FWC
DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
WEEKLY REPORT
November 18 – December 1, 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
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
An FWC officer assigned to Santa Rosa County located
a fresh pile of household garbage dumped on the Gulf Power easement
near Berryhill Road. He located numerous items containing names and an
address in the garbage. The officer went to the
address and talked to a juvenile male who admitted to dumping the trash.
The juvenile’s mother was contacted and was advised of the situation.
The officer issued the juvenile a citation for littering over 15 pounds
of trash.
Within the Blackwater Wildlife Management Area,
Officer Royce Johnson and Reserve Officer Lila Wise observed a vehicle
parked in an area where they had previously located an illegal bait
site. As the officers prepared to locate the subject
hunting, they heard a shot from the location of the bait. Officer
Johnson went to the baited area and observed two men dragging a doe deer
out of the woods and to their vehicle. The officer identified himself
as they neared the road. One of the men admitted
to killing the doe deer over the baited area. The hunter was charged
with hunting over bait and taking antlerless deer out of season and
issued a notice to appear. The other hunter was issued a notice to
appear for possession of an antlerless deer out of season.
Officer Christopher Pettey and Lt. Dan Hahr were
parked near an intersection in Blackwater Wildlife Management Area when a
car turned toward them and slowed. The driver appeared to have
difficulty driving as he revved the engine and spun
his tires in front of the officers. The officers stopped the vehicle and
received consent to look in the vehicle. Ten prescription pills were
found in a cigarette pack. Both subjects in the car admitted to
possessing and taking the pills. The suspected Xanex
pills and a 12‑gauge shotgun were seized and the subjects were released.
Charges are pending upon positive identification of the pills.
On Eglin Wildlife Management Area, Officer Howard
Jones encountered a vehicle parked adjacent to an area closed for the
day due to military mission activity. Footprints indicated that the
individuals had entered the closed area. Officer
Jones followed the footprints and located two individuals hunting. Both
hunters admitted that they failed to ascertain if the area was open for
hunting that day, as required by Eglin rules. Both individuals were
cited for hunting in a closed area. Using Eglin
lands for hunting or other recreation purposes requires a permit from
Eglin's Jackson Guard Station in Niceville. Each day users are required
to contact Eglin to ascertain what areas will be closed to the public
due to military mission activity. Persons in
violation of rules and regulations on the Eglin Wildlife Management Area
may lose their right to enter Eglin property in the future.
On a separate occasion, Officer Howard located
another vehicle parked adjacent to a closed area in the Eglin Wildlife
Management Area. This individual was also cited for hunting in a closed
area.
Officers responded to a complaint of three men
hunting with guns during crossbow season. They responded to the area and
located a truck parked on the side of a cotton field. Three juvenile
males returned to their truck, carrying rifles and
talking about killing a deer. The officers interviewed the suspects,
determined they were hunting deer, and, killed a doe deer out of season.
The juveniles were cited for taking or attempting to take deer with a
firearm during crossbow season. One was also
charged with taking an antlerless deer out of season.
Officers assigned to Escambia, Santa Rosa, and
Okaloosa counties focused efforts on the Blackwater Wildlife Management
Area for the opening four days of general gun season. Approximately 850
hunters were checked; 50 written warnings and
26 citations were issued. Violations ranged from hunting without a
license or quota hunt permit to taking antlerless deer out of season.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Officer Danny Arnette answered a complaint of
trespass by dog on private property. The landowner was able to catch the
hunting dog and Officer Arnette made contact with the dog’s owner.
Evidence and statements were collected and will be
direct-filed with the State Attorney’s Office in Okaloosa County.
WALTON COUNTY
Officer Ken White located planted rye grass and
scattered corn on a site within the Eglin Wildlife Management Area.
Officer White observed the bait site from a concealed location and
watched a hunter set up to hunt. The hunter was dressed
in camouflage and equipped with a bow and arrows. Officer White observed
as the hunter with the weapon faced the baited site. In an interview,
the hunter admitted to planting the rye grass and placing the corn on
the site. The subject was charged with hunting
over bait in the management area. Interestingly, the hunter was in
possession of an FWC citation issued several days earlier for hunting
over bait in a management area.
Officer Ken White received a call regarding an
illegal deer that was killed and dumped. Officer White responded and Lt.
Hampton Yates assisted. An inspection revealed the deer was shot and
tire tracks led from the dumpsite to a suspect’s
house. Both male occupants of the house were convicted felons. Both
males admitted to dumping the deer but blamed each other for shooting
the deer with a firearm. A computer check revealed one had an
outstanding warrant for violation of probation. He was transported
to the county jail. The investigation is ongoing with additional charges
pending.
BAY COUNTY
Officers Dennis Palmer, Kenny Atkins, and Nick Price
have been working a trespass complaint on three baited tree stands
located on a private hunting lease. During a pre-dawn surveillance of
the tree stands, the officers watched three subjects
enter the stands to hunt. All three hunters were cited for trespass.
Officer Joe Chambers worked the opening days of
hunting season targeting quota hunt violators within the local wildlife
management areas. Officer Chambers located and cited seven hunters for
illegally hunting without the required permits.
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