FWC DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WEEKLY REPORT March 8-14, 2013

FWC

DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

WEEKLY REPORT

March 8-14, 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

 

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

 

Investigator Jim Hughes and Officer Ben Pineda conducted a special detail targeting an area of Blackwater State Forest where complaints of rowdy campers were reported. The officers identified a disruptive campsite along Juniper Creek and set up, out of sight, to observe the actions of the campers. Several of the campers appeared to be intoxicated, under the age of 21, and were observed consuming alcoholic beverages. The officers made contact with the campers and discovered a baggie of marijuana and scales used to weigh marijuana. Four subjects were charged with possession of alcohol by a person under 21, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

 

While on patrol of the Escambia River, Lt. Dan Hahr was contacted by FWC Dispatch regarding a boater requesting assistance from an area near the north end of a log jam. Considering the extremely high water levels and the strong current flowing under the log jam, Lieutenant Hahr proceeded to the area and located a man and woman in a small aluminum boat pinned against the log jam. When the vessel’s motor failed, the couple attempted to float down river to the Cotton Lake boat ramp. They did not know that the log jam was impassable. Lieutenant Hahr rescued the couple, secured their boat, and towed it back to the nearest boat ramp.

 

OKALOOSA COUNTY

 

Officer Andy Maltais and Lt. Keith Clark were on water patrol of Choctawhatchee Bay when they inspected a small aluminum boat with a Florida commercial fishing decal displayed. The two fishermen onboard were in possession of commercial quantities of mullet in an onboard cooler, but there was no ice preserving the fish as required. Neither of the fishermen possessed a commercial Saltwater Products License (SPL) with the required Restricted Species (RS) endorsement required to harvest mullet in commercial quantities. A computer check revealed the Florida commercial fishing decal that was attached to the vessel was assigned to another vessel. The subjects were issued citations for the not having the required SPL with RS endorsement. The owner of the vessel was issued an additional charge for failure to ice the fish properly. The mullet were seized pending the disposition of the case.

 

Investigator Ryan Nelson was dispatched to Destin’s Harbor Walk area regarding a complaint about a commercial charter boat allowing customers to take gag and red grouper. When Investigator Nelson arrived, two deck hands were cleaning fish on board the suspect vessel. One of the deck hands stated, “They said you would be coming.” Investigator Nelson inquired where the illegal grouper were and the subject dumped out a large garbage can with several cleaned gag and red grouper carcasses. Investigator Nelson found one gag and three red grouper, one of which was undersized. Investigator Nelson issued the captain of the charter vessel a citation for the harvest and possession of grouper during closed season and possession of undersized red grouper.

 

Officer Pete Rockwell and Lt. Philip Glover were on vessel patrol in the area of Boggy Bayou when Officer Rockwell noticed EMS personnel waving them down at a nearby boat ramp. Officer Rockwell maneuvered his vessel closer, and the EMS personnel informed him there was an injured worker onboard a nearby barge. The EMS personnel boarded Officer Rockwell’s vessel, and he transported them to the victim on the barge.

 

FWC officers assigned to Okaloosa County received notification from dispatch of an unattended PWC and its operator in the water nearby. Upon arrival near the Brooks Bridge area, officers retrieved the PWC and operator. The individual was semiconscious, unresponsive, and appeared to be highly intoxicated. The officers notified EMS, and the subject was transported to the hospital. Blood alcohol revealed a highly intoxicated state. Charges are pending.

 

Later that evening, FWC officers responded to the same location near Brooks Bridge, where two individuals reportedly jumped into the water from Ft. Walton Landings. The individuals were attempting to swim to an anchored vessel approximately 75-80 yards away. En route to the vessel, one of the swimmers, a 50‑year‑old male, became tired and called to the other swimmer, the owner of the vessel, for assistance. When the owner of the vessel attempted to help, the 50‑year‑old male disappeared into the water and did not resurface. FWC officers arrived on scene and conducted a grid search pattern utilizing onboard electronics but were unable to locate the missing man. At early light the following morning, the officers returned to the scene and again conducted a grid search over a larger area to compensate for tidal fluctuations utilizing onboard electronics but again were unable to locate the missing man. FWC officers continue to patrol the area looking for the missing male.

 

GULF COUNTY

 

Officer Arthur Hoffman worked a detail at the Highland View Bridge with Officer Arnie McMillion and Lt. Raz Castaneda. Information was received regarding a fisherman taking and keeping over the daily bag limit of red drum (redfish). One individual was observed catching and leaving with his legal limit earlier in the day. They observed him return and later watched him catch at least four additional redfish. He was seen giving fish to other fishermen as well. Officer Hoffman made contact with the subject and conducted an inspection of his catch, as well as the subject fishing beside him. Initially, the subject in question advised the officer he had not caught any fish earlier in the day. After explaining to him what they had observed, he admitted to catching and keeping six red drum. He stated that he thought it was legal as long as he was giving the fish away. A citation for taking over the daily bag limit of red drum was issued.

 

Officer Scott Hoffman checked a road on the Kids Win hunting lease for signs of illegal entry. He had received a complaint the previous day from an FWC biologist about people trespassing on the lease. He observed tire sign indicating that a vehicle had driven around the posted cable. He located a white van parked close to the bay within the posted lease. Officer Hoffman requested assistance, and Officer Matt Gore responded to the area. Officers John Allen and Jason Lipford also responded to assist. The subjects entered the lease without permission and were observed harvesting oysters in a closed area. Citations were issued and the oysters were returned alive to the water.

 

BAY COUNTY

 

Plain-clothes Officer Neal Goss was working at the St. Andrews State Park jetties and observed an individual catch a red drum and land it on the rocks. The redfish appeared to be over the slot size limit. Another fisherman that was close to the individual informed him that the red drum had to measure between 18 and 27 inches. The subject retrieved a measuring tape out of his bag and measured the fish. He then began to put up his fishing gear and placed the red drum on a stringer to carry out. Officer Goss followed the subject to where the jetties met the beach, when a charter fishing captain pulled up to the rocks and started to yell at the fisherman carrying the redfish telling him the fish was oversized and illegal to possess. Officer Goss then asked the fisherman if he wanted him to re-measure it, and he obliged. The fish measured 36 inches long. Officer Goss identified himself as an FWC Officer and issued the subject a citation for taking an oversized red drum.

 

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