FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Report 12/19 - 12/31/2014

(Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.) FWC Division of Law Enforcement   Weekly Report December 19 thru December 31, 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 ESCAMBIA COUNTY Officer Hutchinson was patrolling the Escambia River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) when he checked a man and woman fishing. As he inquired about their success, he observed the woman go to the car and place something into her shirt. When he asked about the contents of the car, the subjects admitted that there was marijuana in the car. The woman handed over a bag of cannabis and was issued a notice to appear for possession of not more than 20 grams of cannabis. Officer Livesay was working night hunting this week due to the high number of complaints from local landowners. From a concealed location, Officer Livesay observed an occupant of a vehicle shine a light into a nearby farm field. This area is known for a large deer population. Officer Livesay stopped the vehicle, identified two occupants and discovered they had a loaded rifle between them in the front seat. Officer Livesay seized the gun and light and issued both individuals a notice to appear citation for the violation. SANTA ROSA COUNTY Officer Hutchinson and Lieutenant Hahr were patrolling near the Escambia River WMA when they observed a car parked near a hunting club gate. When they pulled up to the car, they realized that a woman had hidden from them as they went by. They stopped to investigate and were told by the woman that she had just stopped to text her son. Drug paraphernalia was observed in the console, a glass pipe with a piece of crack cocaine ready for smoking was discovered on the floorboard. More crack and paraphernalia was found under the seat. The woman was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and taken to the Santa Rosa County Jail. BAY COUNTY Officers Brady and Moore responded to a report of a sailboat discharging fuel into the local waters around St. Andrews Marina. Upon arrival, they found a moored sailboat that had a large sheen emanating from the stern of the vessel. The US Coast Guard (USCG) was notified of the situation and further investigation found the vessel’s owner to be on board working on the engine. The bilge of the vessel was full of oil and diesel fuel. Officer Brady issued the owner a citation for the unlawful discharge. Officers Wicker, Basford, and Waring responded to a boating accident with injuries.   The accident happened when two fishers that were leaving a canal by water struck a tree that was sticking up in the canal. The collision caused one occupant to injure his hand and bruise his back and legs. Officer Waring responded to the hospital as Officers Wicker and Basford conducted the accident investigation. The boat’s operator was cited for failure to maintain proper lookout. Officer Brady responded to Grayton Beach State Park in reference to a complaint from two of the park’s Rangers that a subject was illegally hunting within the park. Officer Brady located a parked truck that had foot tracks leading onto the park property. Officer Brady later located a bow hunter in a tree stand. The hunter was cited for hunting within a state park. CALHOUN COUNTY Officer Baber was working night-hunting activity in the Kinard area of Calhoun County when, just before midnight, a truck came by his location and turned into a field directly in front of him. The operator of the vehicle immediately began to shine the field with a spotlight. Officer Baber continued to observe the vehicle and allowed the operator to shine the entire field and then depart. The vehicle traveled a short distance down the road, turned around, and headed back to Officer Baber’s position. The operator then shined the woods on the opposite side of the road of the field he had previously shined. Upon conducting a stop of the vehicle, Officer Baber located a high-powered rifle and a .22 caliber rifle. The operator was also found in possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis. Citations for attempting to take deer at night and possession of cannabis were issued. GADSDEN COUNTY Officer Brower received a complaint of night-hunting activities in the Ashton road area. Officer Brower made contact with two subjects standing behind a vehicle down a two-rut road. When asked if they had heard any shots in the area, they replied “No.” While talking to one of the subjects and walking with him to the back yard, Officer Brower shined his light and noticed a deer feeder and what appeared to be a white-tail deer lying next to a large box. The subject admitted to shooting the deer. Officer Brower approached the deer and saw that it was wounded and struggling to break the rope that was tied around its horn, tethering it to a tree. The deer was put down by Officer Brower and citations were issued for attempting to take deer during a closed season or at night and no recreational non-resident license. The deer and the rifle were seized.

http://live.oysterradio.com/