FWC Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report October 16, thru October 23, 2015

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FWC

Division of Law Enforcement

 

Weekly Report

October 16, thru October 23, 2015

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

Lieutenant Chesser and Officer Wicker were dispatched to an early morning call from the Bay County Sheriff’s Department requesting assistance with a possible boating accident and/or impaired operator and one subject was reported to have fled.  The officers arrived on scene to find the vessel in question had been towed to shore by good Samaritans and that one subject was under arrest for outstanding warrants.  The operator of the vessel was interviewed concerning the incident and several discrepancies were noted during the interview.  Once these were pointed out, the operator stated there were three of them that had departed from a local landing and were taking crabs from traps, which explained the cooler of blue crabs found in the boat that towed them in.  When asked why the third person had fled from the deputies, the operator said they didn’t know.  A written statement was obtained and the crabs seized.  The next morning, Officer Wicker interviewed the subject, who was arrested at the county jail and he said they not only stole crabs, but also had been alligator hunting.  That afternoon, Lieutenant Chesser received a call from the Sheriff’s Department stating they had information from a source that said the third person didn’t flee, but may have been killed.  Lieutenant Chesser met with deputies the next morning and, after a short search, found and recovered the body of the third boater.  Officer Wicker obtained an arrest warrant for felony trap robbing for the operator, who was arrested that evening. As of now, both subjects are being held in the Bay County Jail each charged with an open count of murder and felony trap robbing.

OKALOOSA COUNTY

The following state fisheries cases resulted in citations issued this past week: Officers Pifer and Molnar were on foot patrol conducting state fisheries inspections at the annual Destin Fishing Rodeo.  The officers were in plain clothes. They observed a vessel pull up to the weigh station barge and unload a small cobia from the fish box. Knowing the cobia was undersized, Officer Molnar identified himself and made contact with the vessel operator to address the violation. The cobia measured just under 30 ½ inches and the subject was issued a notice to appear citation for possession of undersized cobia. Officer Pifer was on vehicle/foot patrol conducting state fisheries inspections in the Mary Esther area.  Officer Pifer observed two individuals actively engaged in fishing in a freshwater lake.  Officer Pifer made contact with the individuals and conducted a fisheries and license inspection.  The fisheries inspection of a red cooler revealed multiple freshwater pan fish, one striped bass, and seven red drum. All of the red drum were undersized and a citation was issued to the individuals.

Officer Pifer was dispatched to a boating accident at a local marina in Ft. Walton Beach (FWB).   While investigating the boating accident, Officer Pifer determined that one of the vessel’s occupants had an active warrant out of Okaloosa County for failure to pay child support. The individual was placed under arrest and was transported by the FWB Police Department to the Okaloosa County Jail.

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

Officer Hutchinson was patrolling an area when he observed a truck parked against a tree line with only its tail lights on.  He pulled behind the vehicle and observed a male subject sitting in the vehicle. He observed the subject look back at him and then turn and lean over towards the passenger floorboard area.  Officer Hutchinson walked to the driver side door of the vehicle and observed the subject place an object inside the waist band in the front of his shorts.  The subject then tried to exit the vehicle after Officer Hutchinson gave him commands to stay in the vehicle.  The subject ignored the officer’s commands and exited the vehicle and then threw a small pouch into the bed of the truck. Officer Hutchinson handcuffed the subject and located a small nylon case that contained methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Officer Lewis arrived on scene and assisted Officer Hutchinson in searching the vehicle.  During the search, the officers discovered more drug paraphernalia and equipment used to manufacture methamphetamine.  The officers contacted the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office who impounded the truck.  The suspect was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The following day, the Sheriff’s Office obtained a search warrant for the vehicle.  While searching the vehicle, they observed an active meth lab inside of one of the bags in the bed area of the vehicle along with other drug paraphernalia.  An additional charge of manufacture of methamphetamine was added to the list of charges against the suspect.

WAKULLA COUNTY         

While working Apalachicola Wildlife Management Area close to midnight, Officers Marlow and Raker observed a utility task vehicle (UTV) cross the road in front of them carrying multiple people.  The UTV was operating on an unauthorized road as well as in an unauthorized area.  The officers observed multiple other UTVs and ATVs coming from the same direction.  Through the use of an unmarked vehicle and special tactics, the officers were able to stop nine of the next ten vehicles.  The officers observed and addressed violations for damage to state managed lands, open container of alcohol, operating a motor vehicle on an unnumbered road, and operating an ATV in an unauthorized area.  The officers issued citations and verbal warnings for the violations.

OKALOOSA COUNTY

Officer J. Rockwell taught the laws portion of a Hunter Safety class. He answered questions about the deer management units and various rules and regulations. There were 33 students in attendance.

Officers assigned to the north end of Okaloosa and Walton Counties made contact with 58 landowners to provide them with their contact information and encourage them to call if they have any issues with trespass or game violations during the upcoming hunting season.

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