FWC Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report July 1 through July 7, 2016

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FWC

Division of Law Enforcement

 

Weekly Report

July 1 through July 7, 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

Felony litter charges were filed by Environmental Investigator Brown in connection with the dumping of a mobile home on St. Joe Timberland property. Investigator Brown’s investigation revealed that the suspect was paid to tow a mobile office unit from a construction site to the local landfill for disposal; however, the suspect tried to sell the unit to a third party. When the deal fell through, and the suspect developed mechanical problems while towing the unit, he abandoned it on St. Joe Timberland property. After a three-month investigation, the suspect was ultimately identified through a combination of leads developed during a neighborhood canvas and follow-up with state and local agencies. The volume of the unit was calculated at over 6,000 cubic feet and the cost of disposal is estimated to be between $2,000 and $5,000. The suspect is currently awaiting trial for environmental charges.

Officers T. Basford, S. Wicker and Major Rowe were patrolling the waters of St. Andrews Bay at night in the area of Grand Lagoon and observed a vessel without its bow navigational lights on. They conducted a vessel stop and the operator appeared to be under the influence. After the operator completed the field sobriety tasks, it was confirmed that he was impaired. The operator was arrested for boating under the influence (BUI) and cited for inoperable navigational light and refusal to submit to a breath test.

Officer Palmer was on night water patrol near Carl Grey Park when he observed a vessel with no navigational lights heading to the boat ramp. When Officer Palmer conducted a stop, the operator told Officer Palmer that he had just checked his crab traps and was heading back to the ramp. Officer Palmer conducted a resource inspection and found ten whole stone crabs in a bucket at the stern of the vessel. The operator was issued a citation for possession of stone crabs out of season and a written warning for possession of whole stone crabs. The crabs were returned to the water alive.

WAKULLA COUNTY

Officers Robb and Nelson were patrolling the Wakulla River when a vessel drove by on full plane. After the vessel passed, the officers identified the operator of the vessel and conducted a vessel stop. Immediately the officers smelled a strong odor of alcohol and observed multiple signs of impairment from the operator. After conducting field sobriety tasks, the subject was placed under arrest for BUI and was booked into jail. The subject provided a breath sample of .218 BrAC.

Officer Raker was conducting state park patrol in the Cherokee Sink portion of Wakulla Springs State Park when he made contact with eight individuals who had not paid the park entrance fee and were in the park after hours. While speaking with the individuals, one of the individuals fled the scene on foot into the wooded area of the park. Officer Raker pursued the individual on foot and located him a short time later. The individual complied this time and was transported to the Wakulla County Jail. Officer Nelson arrived on scene to assist and the appropriate actions were taken for all individuals.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

While conducting an offshore patrol aboard the patrol vessel GUARDIAN south of Franklin County in federal waters, Lieutenant Marlow, Officers Boutwell, Fletcher and Raker conducted numerous vessel stops in federal waters. During the patrol, a commercial vessel was stopped and was found to be in possession of undersized vermillion snapper and using reef fish for bait. Other vessel stops resulted in multiple cases for possession of undersized and over the bag limit of red snapper. The appropriate actions were taken for these violations.

While conducting offshore vessel patrol aboard the patrol vessel GUARDIAN south of Franklin and Gulf counties, Lieutenant Marlow, Officers Raker, Hughes and Nelson conducted numerous fisheries inspections of both commercial and recreational vessels in federal waters. A stop of one vessel approximately 20 miles offshore, resulted in locating multiple red snapper during federal closure. Another stop resulted in an undersized greater amberjack being thrown overboard upon the approach of the law enforcement vessel during federal closure for greater amberjack. The evidence was quickly recovered. The stop of a commercial vessel approximately 50 miles offshore resulted in finding a fillet of an amberjack and the use of reef fish for bait. The stop of a commercial longline vessel approximately 70 miles southwest of Carrabelle resulted in locating an excessive amount of gear aboard the vessel. The appropriate action was taken for these violations.

GADSDEN COUNTY

Captive Wildlife Investigators Williams and Louque received a complaint about a subject purchasing a bobcat from out of state. Investigators Williams and Louque interviewed the suspect and confirmed the suspect did purchase and possess a bobcat kitten; however, the suspect did not possess a valid license to possess the bobcat. A citation was issued for violation.

OKALOOSA COUNTY

While patrolling at a recreational swimming area within the Blackwater State Forest, Lieutenant Hahr, Officers Clark and Hutchinson observed a woman holding a glass container while in the creek. After making contact with her, she was issued a citation for possession of a glass container while in a waterway. After issuing the citation, the officers overheard the man ask the woman if she had told them his name. They made contact with the man who admitted to having a warrant for his arrest. The officers confirmed a warrant for failure to pay child support. The subject was placed under arrest and transported to the Okaloosa County Jail.

Officers Pifer, Bartlett and two Petty Officers from U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Station Destin conducted a Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) Detail in the Destin Harbor. Throughout the day, the officers focused on inspecting charter vessels returning from offshore and local live-a-boards. A total of 15 vessels and 48 users where checked. Out of the 15 vessels, 8 of them were issued citations for MSD violations and 1 was issued a written warning.

Officers Molnar, Bartlett and Major Rowe conducted a vessel stop at Crab Island for violation of the idle speed zone. Upon making contact, the operator showed multiple signs of impairment. After field alcohol tasks were conducted, Officer Molnar arrested the operator for BUI. The subject later provided a breath sample of .130 BrAC and .142 BrAC. The subject was booked into the Okaloosa County Jail for BUI and issued a citation for violation of the idle speed zone.

Officers Pifer and Corbin were on routine water patrol in the Destin Harbor when they observed a charter fishing vessel return to its slip with fishing gear and customers on board. A fisheries inspection was conducted and three undersized red snapper and one undersized cobia were found. Citations were issued for the violations.

Officers Pifer and Corbin were on routine water patrol near Crab Island when they observed a rental pontoon boat violating the idle speed zone. A vessel stop was initiated, during which the operator showed signs of impairment. Field sobriety tasks were conducted and based on the operator’s performance, the operator was arrested for BUI. The operator was transported to USCG Station Destin and provided a breath sample of 0.122 BrAC and 0.127 BrAC.

Officers Bartlett and Molnar were on water patrol at Crab Island when they observed a passenger on a jet ski that was wearing an improper life jacket. After making contact with the operator about the violation, Officer Bartlett observed several signs of impairment. The operator agreed to perform field sobriety tasks which he performed poorly on. Officer Bartlett arrested the individual for BUI and later he refused to provide a breath sample. The individual was booked into the Okaloosa County Jail for operating a vessel while normal facilities impaired. He was also issued an infraction for the safety violation and refusal to submit to lawful breath test.

Officers Pifer, Bartlett and Major Rowe were on water patrol in the Destin Harbor when they observed two different pontoon vessels that were not displaying any navigation lights. Both of the vessels’ navigation lights were determined to be non-operational and were rented from two different liveries nearby. Officers Pifer and Bartlett made contact with both liveries and cited two different individuals for renting a vessel without the proper safety equipment.

Officers Bartlett, Pifer and Major Rowe were on water patrol in the Destin Harbor when they observed a vessel that was not displaying any navigation lights. When the officers initiated a vessel stop, the operator stepped away from the helm and another person on board took over operation of the vessel. Officer Bartlett made contact with the individual who was initially operating the vessel and advised him the reason for the stop; he then began a boating safety inspection. Throughout the inspection, the individual displayed several signs of impairment. When asked to perform field sobriety tasks, the individual agreed after a few minutes of hesitation. Officer Bartlett arrested the individual for BUI after performing poorly on the tasks. He was booked into the Okaloosa County Jail for operating a vessel while normal facilities were impaired. He was also issued a citation for refusal to submit to a lawful breath test and for the navigation lights violation.

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

Officer Ramos observed an ATV traveling on a paved public highway and initiated a traffic stop. When he activated his lights and siren, the operator of the ATV veered off the highway and attempted to lose the officer in the woods. Officer Ramos intercepted the man in a nearby mobile home park and a foot chase ensued. After several minutes of running, the man attempted to hide inside a mobile home. Santa Rosa Sherriff’s Office and FHP assisted by maintaining a perimeter around the home until the subject finally surrendered several hours later. A cursory search of the mobile home revealed illegal narcotics. The man was booked into the county jail for fleeing and attempting to elude and narcotics charges.

While on patrol in the Blackwater State Forest, Officers Clark and Hutchinson observed a male subject recreating at a camp site near a creek. While speaking with him, they discovered that the subject was consuming alcoholic beverages in an area where alcoholic beverages are prohibited. After the subject consented to a search of the camp, the officers located a container containing a bag of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. While continuing the search of the subject’s belongings, they discovered a bag containing several syringes and two baggies of methamphetamine. The subject admitted to possessing the methamphetamine but denied ownership of the marijuana. He claimed that the marijuana belonged to a female friend who left the camp earlier in the day. The subject was placed under arrest and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail.

While patrolling at night in the parking lot of a boat ramp at the Blackwater River, Officers Clark and Hutchinson observed a vehicle parked in a restricted area. The officers pulled next to the vehicle and observed two subjects inside the vehicle. The officers made contact with the female subject who was seated in the driver’s seat. While speaking with her, they observed her making several overt movements as if trying to conceal something. The officers gained consent to search the vehicle. They made contact with the male passenger of the vehicle, who admitted to possessing a bag of methamphetamine. The officers located the methamphetamine and illegal drug paraphernalia inside of the vehicle. After further investigation, the female subject admitted to possessing the illegal drugs and paraphernalia. Both subjects were placed under arrest, transported and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail.

Lieutenant Hahr and Officer Hutchinson were patrolling by vessel during the fireworks event at the Blackwater River. While patrolling after the event, they observed a vessel occupied by four subjects who were shouting at several subjects on the shore. The officers noticed that the vessel didn’t have the required navigational lights. They conducted a stop on the vessel and made contact with the man who was operating the vessel. The subject had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath. While conducting a vessel safety equipment inspection, the man showed several signs of impairment. He consented to one field sobriety task, but when asked to perform more tasks, he refused. Based on the several indicators of impairment, the man was placed under arrest for BUI. A female passenger who was under the age of 21 was also found to be in possession of an alcoholic beverage. The female was charged with possession of an alcoholic beverage by a person under 21 years of age. The operator was transported and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail. While at the jail, the subject was found to be in possession of a concealed handcuff key. The subject was charged with two felony counts for possession of the hand cuff key while in custody and introduction of contraband into a jail.

RESCUES

OKALOOSA COUNTY

Officers Molnar, Jarvis and Investigator Armstrong responded to a possible drowning at the Destin Bridge. Upon arrival, the officers observed a subject holding onto a bridge span in strong tidal current. The subject was rescued from the water with minor injuries. The following day, the father of the individual called to express how thankful he was to the officers who rescued his son from the dangerous situation.

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