FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Report July 6, 2018 through July 19, 2018

(Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.) FWC   Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report July 6, 2018 through July 19, 2018 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 ESCAMBIA COUNTY Officers Clark and Long were on vessel patrol in Quietwater Beach. The officers saw a male and female on a vessel arguing. Officer Clark stopped the vessel and spoke to the operator. While he was conducting a safety inspection, Officer Clark could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. He also noticed his eyes were very bloodshot and glassy. He asked the operator if he had been drinking and he advised he had. Officer Clark asked the operator if he would submit to field sobriety tasks (FST) and he agreed. After the conclusion of the FSTs, the operator was arrested for BUI. A breath sample of .223 blood alcohol content and .224 blood alcohol content was obtained. FRANKLIN COUNTY Officers Travis and Stephens were on patrol in the Apalachicola Bay. The officers boarded a vessel returning from fishing to conduct a resource inspection. Officer Travis asked the subjects on board if they had any fish to which one stated “yes” and the other stated “no.” After further inspection, Officer Travis discovered an undersized gag grouper. The grouper was seized for evidence and the owner cited for the violation. GADSDEN COUNTY Officer Jones was on patrol off Iron Bridge Road and the Ochlockonee River when he saw a vehicle parked at the boat ramp. He walked the river’s edge and saw two males with their backs towards him. One of the subjects was in possession of an assault style weapon. Officer Jones identified himself from a position of advantage and told the subject with the weapon to put it down. The subject complied and appeared very nervous. Officer Jones asked the subject with the weapon if it was his and the subject replied that it belonged to a friend. The subject only gave the owner’s first name stating he did not know his last name. Officer Jones collected the weapon observing the serial number was altered and walked back to the boat ramp with the subjects. Officer Jones secured the weapon in his vehicle and asked the subjects for identification. They stated they were in the center console. Officer Jones asked if it was ok if he retrieved the licenses and the subject said it would be fine. When Officer Jones opened the console he saw a clear bag that appeared to contain marijuana. The ID was under the drugs. Officer Jones collected the drugs and secured them in his vehicle. Officer Jones arrested the subject with the firearm for possession of a weapon with an altered serial number. The other subject was issued a notice to appear for the drugs. The following day Officer Jones received a call from the Tallahassee Police Department regarding a burglary where an AR 15 was stolen. After meeting with the police officer, it was determined that the subject in possession of the weapon at the Ochlockonee River was at the residence prior to the firearm being stolen. JEFFERSON COUNTY While conducting vessel patrol on the Wacissa River, Officer Wilcox saw a vessel approaching the boat ramp at the headwaters. When the occupants of the vessel saw her standing on the dock, they pulled to a stop in the grass opposite the dock. Officer Wilcox called the operator over to her twice before he complied. During the boating safety inspection, the vessel operator showed several signs of impairment and Officer Wilcox could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the operator. The operator agreed to participate in a series of field sobriety tasks during which he showed several more signs of impairment. The operator was booked into the Jefferson County Jail and provided a breath sample which was above the legal limit. On the same day, Officer Wilcox was conducting a boating safety inspection on a vessel when she saw a case of beer in the vessel. The single occupant of the vessel was not old enough to possess alcohol and he admitted to consuming alcohol. Upon providing a breath sample of .07 (which is more than three times the limit of .02 for a person under 21), the subject was issued a citation for possession of alcohol by a person under 21 and for a person under 21 operating a vessel with blood alcohol content of .02 or higher. OKALOOSA COUNTY Officer Maltais was on vessel patrol conducting boating safety inspections and enforcement of the slow speed/minimum wake zone in the Intracoastal Waterway near Brooks Bridge. The officer saw a personal watercraft (PWC) in violation of the minimum wake zone. Further, the operator did not have his life jacket buckled and the passenger was not wearing a life jacket. The vessel was stopped to address the violations. In communication with the operator, the officer saw his eyes were glassy, bloodshot, watery and red and he also smelled the moderate odor of alcoholic beverage on his breath and person. Officer Maltais conducted field sobriety tasks (FST) to determine if the operator was impaired. After the FSTs were completed, the operator was arrested for BUI. The operator provided two breath samples, resulting in 0.150 and 0.155 blood alcohol content. He was transported to the Okaloosa County Jail. Officers Bartlett and Pifer were conducting state fisheries inspections at the Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier. An individual was found in possession of nine undersized bluefish. The individual was cited and issued a notice to appear citation for over the bag limit of bluefish. Officer Corbin and Lieutenant Hahr were on vessel patrol conducting boating safety inspections and resource protection. The officers saw a personal watercraft (PWC) on full plane traveling north from the Destin Bridge toward Crab Island in violation of the idle speed/no wake zone. The officers conducted a vessel stop on the PWC to address the violation. In communication with the operator, Officer Corbin smelled a distinct odor of cannabis coming from the vessel. The operator admitted there were three “blunts” in the vessel compartment. Also, a multicolored glass smoking device containing burnt cannabis and a medicine bottle containing cannabis were discovered. Both the operator and passenger were issued notice to appear citations. Officers Corbin and Pifer were on vessel patrol near the entrance of Destin Harbor. The officers saw a vessel being operated with three children on board who were under six years of age and not wearing personal flotation devices (PFDs). A vessel stop was initiated to address the violation and to conduct a boating safety inspection. It was determined the pontoon was a rental and the livery failed to provide the required, properly fitting life jackets for the children. A notice to appear citation was issued to the livery for failing to provide the required life jackets for the occupants on board. Officer Wilkenson received information from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) regarding a possible state fisheries violation. The USCG made a vessel stop and during the safety inspection they saw what appeared to be an undersized red snapper. Officer Wilkenson arrived at the USCG Station Destin, contacted the vessel owner and received consent to board the vessel to conduct a fisheries inspection. The inspection revealed undersized red snapper and vermilion snapper. The operator was issued a notice to appear citation. Officer Corbin was on vessel patrol conducting boating safety inspections and resource protection in the Destin Pass area. The officer saw a vessel returning from the Gulf of Mexico displaying rods and reels. The officer conducted a vessel stop and, during the safety inspection, determined the vessel was returning from a fishing trip. The fisheries inspection revealed two undersized red snapper and two undersized vermilion snapper. The operator was issued a notice to appear citation for the undersized fish. Lieutenant Bartlett, Investigator Schafer, and Officer Pifer were on water patrol around Crab Island when they saw a vessel leaving the area. As the vessel navigated through the other anchored vessels, the vessel’s motor caught the anchor line of another vessel. The vessel also had fishing gear on board. After the vessel cleared the other anchored vessel, a stop was initiated to conduct a saltwater fisheries and boating safety inspection. During the inspection, Officer Pifer saw signs of impairment from the operator. Officer Pifer administered standardized field sobriety tasks. Based on observations of the vessel in motion, personal contact with the operator, and the operator’s performance on the field sobriety tasks, Officer Pifer placed the operator under arrest for BUI. The operator agreed to provide a breath sample and the results were 0.184 and 0.164 blood alcohol content. Officers Long and Clark and Investigator Molnar conducted a vessel stop on a vessel violating the idle speed zone at Crab Island. While speaking with the operator, the officers noticed the operator was showing multiple signs of impairment. Officer Long conducted field sobriety tasks (FST) on the operator to determine impairment and arrested the operator for BUI. The operator refused to provide a breath sample. The operator was transported to the Okaloosa County Jail. Officers Corbin, Mullins and Roberson were on water patrol in Destin when they saw a vessel in violation of the idle speed-no wake zone and passing other vessels. They conducted a vessel stop to address the violation and conduct a boating safety inspection. While conducting the inspection, the operator showed signs of impairment. The operator was asked to conduct field sobriety tasks (FST) and he agreed. More clues were shown throughout the tasks and the operator was placed under arrest for BUI. The operator provided two breath samples of .226 blood alcohol content and .220 blood alcohol content. Officers Corbin and Mullins were on water patrol in Destin when they saw a kayak with two subjects on board struggling to paddle against the tide and current. The officers pulled alongside the kayak and asked if they needed any assistance. They stated yes and advised they rented the kayak in the Destin Harbor. The subjects did not have life jackets or a sound producing device and when asked if they were given the items when they rented the kayak, they stated no. A livery inspection was conducted and the livery was issued a notice to appear citation for renting a vessel without the proper boating safety equipment and a written warning for not having boating safety information displayed at the livery. Officers Corbin and Mullins were on water patrol at the Destin West Jetty when they saw two subjects within 100 feet of the jetty and public beach with spearfishing equipment. An Okaloosa County deputy was also on scene and advised a spear gun had been dropped by their dive flag. More spearfishing equipment was located on the jetty. Both subjects admitted to spearfishing within 100 feet of the jetties and beach and were issued notice to appear citations. Officers Corbin and Mullins were on patrol when they were dispatched to a hit and run boating accident in the Destin Harbor. The complainant advised the vessel had struck two docked vessels and was currently in the back of the cove aground. The officers arrived on scene, located the vessel, and saw the operator sitting in the captain’s seat of the vessel. The subject was assisted to shore, and a boating accident investigation was conducted. The operator did not remember striking either vessel. While speaking with the operator, the officers saw signs of impairment. The operator was asked to conduct field sobriety tasks (FST) and he agreed. More clues of impairment were apparent throughout the tasks and the operator was placed under arrest for BUI. The operator provided two breath samples of .142 blood alcohol content and .153 blood alcohol content. Officer Bartlett and Roberson were on water patrol around Crab Island when they saw a PWC on plane in the idle speed/no wake zone. The officers conducted a vessel stop to contact the operator and address the boating violation. While Officer Bartlett was speaking with the operator, he saw several signs of impairment and asked the individual to perform the voluntary field sobriety tasks. Based on the operator’s performance during the tasks he was arrested for BUI. The operator later provided two breath samples resulting in a 0.134 and 0.133 blood alcohol content. Officer Roberson and Bartlett were on water patrol at Crab Island when they received a call from U.S. Coast Guard Station Destin who stated they were currently on a vessel stop and suspected the vessel operator was impaired. When the officers arrived on scene, Officer Roberson assisted USCG with conducting a boating safety inspection. Based on the signs of impairment Officer Roberson saw during the safety inspection, he asked the operator to perform voluntary field sobriety tasks. After the tasks were completed, Officer Roberson arrested the operator for BUI. The operator later provided a breath sample resulting in a 0.128 and 0.116 blood alcohol content. SANTA ROSA COUNTY Officers Clark and Long were on patrol in the Yellow River Management Area. They saw a silver vehicle traveling in the management area with an expired tag. Officer Clark initiated a traffic stop and asked the driver for his license, but he could not produce one. He advised that he didn't have it with him. After identifying the driver, it was discovered that he has had seven prior suspensions on his Florida Driver License and that he did not have a current valid license. Officer Clark determined the driver had knowledge of his suspension. During the stop, Investigator Schafer determined the passenger had a warrant out of Santa Rosa County. Officer Clark charged the subject with driving while license is suspended or revoked with knowledge and both the driver and occupant were transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail. Officers Clark and Long and Investigator Schafer were on marked vehicle patrol in Blackwater State Forest. Officer Clark contacted a subject and saw a cooler in the back of his truck. When asked, the operator stated that he had alcohol which is illegal to possess in the State Forest. While talking with the operator, Officer Clark could smell the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. He had the operator exit the truck and asked if he had any marijuana in the vehicle. The operator advised that he did and that it was hidden in the center console next to the driver’s seat. The marijuana was retrieved along with a glass pipe and metal rod. The operator was cited for possession of marijuana under 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia and was given a warning for possession of alcohol in Blackwater State Forest.

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