FWC DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WEEKLY REPORT January 25 – 31, 2013

FWC DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

WEEKLY REPORT

January 25 – 31, 2013

 

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 Nick Barnard and John Clark were working complaints of night hunting activity north of Walnut Hill when Officer Barnard heard a rifle shot and stopped a vehicle travelling from the location. Two adults and one juvenile were in the truck. Officers Barnard and Clark noticed two rifles, one shotgun, and a spotlight inside the truck. The operator admitted he had just taken a shot. The officers observed three harvested doe deer in the bed of the truck. Closer inspection revealed a cooler containing untagged deer meat. Lt. Doug Berryman arrived on scene. He and Officer Clark located a few drops of blood from the deer that had just been shot. The blood was located on a deer trail leading into the farm field, but the deer was not located. The subjects stated they had killed the three doe deer in Alabama but could not produce an Alabama hunting license. The rifles, shotgun, spotlight, doe deer, untagged meat, and cooler were seized as evidence. The two adult subjects were charged with attempting to take deer at night with a gun and light, possession of doe deer out of season, possession of untagged deer meat, and discharging a firearm from a public road.

 

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

 

On Dec. 6, 2012, Investigator Jim Hughes was contacted by Gerard Greco, Blackwater Heritage Trail Park Specialist, who had discovered the fence surrounding the trail’s maintenance yard had been cut, state property taken, and signs of unauthorized entry into the building. A review of the security video showed that the state facility had been entered on Dec. 4, 2012, and that multiple items were taken. Having video footage of the suspects, Investigator Hughes contacted and worked with the Milton Police Department, who were investigating a series of burglaries in the area. In reviewing the booking video of one of their burglary suspects previously booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail, Investigator Hughes noticed the subject was wearing the same distinctive shoes as the individual in the original burglary video of the trail’s maintenance facility. Investigator Hughes interviewed the primary suspect at the jail and obtained a written statement from the secondary suspect. Investigator Hughes and Reserve Officer Richard Strong reviewed the video and agreed that the distinctive facial features of the suspect in the video were a match with the booking photo of the primary suspect. Investigator Hughes and Reserve Officer Strong then worked to obtain a warrant for the suspects. On January 18, Investigator Hughes obtained warrants approved by the Assistant State Attorney and signed by a Santa Rosa County Circuit Judge for the arrest of both suspects. The primary suspect was charged with burglary of unoccupied structure, grand theft, breaking and injuring fences, and trespass on property other than structure or conveyance. The secondary suspect was charged with accessory to grand theft.

 

SANTA ROSA COUNTY COPS

 

Officers Royce Johnson, Joe Murphy, Steve Hoomes, David Jernigan, Reserve Officer Lila Wise, Capt. Mary Sumner, and FWC Wildlife and Fisheries staff worked the first weekend of the annual Mobility Impaired Hunt at the Blackwater WMA - Hutton Unit. The officers teamed with staff from other FWC Divisions to provide the hunters with a meal each day, assisted with tracking, retrieving and cleaning deer, and assisting the hunters to enjoy a quality hunting opportunity. During this first weekend of the hunt, 105 hunters and their hunt assistants participated in the annual event, harvesting 11 deer (four antlered, one antlerless, and six does).

 

OKALOOSA COUNTY

 

Officer Pete Rockwell inspected a man using a cast-net along Gap Creek in Fort Walton Beach. The subject was in possession of 147 mullet. The lawful bag limit is 50 mullet per person per day. The subject stated he knew better, having been arrested for the same violation four years earlier. He was issued a citation, and the fish were seized and donated to the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge.

 

Officer Heath Nichols was checking hunters on Eglin Air Force Base WMA when he received information from hunters about a subject who had killed a deer. Officer Nichols identified the subject’s vehicle as it was exiting the management area and made contact with the subject. When Officer Nichols inquired about the deer, the subject told him the deer was in his toolbox. An inspection of the toolbox revealed a short-antlered buck, which was later determined to have only two-inch antlers. The subject was cited for taking a deer with antlers less than five inches.

 

Officer Rockwell was on state land patrol within the Blackwater WMA when he stopped a vehicle on a forestry road. The male subject was in possession of a shotgun in the cab of his vehicle. The subject stated he could not be in possession of a firearm. A records check revealed the man had a prior felony conviction. The firearm was seized. An investigation is ongoing to determine if the man’s rights have been restored. Charges are pending.

 

Lt. Mark Hollinhead, Officers Heath Nichols, Andy Maltais, and Pete Rockwell worked a detail targeting night hunting complaints near Baker. One vehicle was stopped after the driver was observed attempting to take a deer from the roadway. When Officers Rockwell and Maltais attempted to stop the vehicle, the subject turned into a residence, abandoned the vehicle, and fled on foot into the residence. Lieutenant Hollinhead and Officer Nichols arrived a short time later and the subject was directed out of the residence and taken into custody. The officers discovered the firearm used was missing from the vehicle, and the subject directed them to the side of the road where he stated he had discarded the weapon. A short time later, Officer Nichols located the firearm and determined the subject had concealed it in a vessel in the yard as he ran toward the residence. The subject was charged with taking deer at night with a gun and light, taking wildlife from the roadway, and resisting arrest without violence.

 

FRANKLIN COUNTY

 

Capt. Craig Duval was off duty hunting in the Crooked River Tract of Tates Hell WMA. While he was heading out of the management area at last light, he heard a shot towards Highway 67 approximately 100 yards away from his location. As he was traveling towards Highway 67, he came upon a white Toyota Camry stopped in the middle of the roadway with the driver’s door open, blocking the road. No one was in the vehicle. Another vehicle approached and pulled alongside of the parked Camry. An individual exited the woods and spoke briefly to the driver of the second vehicle and then both subjects and vehicles left the area. Captain Duval noticed neither of the subjects spoke to him and it was obvious that they did not want to. He made contact with dispatchers, who directed Officers Woody Cook and Matt Gore to his location. While waiting for the officers to arrive, the driver of the Camry came back to Captain Duval’s location and stopped. Captain Duval asked him, “What did you shoot?” The subject said nothing and said he shot at a buck and missed. The driver left the area for a second time. Approximately 10 minutes later, the subject came back, stopped his vehicle, got out and asked him if he was the game warden. Captain Duval replied, “Yes, why?” He asked what he was doing, and Captain Duval said he was waiting on two officers to arrive so he could go out and look around due to shots being fired and no one wanting to stick around afterwards. The subject said he did not kill anything but would stay to see if anything was found. After Officers Gore and Cook arrived, Captain Duval explained the scenario and they went into the woods. After a brief search, a freshly killed doe was located approximately 60 yards away from the road in direct line with where the Camry was originally parked. During a subsequent discussion with the subject, he accepted responsibility for the deer. The doe and a 30.06 rifle were seized as evidence. The bullet was retrieved from the doe for examination and forensic matching to the subject’s rifle. The subject was cited and released.

 

GADSDEN COUNTY

 

Officer Ben Johnson stopped a vehicle for careless driving. When Officer Johnson ran a wanted person check, he discovered an active warrant on the driver. The subject was arrested and booked into Gadsden County Jail.

 

Later that day, Officer Ben Johnson received a complaint about a short-antler deer being shot. USDA Officer Kevin Partridge joined Officer Johnson with checking hunters at Camel Lake. The investigation led to information identifying the person who shot the deer. The shooter, from out of town, was located and issued a citation for the violation. The deer meat was seized and later donated.

 

Near Morgan Swamp Hunting Lease, two men entered private property without permission. Officer Ben Johnson was joined by Officer Mike Mitchell with the Chattahoochee Police Department, who had obtained information that both men had rifles. Upon investigation, it was discovered the men did not possess hunting licenses or deer permits. Citations were issued for the violations.

 

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