FWC
Division of Law Enforcement
Weekly Report
February 21-February 27, 2014
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.
Patrol, Protect, Preserve
NORTHWEST REGION
BAY COUNTY
Officers Wicker, Brady, Goodwin and Basford were conducting a night hunting detail utilizing the replica deer. A truck passed by the location and the occupants shot twice at the replica deer and continued on. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle and the two subjects were charged with attempting to take deer at night with a gun and light.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Officer Allen was on water patrol on the Apalachicola River when he observed a vessel operating without navigational lights. He observed the vessel pull into some saw grass in an attempt to conceal the boat. Officer Allen followed the vessel into the saw grass and conducted a vessel stop. He found the three occupants lying in the bottom of the boat in an attempt to hide. During the stop, Officer Allen discovered the occupants were in possession of an illegal net that was over 2,000 square feet with an illegal mesh size. They were also in possession of a commercial quantity of fish. All three subjects were issued citations for possession of a net greater than two‑inch stretch, nets not marked, possession of entangling net, possession of net greater than two‑inch stretch on a vessel less than 25 feet in length with a motor in forward half. The net measured over 11,000 square feet. The net and fish were seized as evidence.
Officer Gore concluded an investigation which stemmed from an attempted vessel stop three weeks ago. Officers Gore and Anderson were on water patrol in Apalachicola Bay when they observed a boat operating without navigational lights. They kept the boat under surveillance and determined the vessel was engaged in commercial net fishing. The officers got close enough to the vessel undetected and attempted to conduct a vessel stop, but the vessel failed to stop and fled. The officers stayed alongside the vessel, identified the operator, and observed the other vessel occupant dump a large quantity of net into the water. The suspect vessel then continued into a cove on the north end of the St. George Island Plantation. The officers followed the vessel into the cove where they found it aground. The suspects had left the vessel and ran on foot to the St. George Plantation. A ground search was conducted, but the officers were unable to locate the two occupants. The vessel operator was identified and it was determined his commercial fishing license had been revoked. He was out on bond for a previous arrest for net fishing violations. During the investigation, Officer Gore obtained evidence and secured warrants for the operator and passenger for fleeing and attempting to elude an FWC officer, possession of a commercial quantity of fish while license is revoked, fishing with a net greater than 500 square feet with an illegal mesh size, connecting nets, and nets not marked. The operator has 89 prior arrests for resource violations. During the investigation, Officer Gore determined several individuals assisted the operator to elude authorities, attempted to claim the boat was stolen, and concealed the crime. Officer Gore cited these individuals for giving false information to a law enforcement officer during an investigation. One of these subjects had 72 prior resource arrests. All five suspects have been arrested. Officer Gore was assisted in the case by Investigators Bryant and Cook along with Officers Cook, Stephens, Louque, and Anderson and Lieutenant Wood.
Officers Allen and Gore cited individuals during shellfish patrols this past week for harvesting oysters in a closed area and possession of undersized oysters. All suspects had prior arrests for the same violations.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Miller was on patrol on the Eglin Wildlife Management Area (WMA). He stopped at a parked truck adjacent to a hunting unit that is designated as walk-in only. A hunter arrived at his vehicle carrying a modern bolt action hunting rifle. This phase of hunting season allows only archery and muzzle-loading guns. Officer Miller contacted the hunter and the hunter agreed to take him back to the location where he had been hunting. Officer Jones arrived to assist Officer Miller. They walked to a location where the hunter said that he had been hunting. The officers observed fresh blood on the ground and began tracking. When the hunter realized that the officers had found a blood trail, he spontaneously stated that he had killed a deer. He then took the officers to a doe deer that he had shot earlier in the day. The hunter was charged with taking game by an illegal method and with taking a doe deer. Officers of the Eglin Range Patrol arrived and administratively suspended the hunter's Eglin Hunting Permit for two years.
WAKULLA COUNTY
While on patrol, Officer Ramos encountered a woman who stated her 13‑year‑old son was missing. Officer Ramos notified the Dispatch center and quickly organized a search detail for the missing child. Multiple FWC units as well as Wakulla County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrived to assist in the search. Due to Officer Ramos’s ability to gather critical information and appropriately task assisting units, the child was located by Officer Raker and safely reunited with his mother.
Officer Anderson observed several individuals fishing and catching what appeared to be undersized sheepshead. A resource inspection was conducted and one individual was in possession of six undersized sheepshead. A check through FWC ArrestNet revealed the subject had a prior arrest last year for the same violation. The subject was cited again. The fish were seized as evidence.
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