FWC DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WEEKLY REPORT April 19-25, 2013

FWC

DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

WEEKLY REPORT

April 19-25, 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

 

Lt. Dan Hahr was conducting enhanced patrol within the Perdido River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) when he observed four trucks parked near the back of a clear cut. The drivers of the trucks were gathered together and flagged Lieutenant Hahr down as he passed. Lieutenant Hahr walked out to them and observed that all four trucks were stuck in or near the recently plowed fire line around the edge of the nearby wetlands. After talking to the subjects, Lieutenant Hahr determined that one subject initially got his truck stuck and requested help from a passerby and two friends. They all became stuck trying to pull each other out. Lieutenant Hahr issued the first subject a notice to appear for damaging state lands with a motor vehicle. He issued citations to the other subjects for driving off named and numbered roads.

 

Lt. Dan Hahr was conducting enhanced patrol in the Perdido River WMA when he observed several trucks mud bogging. As Lieutenant Hahr watched, two of the trucks were damaging state lands with their vehicles. One vehicle, a Ford Expedition, was stuck in deep ruts along the road. Lieutenant Hahr identified the driver and determined there were two active warrants, one of which was for fraud. The driver is a habitual traffic offender with multiple charges for driving with a suspended license. The subject’s driver license was currently suspended. The driver of the other truck was issued a notice to appear for damaging state lands with a motor vehicle and released. A wrecker was called to extricate and remove the Expedition, while Lieutenant Hahr transported the driver to jail. As Lieutenant Hahr was completing the booking affidavit, he learned the tag on the Expedition was not assigned to that vehicle. Lt. Brian Lambert assisted by going to the residence of the subject’s girlfriend, where he located the Expedition. A check of the vehicle identification number (VIN) revealed the vehicle was stolen. Lieutenant Lambert also checked on another truck, parked in the driveway, and determined it was also stolen. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was called to the residence to assist and recover the vehicles. Prior stolen vehicle reports indicated that the driver was initially a suspect in the theft, but the vehicle was not located. Lieutenant Hahr added the charges of grand theft and attaching tag not assigned to the other charges of driving while license suspended or revoked, damaging state lands with a motor vehicle and fugitive from justice. An additional charge of grand theft for the second truck will be filed by the Sheriff’s Office.

 

FWC plain-clothes officers were maintaining surveillance on a popular fishing spot when they observed two separate individuals selling fish they had harvested. Neither of the sellers possessed the required saltwater products licenses (SPL) and both were issued notices to appear for the violations. About the same time, they observed a man in possession of over the bag limit of pompano. He was also issued a notice to appear for the violation.

 

OKALOOSA COUNTY

 

Investigator Ryan Nelson was dispatched to a call in Destin regarding an individual taking over the bag limit of pompano. The complainant stated there was a subject taking the pompano to a white truck, placing them inside a cooler, and then returning to fish. Investigator Nelson contacted the subject and asked if he had caught any fish. The subject pointed to the fish in a bucket next to him and stated that was all he had caught. Investigator Nelson then asked the man about the fish inside the white truck. The subject seemed surprised and provided a saltwater products license (SPL). Investigator Nelson inspected the SPL and discovered it was registered to a vessel. Investigator Nelson explained to the subject that a vessel SPL does not cover him fishing from the beach. The subject stated that he knew the rules. Investigator Nelson inspected the white truck and found 40 pompano, four of which were undersized. Investigator Nelson issued a citation to the subject for over the recreational bag limit and for possession of undersized pompano.

 

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