FWC DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WEEKLY REPORT June 29 – July 5, 2012

FWC DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

WEEKLY REPORT

June 29 – July 5, 2012        

 

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 Faris Livesay and Nick Barnard responded to a vessel accident involving a father and son operating two personal watercrafts (PWCs) on Little Sabine Lagoon near Pensacola Beach. The initial investigation revealed one PWC collided with the right rear of the second. The operator of the second PWC sustained injuries to his ribs. According to witnesses, while the second PWC operator was being assisted to shore, he experienced chest pains and was subsequently transported by helicopter to a Pensacola hospital where he later died. The cause of death is undetermined and awaiting the medical examiner’s report. The investigation is ongoing.

 

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

 

Officer Howard Jones responded to a report of an overdue swimmer in the Santa Rosa Sound area. At the time of the report, the swimmer had been missing for two hours. Officer Jones searched the area and located the missing swimmer after dark, unharmed. The swimmer, caught in the current, was treading water when Officer Jones found him. He was returned to shore and released to emergency medical responders.

 

Officer Steve Hoomes and Capt. Mary Sumner were on vessel patrol on the Blackwater River just before the annual fireworks event. Captain Sumner positioned herself on Russel Harbor dock and observed two children playing in a swim area. Suddenly, the larger child called for help and Captain Sumner immediately directed Officer Hoomes attention to the struggling swimmer. As Captain Sumner left the floating dock quickly moving to the shore closest to the children, she saw the younger child go down and not come up. Officer Hoomes approached by vessel, stripped off his gun belt, and went into the swiftly moving water. Within seconds, Officers Joe Murphy and David Jernigan were on scene. Officer Jernigan stripped off his gun belt and went into the water joining the search. Seconds later, Santa Rosa County Marine Deputy Samples arrived and went into the water. After about 15 minutes of intense searching, the rescuers could not locate the 10‑year-old victim. Divers with the Pace Volunteer Fire Department responded and within 30 minutes located the deceased victim in about 16 feet of water about 12 to 15 feet from shore. According to the divers, the river drops drastically from five feet to 16-20 feet within a few feet of shore.

 

OKALOOSA COUNTY

 

Officer Ryan Nelson and Lt. Keith Clark responded to a boating accident involving two rented PWCs in the Choctawhatchee Bay near the Mid Bay Bridge. When the officers arrived on scene, a U.S. Coast Guard patrol vessel was transporting an injured 47-year-old female operator to a local marina where emergency medical personnel were standing by. She was subsequently airlifted to a Pensacola hospital. The female sustained a compound fracture to her lower left leg, breaking both the tibia and fibula. She also sustained a fractured left ankle and left hip. The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending.

 

JACKSON COUNTY

 

Officer Hank Forehand received a complaint from a landowner in the Greenwood area regarding a decaying deer head along a neighboring property. The subject with the deer head in his yard informed Officer Forehand that two friends brought the deer to his house the previous weekend to clean it, claiming they hit it with their truck during the night. After examining the six‑point deer head and a cooler of deer meat, Officer Forehand believed there was more to the story. He and Lt. Mark Clements returned and interviewed the subject again. After some time, the subject’s story changed and he revealed the names of the other parties involved. He also revealed a .270 caliber cartridge found in the area where the two subjects cleaned the deer. After several hours, the individuals were located; one was an Alabama resident. Officer Forehand interviewed the two other subjects who admitted to night hunting and killing the deer with a .270 caliber rifle the previous weekend. Appropriate charges are being filed with the State Attorney’s Office.

 

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