FWC
Division of Law Enforcement
Weekly Report
August 15 - August 21, 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 Kinney was working the Panama City Pass when he was flagged down by Officer Basford. Officer Basford was off duty, but had observed a subject illegally spear fishing the jetties at the St. Andrew's State Park. He provided Officer Kinney with the location and description. Officer Kinney arrived at the location and observed the individual as he got back into his boat with the spear gun and fish. The subject was cited for spear fishing within 100 feet of a jetty and a written warning for no dive flag.
Officer Gore was on water patrol on Deerpoint Lake when he observed two subjects operating a PWC without PFD’s. A stop was made and when the operator opened the console of the PWC, a bag of cannabis could be seen in plain view. The operator was cited for possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis and written warnings were issued for the boating violations.
Officer Gore was working the opening of the alligator hunting season when he noticed a truck and trailer at a Crooked Creek boat ramp that had been at a boat ramp on Deerpoint Lake the previous night. When he checked the truck, he noted a large pool of congealed blood in the bed of the truck. Officer Gore waited for the vessel to return and around 1:30 a.m., the vessel returned to the ramp. A resource inspection was conducted on the two subjects in the vessel who possessed alligator trapping licenses. In the vessel was a tagged 8‑foot alligator. When Officer Gore inspected the tag, it popped open when touched and a closer inspection revealed the tag had been altered. The hunters had another tag with them and it also appeared to have been altered. When asked about the blood in the bed of the truck, one hunter said he had to put down a dog. When the hunters were told they had been observed night hunting on Deerpoint Lake the previous night, they said the blood was from an alligator killed that night. They went on to say the altered tag on the current alligator was the one they had used the previous night. When asked where the other alligator was, the hunters said it had been cleaned at one of their residences. The hunters took Officer Gore to the residence where Officer Palmer met him to assist. Four gallon bags of alligator meat and an alligator head were located at the residence. Citations for possession of untagged alligator meat and unattached CITES tags were issued. The 8‑foot alligator, the four bags of meat, the alligator head, and the two altered CITES tags were seized.
Officer Webb was working the opening weekend of alligator season and on his way from Lake Wimico to St. Joe Bay, he noticed a vessel pull into the Highland View Boat Ramp. There were four people on board and he could see offshore tackle on board the vessel as well. Officer Webb asked the fishermen if they had any fish and one of the men responded that they had some grouper. Officer Webb then proceeded to inspect their catch. Inside the large fish box were several grouper. Further inspection revealed three large red snapper underneath the grouper and ice. The out‑of‑state fishermen were written citations for possession of red snapper out of season and the snapper were seized as evidence.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Cushing received a complaint through dispatch that an individual was spearing egg-bearing blue crabs on the jetty at Ft. Pickens. The complainant advised that he informed the subject that it was unlawful to spear blue crabs, but despite the warning, the subject continued. Because of the accurate description of the individual and vessel, Officer Cushing was able to locate the subject. Upon initial contact, the subject was reluctant to come forth and admit that he had harvested anything. The inspection revealed eight speared blue crabs, six of which were egg-bearing. The subject was issued a citation for illegal harvest of egg-bearing blue crabs.
Officers Hutchinson and Ramos were working the Escambia River when they observed a vessel return to a boat ramp after participating in the statewide alligator harvest. When they checked the vessel, they observed an 8‑foot alligator in the airboat. The alligator was not tagged as required. After further investigation, the officers determined that one of the hunters was not properly licensed and that he shot the alligator with a pistol, a prohibited method. The officers seized the alligator, firearm, and other necessary evidence and issued the appropriate citations.
After receiving a complaint, Investigator Wilkenson conducted a site inspection of a yard trash facility. Investigator Wilkenson observed a large commercial quantity of yard trash debris on the property along with a log splitter and a portable tree grinder. It was determined the yard trash debris was an offsite generated material being stored and processed at an unpermitted facility. This past March, the owner of the tree removal business was educated on the permit requirements for storing offsite generated material through an operation plan initiative in educating through outreach efforts. The owner was issued a citation for storing/processing yard trash debris at an unpermitted facility, a first degree misdemeanor.
HOLMES COUNTY
Lieutenant Walsingham and Officer Brooks responded to a call of an intoxicated female creating a disturbance at Ponce De Leon State Park. Upon arrival, they encountered a female drinking beer and sitting in a golf cart. She was mumbling and unaware of her surroundings. The park ranger stated that the female was very intoxicated, talking to herself, and yelling at kids that weren't there. She had approached the ranger's golf cart and placed all her items in the back and told him that she was going to take the cart home and her husband would bring it back after work. He told her that she could not use the cart and she attempted to drive away. He removed the keys and prevented her from leaving. She was determined to be a threat to herself and others due to her intoxication and was transported to Holmes County Jail for further observation. She was also issued a citation for consumption of alcohol in the state park and a trespass warning.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Lieutenant Berryman was on vessel patrol in Bayou Texar when he heard a call for assistance over the VHF radio. The complainant advised that his sailboat was almost struck by another sailboat and that the people on board appeared to be in a fight. Once on scene, Lieutenant Berryman observed three white males on a 32‑foot sailboat with the sail flapping in the wind and blood from bow to stern. Two of the three subjects were bleeding; one from his right hand and the other from his face. One of these two subjects, the operator of the vessel, appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The U.S. Coast Guard arrived to assist and all three subjects were brought back to shore where interviews were conducted. It was learned the owner of the boat struck the operator of the boat in the face because he was drunk and passed out at the helm. Lieutenant Berryman requested the operator to perform some standardized field sobriety tasks and he agreed to do so. After failing several tasks, the operator of the vessel was placed under arrest for BUI and transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail for booking. In addition, the owner of the boat was arrested for battery and also transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail.
While on water patrol on Santa Rosa Sound near Navarre, Officer Jones and Lieutenant Clark found an abandoned derelict 24-foot Capri sailboat near the shoreline and adjacent to a private home. Officer Jones and Investigator Schafer contacted and interviewed the registered owner. The officers explained to him that it was his responsibility to remove the derelict and that he could avoid misdemeanor charges by doing so. The owner was sent a registered letter advising him of the same information and allowing five days to remove the derelict. After more than the allotted time had passed, Officer Jones confirmed that the derelict had not been removed. He contacted the owner and issued a notice to appear (citation) on a misdemeanor charge of allowing a vessel to become derelict on the waters of the State of Florida.
Officer Pineda was on water patrol when he observed a vessel violating the no wake zone around the Navarre Beach Boat Ramp. He stopped the vessel and observed signs of impairment with the operator. In addition, the passenger was also showing signs of impairment. Officer Pineda asked the operator of the vessel to undergo some field sobriety tasks and he agreed to do so. After conducting several field sobriety tasks, it was determined that the operator vessel was in fact under the influence of alcohol or drugs and was placed under arrest for BUI. He was transported and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail.
Officer Lewis and Lieutenant Hahr were patrolling around Bear Lake in the Blackwater River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) when they observed a vessel returning to a primitive site. After the subjects loaded their boat, the officers inspected the vessel. There were four black bass in the boat and one was clearly under the 12‑inch minimum. While inspecting the vessel further, they located what appeared to be a meth pipe and a cannabis pipe. A small amount of cannabis was also located in the suspect’s truck. The man was issued notices to appear for possession of not more than 20 grams of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of undersized black bass.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
During the weekend of the Emerald Coast Poker Run, Investigator Armstrong and Officer Molnar conducted a vessel stop at Crab Island for failure to display FL numbers. The operator of the vessel showed multiple signs of impairment and agreed to perform field sobriety tasks. Upon the conclusion of the tasks, Officer Molnar arrested the subject for BUI and was transported to U.S. Coast Guard Destin. He provided a breath sample of .123 and .127. The subject was also issued citations for insufficient number of PFD’s and operating an unregistered vessel.
Officer Maltais responded to assist the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office regarding a missing swimmer off Marler Park in Fort Walton Beach. The search involved Okaloosa County SO Dive Team/Marine Unit, Okaloosa Island Fire/EMS, U.S. Coast Guard Destin and FWC. Officer Maltais and Okaloosa County identified the subject’s location the vessel’s side scan sonar late in the evening. Officer Molnar responded the following morning with the Okaloosa County Dive Team and the drowned victim was recovered.
Officer Nichols checked three subjects on the Eglin WMA that were unable to produce daily use permits. A records check of a hand gun found in their possession determined it was stolen from Alabama. The subjects were cited for not having permits and entering the property during prohibited hours. The firearm was seized and Officer Nichols will work with Alabama authorities to return it to the owner.
Officer Arnette responded to a search and rescue on the Blackwater River after receiving information of four stranded subjects that had all been floating on a tube. The tube was damaged from brush in the river and was deflated. A canoe was used to float down to the subject’s location and transport them down river where they had left their vehicle. Baker and Munson Fire Departments responded to assist with the search.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Officer Yates received information from the Washington County Sheriff's Office regarding an individual who was supposedly in possession of a venomous snake. After an interview, the subject showed Officer Yates an Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake in an aquarium located in the living room of the home. He stated that he had been in possession of the snake for several years. The individual was cited for no venomous reptile permit and issued three written warnings for caging requirement violations. The snake was released back into the wild.
COP (Community Oriented Policing)
Lieutenant Hollinhead attended a meeting with a County Commissioner and homeowners about nuisance Canadian geese at lakes in a residential area. The homeowners were provided information for obtaining a Federal permit to protect their property and deter further damage.
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