FWC DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WEEKLY REPORT February 15 - 21, 2013

FWC DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

WEEKLY REPORT

February 15 - 21, 2013        

 

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

 

Lt. Dan Hahr was conducting enhanced patrol in the Escambia River WMA at Cotton Lake when he observed a vehicle stop and then spin out, creating ruts in the clay road. He turned around and caught up to the vehicle. He conducted a traffic stop and observed unusual movement in the cab of the vehicle. When Lieutenant Hahr approached the vehicle, he observed the man he saw driving just moments earlier now sitting in the back seat and a woman sitting in a puddle of ice and liquid in the driver seat. When asked why he was in the back seat, the man answered that he was driving and had just jumped back there. Lieutenant Hahr detected obvious indicators of impairment in both subjects. He determined that the woman knocked over two mixed drinks in the driver seat as she slid over the console into the driver seat. The man admitted to driving despite the fact that he has not had a driver license in 20 years and had been in prison for driving with a suspended driver license. Lt. Brian Lambert and Officer Matt Cushing arrived on scene to assist. After performing very poorly on field sobriety tasks, the driver was arrested for DUI and driving while license suspended or revoked. The driver was transported to the Escambia County Jail where he provided a breath sample resulting in .150g/210L. The driver was also issued a citation for driving with an open container of alcoholic beverages. The woman was warned and released.

 

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

 

Officer Howard Jones was on ATV patrol in a remote closed area of the Eglin Air Force Base WMA. He found and followed ATV tracks to a tree stand, which had corn and a mineral lick on the ground nearby. Officer Jones then followed the ATV tracks from the location for some distance, but lost the sign in dense woods. At his request, an FWC airplane arrived and an aerial search was conducted. The pilot located an ATV hidden in dense cover and directed the officer to it. Officer Jones located foot tracks at the ATV, and the pilot continued a search in the tracks’ direction of travel. A K-9 squad from the Okaloosa Department of Corrections responded to the area, as well as officers of the Eglin Range Patrol, and Investigator Jim Hughes, Officer Pete Rockwell, and Lt. Philip Glover. The pilot located a vehicle about 1-½ miles away, and the officers made contact when a man walked out of the woods to the vehicle. During a subsequent interview, the individual admitted to placing the tree stand and bait on the management area, hunting in the closed area, and leaving the ATV. The equipment was seized and charges are pending.

 

OKALOOSA COUNTY

 

Officer Ken White and Investigator Ryan Nelson met with a subject at the Eglin Air Force Base WMA check station regarding an illegal deer that was taken in a restricted antler area. It was later determined that the deer was legally harvested in another area that had no antler restrictions, but a computer check revealed the subject was a convicted felon, and his rights to possess a firearm had not been restored. His firearm was seized and charges for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon will be direct-filed with the State Attorney’s Office.

 

WALTON COUNTY

 

Officer Randall Brooks received a complaint of trespassing from an employee on Nokuse Plantation. Officer Brooks made contact with a subject and determined he had entered the posted property from the Choctawhatchee River. The subject was booked into the Walton County Jail for trespassing.

 

BAY COUNTY

 

Officer Jim Moore continues to work with the State Attorney's Office as they prepare for trial on a boating accident involving two vessels that occurred last summer. Officer Moore had previously charged one operator with three counts of aggravated battery, three counts of aggravated assault, one count of petit theft, and one count of violation of navigational rules resulting in a boating accident. In preparing for trial, a search warrant was served by Officer Moore with assistance from Officers David Brady, Michael Goodwin, and Espy Letcher to obtain engine data from the outboard motors.

 

Officer Karl Hellett observed a vehicle on Thomas Drive towing a pontoon boat with no tag on the boat trailer. Officer Hellett received information in previous months that this particular vessel had been involved in harvesting grouper and red snapper during closed season. Its occupants were hiding the fish in the rolled up bimini top. He noticed that the bimini top appeared to have something rolled up in it. Officer Hellett confirmed that there was a valid tag assigned to the trailer; however, the owner advised he had placed it on another vehicle at his residence. Officer Hellett asked if they had a good day on the water, and the operator stated that they were fishing but did not keep any fish. Officer Hellett asked if he could inspect the vessel for fish, and the operator consented. Officer Hellett found three red snapper and four gag grouper in the rolled up bimini top. Both subjects claimed catching and keeping the fish. Citations were issued for possession of gag grouper during closed season and possession of red snapper during closed season. The operator also was issued a written warning for failure to display a valid license plate.

 

While returning home from a deer decoy detail on Dead River Road, Officer Cromwell Letcher observed a vehicle traveling westbound on Highway 20 driving on the wrong side of the road. He initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, who appeared to be impaired. After completion of field sobriety tasks, the driver was arrested for DUI. Results of the breath alcohol test were .131 and .145.

 

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