FWC Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report June 10 through June 16, 2016

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FWC

Division of Law Enforcement

 

 Weekly Report

June 10 through June 16, 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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Aboard the offshore patrol vessel Guardian, Lieutenant Marlow and Officers Boutwell, Fletcher and Raker boarded a vessel approximately 35 miles south of Carrabelle. The officers found eight undersized red snapper on the vessel. On another stop, the officers boarded a commercial vessel approximately 25 miles south of Apalachicola. This stop resulted in finding reef fish being used as bait and undersized vermillion snapper. The appropriate action was taken in each case.

While conducting night patrol in the area of Cat Point in Eastpoint, Officers Nelson and Raker located a commercial vessel with two individuals aboard who were harvesting oysters. When the officers observed the vessel, a large amount of oysters was aboard the vessel. The appropriate action was taken for the offense.

JACKSON COUNTY

Officers Jackson, Burkhead, and Guy checked two fishermen who were bow fishing on the Apalachicola River. Upon inspecting their catch, the officers found game fish that had been shot with a bow or gigged. Both fishermen were charged with taking game fish by illegal method.

Lieutenant and Officer Forehand were conducting boating safety inspections at Merritt’s Mill Pond when they observed a vessel operator trim the prop of his motor to the water line, within two feet of two people on a float, and engage the motor to spray the individuals with his prop. The officers watched the vessel operator do this three times. The operator was charged with reckless operation of a vessel.

OKALOOSA COUNTY

Officer Molnar conducted a public safety stop on a vehicle. Once he made contact with the driver, Officer Molnar detected an overwhelming odor of unburnt cannabis coming from the vehicle. He called for assistance and when backup arrived, a search of the vehicle revealed 46.9 grams of cannabis (felony amount) and a loaded 9mm handgun. After his Miranda warning was read, the driver claimed ownership of the cannabis and firearm. The driver was booked into the Okaloosa County Jail and charged with a felony for possession of cannabis greater than 20 grams and possession of a firearm while in the commission of a third degree felony.

Officers Pifer and Molnar pulled alongside an anchored sailboat to speak with a subject on board about the expired registration. While speaking with the subject, Officer Molnar detected an odor of unburnt cannabis coming from the sailboat. A search of the sailboat was conducted and a total of 2.7 grams of unburnt cannabis was located inside the cabin. Officer Molnar issued the subject a notice to appear for possession of cannabis less than 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also issued a boating citation for expired registration.

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

Officers Hutchinson and Clark were on vehicle patrol at Marquis Basin Boat Ramp when they observed a male subject pull a pontoon boat from the water and noticed that he had left a Yeti cooler on the dock. They contacted the vehicle operator and informed him that the cooler was left behind. While the operator retrieved the cooler, he showed signs of impairment. The officers began to conduct field sobriety tasks on the operator, but the operator refused to complete the tasks. The officers determined that the operator was impaired and he was arrested for DUI. He was transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail and refused to provide a breath sample.

Officers Manning and Allgood patrolled offshore in federal waters this weekend conducting fisheries inspections. They documented 11 federal violations for possession of red snapper in a closed season and also documented two state infractions and three written warnings.

RESCUES

BAY COUNTY

Officers Gore, Waring, and Brady responded to an overdue vessel near the Hathaway Bridge. Two individuals were overdue on a jet ski and were last seen headed north from the Hathaway Bridge. The FWC and Bay County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit also responded. The Aviation Unit located two subjects floating in the water after an hour of searching. Both were unharmed, but very cold. They had been in the water for about three hours. The vessel was located nearby with only the bow exposed. Both subjects were returned to land and cleared by Emergency Medical Service.

JACKSON COUNTY

The FWC received a report in the early morning hours of an overdue fisherman on Lake Seminole. The fisherman’s wife stated that he should have returned by 5:00 p.m. the day before. Officers Burkhead, Forehand and Guy responded. After a three-hour search, the fisherman was located in Georgia waters of Lake Seminole and was brought safely to shore.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

JACKSON COUNTY

Officer Burkhead assisted with a father and son fishing tournament hosted by the Park Service. He spoke to the group about the role of the FWC and assisted with the tournament itself.

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