FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Report April 15 through April 21, 2016

FWC

Division of Law Enforcement

 

Weekly Report

April 15 through April 21, 2016

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

CASES

BAY COUNTY

Captive Wildlife Investigator Williams received a call from Tallahassee Communication Center in reference to a call they received from Bay County Emergency Medical Services. They advised that they had transported a male subject to Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center in Panama City the prior evening who had been bitten by his Monocled Cobra.  Captive Wildlife Investigators Williams and Louque made contact with the subject at his residence. The male subject had been released from the hospital earlier that morning. The subject had been bitten with one fang to the left index finger at the knuckle and had swelling in the hand, fingers and some light swelling in his forearm.  He stated that he was feeding the snake at the time he was bitten.  The subject is a licensed venomous reptile permit holder with FWC.

OKALOOSA COUNTY

Officer Molnar was on vessel patrol in the Destin Harbor and observed a personal watercraft (PWC) in violation of the idle speed/no wake zone. During the vessel stop, it was discovered the operator had an active arrest warrant out of Okeechobee for a family order offense. The subject was arrested and transported to the Okaloosa County Jail. He was also issued a boating infraction citation for the idle speed zone violation.

Officers Pifer and Corbin were on vessel patrol conducting state fisheries inspections in the Destin Pass.  They responded to a complaint of snorkelers spearfishing along the east jetty.  When the officers arrived, they located/observed two individuals snorkeling/spearfishing along the east jetty.  The individuals were issued a notice to appear citations for spearfishing within 100 feet of the unsubmerged portion of a jetty.  Later in the day, the officers conducted fisheries inspections on two recreational vessels returning from a fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico. The inspection revealed that each boat was in possession of an undersized gray triggerfish.  Both operators were issued a notice to appear citation.

Officers Pifer and Corbin were on vessel patrol in the intra-coastal water of the Santa Rosa Sound.  They were investigating a complaint of vessel trespass regarding several sailboats tied to a private dock.  Officer Corbin coordinated with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office in locating the owners.  The officers observed two individuals on one of the sailboats.  It was determined that one of the individuals had an active warrant out of Alabama.  The individual was arrested and transported to the Okaloosa County Jail. The other individual was identified as the owner of the sailboat.  The individual was issued a notice to appear citation for failure to transfer title/no vessel registration. The sailboat owner was issued a trespass warning.

DIRECTED CONSERVATION PATROLS

FRANKLIN COUNTY

FWC law enforcement personnel from around the state conducted Operation ‘Once Again' from November 2015 through March 2016. The operation was organized and executed as a concerted effort to stem the harvest of sub-legal sized oysters from Apalachicola Bay and to enhance the shellfish stock populations within the bay.  The operation revolved around the implementation of oyster check stations at two locations in the county.  At these check stations, all commercially harvested oysters were visually inspected for size tolerance compliance. During the detail, 164 conservation officers participated in manning the check stations as well as conducting water patrol for size tolerance enforcement.  These officers checked 5,443 commercial harvesters.  The officers also visually inspected 14,504 bags of oysters.  During the inspection of the commercially harvested product, officers issued 55 warnings for size tolerance violations, along with 12 warnings for various other violations.  The officers issued 56 citations for size tolerance violations, along with 35 citations for various other violations.

OKALOOSA COUNTY

The south end FWC officers conducted derelict vessel investigations which resulted in the removal of 15 vessels from state waters.  All identified owners or responsible individuals were issued notice to appear citations.  The officers’ investigations spanned a timeframe from October 2015 to present.  Their investigations included coordinating with Okaloosa County Public Works, City of Destin and City of Fort Walton Beach.

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

Officer Lewis checked various campsites and campers throughout Blackwater River State Forest.  The increasingly clear weather is resulting in a large number of campers in the primitive areas.  He issued various warnings and citations for forestry violations such as possession of alcoholic beverages in posted areas and driving on closed roads.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

Officers Lewis and Clark presented the laws portion of the Hunter Education class at the Jay Community Center. 

Officer Ramos attended a kids fishing clinic at the Navy MWR Whiting Park.  He displayed his patrol boat and talked to the children about boating safety and fishing regulations.  Several children attended this annual event.

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