FWC Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report May 3 – 9, 2013

FWC Division of Law Enforcement

Weekly Report

May 3 – 9, 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

 

OKALOOSA COUNTY

Capt. Mary Sumner, Lt. Mark Hollinhead, and FWC Officers assigned to Okaloosa and Walton Counties attended a ceremony at the Crestview Police Department honoring fallen officers. Fallen Game and Freshwater Fish Commission Officer Ray Lynn Barnes was honored during this year’s ceremony. On November 21, 1987, Officer Barnes was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a person for illegally hunting deer. The suspect managed to gain control of the officer's handgun and shot him. The suspect was convicted of third degree murder and sentenced to 30 years. He was paroled October 31, 2004. On December 20, 2007, he was returned to the Florida Penitentiary to serve a term of 35 years after his third conviction for DUI, resisting and eluding officers, and driving with a revoked license. Officer Barnes is survived by his wife and two daughters.

 

The Northwest Region Dive Team was called to dive a suspect vessel that was sunk in the Choctawhatchee Bay. The Dive Team dove to the large sailing vessel and found the hull identification numbers were removed. They also found a large concrete block in the middle of the vessel, indicating intentionally sinking. Investigators are following up for possible vessel theft, fraud, and dumping.

 

JACKSON COUNTY

 

K-9 Officer Mike Guy received information concerning several subjects in two separate vessels catching and keeping undersized shellcracker while fishing in Merritt’s Mill Pond Fish Management Area. Officer Guy contacted Plain-clothes Officer Scott Cassels to assist in surveillance of the subjects. Officer Cassels set up surveillance from the boat ramp where it was believed the subjects launched their vessels. After the subjects departed their fishing area, Officer Guy arrived with his patrol vessel and made contact with the subjects. Resource inspections revealed subjects from both vessels were in violation and were issued citations for possession of undersized shellcracker and for possession of over the bag limit of shellcracker.

 

GADSDEN COUNTY

 

While working the Ochlockonee River near Lake Talquin Dam, Lt. Harry Parker cited two men for possession of over the daily limit of speckled perch. The men had 66 speckled perch, 16 over the daily bag limit.

 

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