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FWC
Division of Law Enforcement
Weekly Report
December 12th thru December 18th, 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
Officer Gore was conducting resource inspections at the Burnt Mill Creek Boat Ramp when a commercial oyster boat coming to dock made a U-turn upon seeing the officer. Officer Gore learned a subject was dropped off upstream and found he possessed no saltwater products license to commercially harvest oysters, a small baggie of cannabis and two baggies of crystal methamphetamine. The subject was booked into the Bay County Jail for the violations.
Lieutenant Chesser received a call concerning a subject that was selling oysters out of the back of his truck. Lieutenant Chesser and Officer Gore responded and found the subject to be a commercial oysterman selling oyster’s retail. Seven bags of oysters were seized and returned to the waters and citations were issued.
Officers Basford and Hellett were working duck hunting on Deerpoint Lake when they observed two hunters shooting at red-winged blackbirds and double-breasted cormorants. The hunters were checked and one cormorant and two blackbirds were observed floating nearby. Citations were issued for taking/attempting to take migratory non-game birds and warnings were issued for no migratory bird permit, failure to sign a federal duck stamp, and no vessel registration on board.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Livesay and Miller along with Investigator Goley worked a detail targeting night hunting in an area where multiple complaints have recently been received. From a concealed location, Officer Livesay observed occupants of one vehicle quickly shine a small light in multiple locations attempting to disclose deer. Officer Livesay stopped the vehicle and discovered a rifle in the front seat between two subjects. After questioning, one of the subjects admitted they were trying to kill a deer. Officer Livesay seized the gun and light and issued notice to appear citations for the violation.
Lieutenant Lambert was given the last name and vehicle description of two subjects that had illegally killed two doe deer at night. Both deer were shot with a .22 caliber rifle, five days apart. Neither deer was recovered by the subjects, but both deer were found the day after they were shot. Several hours after receiving the tip, Lieutenant Lambert observed one of the suspects shining a light attempting to disclose deer on the same road where one of the deer was shot earlier in the week. At that time, the subject did not have a gun in his possession, but after being questioned, admitted to killing the two illegal deer. After obtaining a written confession, Lieutenant Lambert traveled to the second subject’s house and obtained a second written confession. The rifle was seized and charges were filed on both subjects for two counts of taking deer at night with a gun and light.
Officers Cushing and Barnard were on water patrol on the Escambia River. They received a complaint regarding multiple bait sites in the Escambia River Wildlife Management Area (WMA). While investigating this complaint, they came across a vessel in the described area. As they were getting out of their vessel on the bank, they observed a subject carrying an automated barrel feeder back to his boat. When confronted, he denied having any previous knowledge of the equipment. He stated that he was removing it from the area because he knew it was a violation. An inspection of his boat revealed a hand-held seed broadcaster with corn in it. Two areas were located with corn and hunting equipment in the immediate area. After a thorough investigation, the officers obtained a written statement from the subject and a citation was issued for placing bait in the WMA. In addition, one citation for an expired registration and several warnings for other boating safety and hunting violations were issued.
HOLMES COUNTY
Officer Yates was working night hunting when he observed a truck shining a field with a spotlight. He stopped the vehicle and observed a hunting rifle sitting between two individuals. The subjects admitted to hunting deer with the light and were issued citations. The driver also received citations for driving with a suspended license and attaching a tag not assigned to the vehicle.
Officers Jackson and Forehand responded to a complaint in an area where shots had been heard and, after conducting surveillance, observed a truck driving down the road shining a spotlight into a field. An inspection revealed three Alabama residents with four guns. An investigation revealed that they had permission to hunt the field for hogs; however, they had killed a fox. The driver was issued a citation for killing a fox.
GADSDEN COUNTY
Lieutenant Parker cited a Leon County man for willful and wanton waste of wildlife. The individual had shot a buck deer in the Joe Budd WMA which did not meet the antler length requirements for the area. The individual hid the deer and left the area. Another hunter had observed the violation. The FWC was notified and the subject was located the following day.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Officer Arnette received information that an individual was seen entering the Blackwater Wildlife Management Area with a centerfire rifle during muzzleloading season. Officer Arnette relayed the information to Officer Tison. Officer Tison went to the location where the individual was allegedly hunting. Upon inspection, the individual was found hunting with a 30-06 rifle and was cited for the violation.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Clark and Cushing and Federal Officer Demesillo were patrolling Gulf of Mexico federal waters in the FinCat (off-shore patrol vessel). Of the boats they inspected, three were found to be in violation. Federal citations were issued for possession of red snapper, gray triggerfish, red grouper, and gag grouper during a closed season.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Officer Kinney responded to a dog-hunting complaint in Hinson Crossroads. The complainant advised that a hunting dog was barking at his goats and trying to get in the pen. Officer Kinney arrived, caught the dog and notified the owner. After interviews were conducted, it was determined that the Westville resident had been hog hunting on the Choctawhatchee WMA and lost control of his dog allowing it to go on private property. He was charged with the violation and his dog was returned.
Lieutenant Walsingham was off duty when he encountered three individuals hunting while trespassing. Officer Jackson responded to assist. The three were charged with trespassing and one was also charged with possession of cannabis less than 20 grams.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
The FWC successfully kicked off the 6th annual Blackwater Family Hunt this past weekend with a pre-hunt safety meeting, free dinner and prize give-away. This event, organized by local officers and FWC staff, precedes the annual weekend family hunt in Blackwater. Numerous sponsors of the event provide everything from food and drinks to door prizes for the youth hunters. The weekend hunt started off with a bang as eight lucky hunters bagged deer on Saturday morning. Two more deer were taken that evening and a total of seven deer were taken on Sunday, making the hunt one of the most successful ever. There were approximately 90 people in attendance with approximately 45 of those being youth.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Officer J. Rockwell taught the laws portion of a Hunter Safety class at Okaloosa Correctional Institute. Thirty-two students were in attendance. Officer Rockwell answered questions about the new antler restrictions for the two different deer management units.
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