FWC DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WEEKLY REPORT May 4 – 10, 2012

FWC DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

WEEKLY REPORT

May 4 – 10, 2012    

 

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.

 

NORTHWEST REGION

 

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

 

Officer Kenneth Manning was conducting Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) inspections when he received an email alert of a local commercial boat landing IFQ species at an approved location/ wholesale dealer. Officer Manning was able to determine the commercial vessel’s location in Gulf Breeze. Officer Manning provided other FWC officers on vessel patrol with the latitude and longitude of the commercial boat. The other officers located and observed the boat tied to a private dock. Officer Manning determined the location/docking of the commercial vessel was at an unapproved landing site. Officer Manning contacted National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Agent and charges will be filed for landing at an unapproved location.

 

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

 

Lt. Dan Hahr responded to a complaint regarding an alligator that fell out of a truck on Highway 98 in Gulf Breeze. When he arrived on scene, he observed a live 7‑foot alligator tied to a truck bed. The three young men present explained that the gator fell out of another truck in front of them and they stopped to protect the gator from the vehicle traffic. After gathering all the information, Lieutenant Hahr determined that the facts were not adding up and questioned the three subjects further. He obtained confessions from all three subjects describing how the gator was caught at another location and that it was being taken to a place where it would be killed and butchered by the three individuals. When the gator attempted its escape, they came up with the cover story. The three young men were issued notices to appear for taking/possession of an alligator without a permit. The alligator was successfully released alive back into the wild.

 

OKALOOSA COUNTY

 

Officer Andy Maltais received a complaint from Jackson Guard about a vehicle being operated carelessly and damaging a road on Eglin Air Force Base Wildlife Management Area. A contracted worker provided a vehicle description and tag number. Lt. Mark Hollinhead located the vehicle at a residence in Crestview. The driver was identified, interviewed, and admitted to entering the property and driving carelessly. The driver was cited for not having an Eglin permit.

 

Investigator Eddie Gatlin and Officer Danny Arnette interviewed a subject about an alligator that was killed on a private lake. Two suspects were identified and additional interviews and charges are pending.

 

FWC Officers assigned to Escambia, Okaloosa, and Walton counties participated in a special detail, conducting dockside inspections of charter vessels at Destin Harbor. During the detail, 42 vessels were inspected, 268 users contacted, three expired vessel charter licenses were discovered, two resource citations were issued for possession of red snapper and gag grouper during closed season, one uniform boating citation (boating accident) was issued, and one resource written warning was issued.

 

Officer Andy Maltais responded to a boating accident involving rented personal watercraft (PWC) from a local livery in the Ft. Walton area. The PWC operators involved were father and daughter. The initial investigation revealed the livery allowed an underage individual to operate a PWC with no boater safety card. The male operator sustained a laceration under the chin requiring stitches. The male operator drove himself to a local hospital where he was treated and released. The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending.

 

GULF COUNTY

 

While working JEA enforcement, Officers Matt Webb and Tony Lee stopped a vessel offshore of Cape San Blas. Two individuals onboard were found to be in possession of red snapper, with one of the fish hidden in the aft hatch. The captain admitted to catching the fish and was aware the season was closed. He was issued a citation for possession of red snapper during the closed season.

 

FRANKLIN COUNTY

 

During the past week, the crew of the Gulf Sentry produced the following activity: Officer Matt Gore issued two citations for the possession of red snapper during closed season as well as possession of snapper filets. Officer Gore also issued citations for possession of 28 undersize black sea bass. Officer Josh Waite issued citations for possession of undersized greater amberjack, as well as federal citations for possession of red drum and possession of gag grouper during closed season. Officer Will Raker issued citations for possession of red snapper during closed season, federal citations for possession of red drum, as well as possession of gag grouper during closed season.

 

DADE COUNTY

 

At approximately 2:30 a.m. on May 8, Lt. Chris Colon received a phone call requesting assistance from the Metro-Dade Fire Rescue Anti-Venom Unit. A victim had been bitten by a coral snake in the Pensacola area and was in urgent need of anti-venom. After checking the forecasted weather for the state, Capt. Tim Riordan called FWC Lakeland and Tallahassee dispatch centers and activated pilots Don Dougan and Frank Utermohlen for the mission. Pilot Dougan launched his aircraft and flew to Miami-Dade Tamiami Airport where he retrieved the anti-venom and transported it to Ocala International Airport. The anti-venom was relayed to Pilot Utermohlen who continued on to the Pensacola Regional Airport. Both flights encountered substantial early morning fog and had to fly a difficult approach to Ocala. As a result of this coordinated effort, Pilot Utermohlen arrived at Pensacola, delivering the lifesaving anti-venom almost an hour-and-a-half ahead of schedule - a testament to the great teamwork and skill of our pilots.

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments