wildlife technician Kevin McDonald responded and observed the male
cub for almost two hours, but never saw its mother. The responders made
the decision to leave the cub in the woods, away from the roadway in
anticipation that the sow would find him and
assist in his recovery. The wildlife technician returned early the next
morning and found the cub had moved a few feet away, but was suffering
from a concussion. The cub was relocated to the Blackwater Fisheries
Center where he was fed and watched over the
weekend. The cub improved significantly and was deemed ready for
release. He was returned to the general area where he was found, but
away from the roadway. Close by, another set of bear and cub tracks was
found. The technicians suspected that a sibling and
the sow were close by.
Bay County
Officer Nick Price was on
water patrol when he checked a vessel he had observed earlier near the
St. Andrews State Park jetties. In the forward compartment of the
vessel, he found a gag grouper that was freshly
killed by a speargun. A citation was issued for the closed season
violation and the diver was advised of the regulations
concerning spearfishing in state parks.
Officer Ken Atkins
was working in the Econfina Creek Wildlife Management Area when he
observed several subjects near an area that was fenced and closed due to
bank erosion issues. One of the subjects pointed to
the area and said, "That’s where you go to get arrested." After
finishing his beer, he climbed over the fence, and then climbed a tree
within the closed area. Officer Atkins made contact and issued the
subject a citation for trespassing.
Officer Joe Chambers was
on water patrol when he checked a fisherman who advised he had caught
one redfish. A check of his vessel revealed another redfish in the live
well. When asked about the second redfish,
the fisherman said he puts the extra redfish he catches in the live well
to keep them alive to take home so his wife can pick out the fish she
wants. He said he intended to release the other fish. A citation was
issued for the bag limit violation.
Officer Joe Chambers was
working an alligator hunt when he checked a hunter who had several
vessel violations and did not possess his alligator trapping license.
Written warnings were issued for the boating violations
and a citation was issued for the license violation.
Lt. Jay Chesser and
Officers Joe Chambers, Mike Nobles, and Dennis Palmer worked a special
detail in eastern Bay County focusing on seafood dealers. One dealer was
cited for operating as a wholesale dealer with
a license that expired over a year ago. Seven other businesses were
selling retail saltwater products without the proper license. These
retailers were issued written warnings and an application to apply for
the licenses.
Officer Mike Nobles
continued to work derelict vessels and recently cited a vessel owner for
failure to transfer title on a vessel. Several months earlier, Officer
Nobles had issued the owner a written warning
for the same violation.
Gulf County
Officer Scott Hoffman
conducted a resource inspection on a vessel occupied by two individuals.
The pair advised they had harvested their limit of scallops. They went
on to say they thought they had two gallons
in their cooler. There was no measuring device on board their vessel.
When measured, the subjects were in possession of seven gallons of live
bay scallops. One of the individuals was cited for being over the daily
limit of scallops. Three gallons of live scallops
were returned to the water.
Officer Scott Hoffman
conducted a resource inspection on a canoe occupied by two individuals.
When asked if they had any scallops onboard, the subjects advised they
had their limit of scallops. There was no measuring
device onboard and when they were asked how they measured their
scallops, they admitted to estimating the amount. When asked if there
were any more scallops other than the ones in the cooler onboard, the
subjects produced two small bags containing more scallops.
Officer Hoffman recognized one of the individuals for previously
violating the daily bag limit of scallops. The subject confirmed that he
was arrested in 2009 for having eight gallons of scallops. The subjects
were in possession of eight gallons of bay scallops.
Citations were issued to both defendants. Four gallons of live scallops
were returned to the water.
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