FWC DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WEEKLY REPORT May 25 - 31, 2012

FWC DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

WEEKLY REPORT

May 25 - 31, 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

BAY COUNTY

 

Officers Nick Price and David Brady were on federal fisheries patrol in the Gulf of Mexico when they inspected a charter fishing vessel. The vessel captain was cited for not having a federal reef fish permit.

 

Investigator Drew Nelson worked a boating accident that involved a capsized vessel. The vessel captain and one occupant were ejected when the small skiff was put into a tight right turn causing the vessel to overturn. Injuries included lacerations and contusions. The occupants refused medical treatment.         

 

Investigator Drew Nelson responded to a boat fire that occurred at a private dock in Bay Point. This case is being worked with the state fire marshal’s office.   

 

Officers Nick Price and David Brady conducted an inspection of a dive vessel and located a bag of fish fillets. Two citations were issued for the violation.

 

Officers Nick Price and David Brady were on water patrol when they assisted the U. S. Coast Guard with a possible impaired boat operator. The operator failed field sobriety tasks and was arrested for BUI. Breath alcohol results indicated .175 and .180. The operator was booked into the Bay County Jail.          

 

GULF COUNTY

 

Officers Matt Webb and Karl Hellett were working federal fisheries enforcement in the Gulf of Mexico off Cape San Blas. The officers conducted a stop on a Tennessee registered vessel to perform an inspection. An inspection of a cooler onboard revealed what was determined to be six red snapper fillets. The officers seized the fillets and cited the operator for possession of red snapper out of season and failure to land fish in whole condition.

 

Officer Matt Webb and Lt. Dennis Welsh conducted a federal fisheries inspection on a Georgia registered vessel returning from the Gulf of Mexico with two occupants on board. The vessel occupants were in possession of triggerfish and mangrove snapper. Officer Webb located a red snapper beneath the other fish at the bottom of the cooler. The captain was advised that red snapper season was closed and he replied he thought it was a vermillion snapper. Next to the fish was a fish identification sticker. Officer Matt Webb issued a citation for possession of red snapper out of season.   

 

Officers Karl Hellett and Matt Webb were working in Franklin County in the area of Alligator Point when they were alerted by a passing vessel operator of a fight about to break out near the beach area. The officers located the suspect vessel operator who was yelling and cursing at several people. While a safety inspection was conducted on the vessel, the boat captain displayed signs of impairment. Officer Hellett conducted standard afloat tasks and confirmed the operator’s impairment on all of the tasks. The operator was transported to shore where additional field sobriety tasks were conducted. The suspect submitted a breath sample that indicated a .204 breath alcohol content. He was arrested for BUI.

 

LIBERTY COUNTY

 

Officer Ben Johnson cited two Gadsden County residents on Lake Talquin for possession of over the limit of bream. After checking their catch, both subjects stated they had no more fish. However, upon closer inspection Officer Johnson located several fish hidden in a raincoat and in a compartment on the boat.

 

CALHOUN COUNTY

 

While on water patrol near Ocheesee Landing, Officer Lowell Forehand observed a vessel engine become tangled in an anchor line. As the operator worked on the tangled line, he lost his balance and fell overboard into the river. Officer Forehand pulled the vessel and owner to the bank. The vessel owner’s speech was slow and slurred and he was unsteady. The owner submitted to a field sobriety task and was instructed not to operate his vessel due to his impairment. He was cited accordingly.

 

JEFFERSON COUNTY

 

Officer Stefanie Wilcox was on patrol in the Wacissa River and observed a boater operating his vessel in a willful or wanton reckless manner. While conducting a safety check, Officer Wilcox noticed a very strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vessel owner. Officer Wilcox performed field sobriety tasks and found the operator to be impaired. She transported him to the Jefferson County Jail where he was booked for operating a vessel with an unlawful breath alcohol level of .08 or above and willful or wanton reckless operation.

 

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

 

Officers Alan Kirchinger and Sulin Schafer were on vessel patrol near the East Pass in Destin when they observed a man spearfishing near the jetties. The subject was cited for spearfishing within 100 feet of the jetties.

 

Officers Randy Webb and Gary Ridaught were on vessel patrol near Pensacola Pass when they noticed a subject snorkeling. The individual did not have a divers down flag displayed and surfaced with a speared fish. When the individual noticed the officers, he dropped the spear and fish. When Officers Webb and Ridaught approached, the subject admitted that he was spearfishing and that he had dropped the spear because he knew he wasn’t supposed to be there. After the individual recovered the spear, Officer Webb issued citations for the violations.

 

Officers Faris Livesay and Nick Barnard and Lt. Brian Lambert were on vessel patrol near the Pensacola Pass when they observed a 48-foot vessel returning from the Gulf of Mexico. A vessel safety inspection revealed the boat was returning from an offshore fishing trip. The initial fisheries inspection revealed two large harvested wahoo in a cooler near the stern. When asked if he had any more fish onboard, the operator stated he had more wahoo in the cooler inside the cabin and authorized the officers to inspect those fish. While inspecting that cooler, Officer Livesay found one gallon sized bag of red snapper fillets under the wahoo. Upon questioning the owner about the fillets, the owner stated it was cut bait. Officer Livesay asked if he had any more bags of fillets onboard and the owner admitted he did and produced 15 more gallon size bags of fillets that had just been placed in the freezer as officers approached the vessel. The operator later admitted the bags of fillets were amberjack and red snapper and were labeled accordingly. The owner and nine other passengers had been out on a two day fishing trip. The owner confessed they caught several more amberjack and red snapper, but they ate them and cut up several for bait and chum. A total of 38 red snapper and 30 amberjack fillets were seized. Seven individuals were charged with possession of red snapper during closed season and failure to land red snapper and amberjack in whole condition. The vessel owner was additionally charged with a marine sanitation device violation.

 

Lt. Dan Hahr was on patrol within the Perdido River Wildlife Management Area at the recreation area known as The Pipes when he observed that the lock on the gate had been cut. This area is under construction and is closed. When Lieutenant Hahr entered the area, a truck was leaving. The lieutenant stopped the driver and detected signs of impairment. After performing poorly on field sobriety tasks, the driver was arrested for DUI. Additionally, a computer check revealed the vehicle operator’s driver license was suspended. After arranging rides for the other two unlicensed adults and the five children in the truck, the subject was transported to the Escambia County Sheriff's Office where he provided a breath sample of .156 BAC. The man was also cited for driving while his license was suspended.

 

Officers David Jernigan and Joe Murphy observed a vessel returning to a boat landing on the Escambia River. The vessel operator was having trouble attempting to land so the officers investigated. Upon contact, the officers observed signs of impairment and provided instructions for the vessel operator to perform field sobriety tasks. The operator’s performance on the tasks revealed impairment. The operator was transported to the Escambia County Jail where he refused to provide a breath sample. He was charged with BUI.

 

Officers Randy Webb and Gary Ridaught checked an individual fishing at the Three Mile Bridge. The individual was in possession of a 29-inch red drum and was cited for the violation.  

 

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

 

Officer Howard Jones responded to a report of a boating accident in the Navarre Beach area. Officer Jones made contact with the victim and his wife at the emergency room at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. Initial information indicated that the man and his 15-year-old son had just unloaded their PWCs at the Navarre Beach boat ramp and were proceeding to shore. When they had to maneuver around some other boats, the juvenile’s PWC impacted his father’s PWC and the father was struck in the face by the bow of his son's PWC. The father suffered injuries to the right side of his face and was transported by his wife to the hospital where he was treated and released.

 

Officer Ben Pineda and DEP Officer John Clark were on vessel patrol targeting reef fish enforcement and boating safety around Pensacola Pass. The officers observed a vessel returning from the Gulf of Mexico and conducted a vessel safety inspection. The officers determined the vessel occupants harvested fish and conducted a fisheries inspection. Officer Pineda located two undersized king mackerel. The subject was cited for the violation.

 

During another vessel safety inspection, Officer Ben Pineda and DEP Officer John Clark conducted a fisheries inspection when they determined the vessel occupants had harvested fish. The operator stated that he had caught some amberjack. Officer Pineda located an undersized greater amberjack. The subject was cited accordingly.

 

Officer Ben Pineda responded to a boating accident involving two sailboats in the entrance of Bayou Chico in Escambia County. A 52-foot sailboat was following the first sailboat as they both entered Bayou Chico. The operator of vessel one was attempting to take the sails down when his vessel went into a left turn. The operator of vessel two maintained direction and then began to turn to the right when he realized that vessel one was circling, not making a left turn. Vessel one struck vessel two about mid-ship, causing approximately $20,000 in damage. This investigation is ongoing and charges are pending.

 

Lt. Doug Berryman and Officer Steve Hoomes were conducting vessel patrol on the Escambia River when they stopped a vessel to conduct a safety inspection. The officers determined the vessel had harvested fish onboard and conducted a fisheries inspection. The officers located several fish in a cooler, one of which was an undersized red drum,   measuring 15 inches in length, but must be a minimum of 18 inches in length to be legal. The vessel operator was cited for the possession of an undersized red drum.  

 

Officer Ben Pineda was on vessel patrol near Pensacola Pass when he observed a vessel returning from the Gulf of Mexico. While conducting the vessel safety inspection, an undersized king mackerel was found. The vessel operator admitted that he was aware of the size limits, but did not take the time to measure the harvested fish. The subject was cited for the possession of undersized king mackerel. 

 

Officer Ben Pineda and DEP Officer John Clark were on vessel patrol targeting reef fish enforcement and boating safety around Pensacola Pass. The officers observed a vessel returning from the Gulf of Mexico and conducted a vessel safety inspection. During the inspection the officers determined the vessel occupants had harvested fish and conducted a fisheries inspection revealing a 12-inch, undersized spotted sea trout. The subject was cited for the possession of undersized spotted sea trout.

 

OKALOOSA COUNTY

 

Officer Ryan Nelson responded to a boating accident that occurred in Poquito Bayou involving a 17-foot Starcraft and a 17-foot Cape Horn. The investigation revealed that the operator of the Starcraft was following too close behind the Cape Horn. When the Cape Horn’s speed slowed, the Starcraft struck the stern of the Cape Horn. The operator of the Starcraft was cited for navigational rule #5 – failure to maintain proper lookout.  

 

Officers Pete Rockwell and James Rockwell were on vessel patrol conducting federal and state fisheries inspections in the Gulf of Mexico. The officers were approximately 11 miles offshore south of Destin Pass when they observed an anchored boat with individuals fishing. The fisheries inspection revealed five undersized gray triggerfish. The operator was cited accordingly.

 

Officers Pete Rockwell and James Rockwell were approximately nine miles offshore, south of Destin when they observed an anchored boat with three individuals fishing. A fisheries inspection revealed four red snapper were harvested. The operator told the officers he thought the season for red snapper opened Memorial Day weekend. The operator was cited for possession of red snapper out of season. The season for red snapper is June 1 through July 10, 2012.

 

Officers Pete Rockwell and James Rockwell conducted a fisheries inspection on a documented commercial vessel approximately 20 miles offshore, south of Destin. Upon consent, Officer J. Rockwell boarded the vessel and conducted a fisheries inspection. After looking in the large fish compartments, he inspected a cooler on the deck of the boat and observed a large black garbage bag that contained 37 red snapper fillets. Upon the direction of a National Marine Fisheries Service agent, the fillets were seized and a federal citation was issued for failure to land red snapper in whole condition.

 

Officer Ryan Nelson, Lt. Keith Clark, and Capt. Mary Sumner were conducting boating safety and fisheries inspections in the Intracoastal Waterways near Brooks Bridge when they observed a boat returning to a marina. The vessel did not display a registration. During a boating safety inspection, Lieutenant Clark observed rods and reels and coolers on the boat and the operator advised that they were returning from a fishing trip and had caught snapper. Lieutenant Clark observed three red snapper in a fish compartment. The vessel operator had no current fishing regulations on the boat. Officer Nelson cited the operator for possession of red snapper out of season.

 

Officers Pete Rockwell and James Rockwell were on vessel patrol in the Gulf of Mexico when they observed an anchored boat offshore with three individuals fishing. When the officers asked the operator if they caught any fish, the operator and passengers directed the officers away from a cooler to another fish compartment. When the officer reached to the lift the lid of the cooler, the operator stated that was just a drink cooler. Under the ice bags, the officer observed two gag grouper fillets. The operator was cited for possession of gag grouper during closed season and failure to land fish in whole condition.

 

Officer Andy Maltais and Lt. Keith Clark were on vessel patrol conducting boating safety inspections near Crab Island, and observed a rented PWC displaying a registration violation. Earlier, the FWC’s plain-clothes unit had provided information on a livery transporting several PWC’s to a beach location. Officer Maltais confirmed with the operator where she had rented the PWC and arrived at the location near the Destin Bridge where a pontoon boat with two large flags advertised PWC rentals. Officer Maltais established communication with the owner of the livery and confirmed the PWC in question was rented from his business. A livery inspection was conducted and it was confirmed the livery did not have the required liability insurance for renting PWCs. The owner was cited for failure to carry the required insurance.

 

Officer Ryan Nelson responded to a boating accident in Joe’s Bayou. The accident investigation revealed that an individual was on a borrowed personal watercraft (PWC) when he lost control and abandoned the PWC which then struck a boat at a private dock.  The PWC operator was cited for navigational rule violation #6 – failure to maintain safe speed.

 

Lt. Mark Hollinhead and Investigator Eddie Gatlin were on vessel patrol near Crab Island when some boaters directed them to a boating accident. The accident occurred when a vessel struck another vessel while anchored. A mechanical failure was determined to be the cause of the accident. No one was injured and damage to the vessels was minor. Officers provided self-report forms to the vessel operators and information on completing the reporting processing.

 

Officer Maltais and Lt. Keith Clark were on vessel patrol in the Intracoastal Waterway near Brooks Bridge. During a boating safety inspection, Lieutenant Clark observed several rods and reels and coolers on the boat. The operator advised they were returning from a fishing trip. The fisheries inspection revealed three grossly undersized gray triggerfish measuring 11 ½-inch fork length. The legal size limit is 14 inches or greater. The operator was cited for the violation.

 

Officers Pete Rockwell and James Rockwell were on vessel patrol when they stopped a documented vessel in federal waters. The fisheries inspection revealed the operator was in possession of five yellow-fin tuna weighing approximately 460 pounds. The operator produced an expired federal highly migratory species permit (HMS), but claimed he possessed a valid permit, just not on hand. The officers are working with National Marine Fisheries Service agents to verify the permit. The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending.

 

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