FWC
Division of Law Enforcement
Weekly Report
June 13 - June 19, 2014
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
BAY COUNTY
While fueling his patrol vehicle at a gas station, Officer Goodwin observed a vehicle towing a small vessel pull into the gas station parking lot. He noticed there was no vehicle tag on the trailer and the trailer lights were inoperable. When the vehicle pulled back onto the highway, Officer Goodwin followed the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. There were numerous fishing rods visible in the vessel. The operator advised he knew there was no tag on the trailer. There were three subjects in the vehicle. Officer Goodwin asked if they had gone fishing and they stated “yes.” He asked the operator if he could see the fish. The operator stated “yes” and stepped out of the vehicle, walked back to the vessel and opened the cooler. Officer Goodwin could see two gag grouper in the cooler. Officer Goodwin then searched the cooler and found 12 red snapper, two of which were undersized, and two undersized grey triggerfish. The operator stated that all the illegal fish belonged to him. He was charged with over the daily bag limit of red snapper, possession of gag grouper out of season, undersized red snapper and undersized grey triggerfish.
Officer Waring was dispatched to a complaint regarding a theft that occurred at the Jetty Beach in St. Andrew State Park. The victim stated, while swimming, their personal contents in a beach bag were stolen which included their wallets, 11 different credit cards, military ID, driver’s license, house keys, $40 in cash, and a $1400 Canon camera. The victim provided the serial number of the stolen camera. Investigators Goss and Nelson conducted a covert investigation and received information from the victim that he saw his camera placed on Craigslist for sale. The victim identified key unique characteristics of the camera off the posted picture. The investigators were able to identify the individual who posted the camera on Craigslist. They set up a covert buy with the individual. After the transaction, Investigator Goss located the serial number of the camera and confirmed this was the stolen camera. Investigator Goss secured two felony warrants for the sale of stolen property via the internet and dealing in stolen property.
Officers Price, Brady, Wicker, and Hellett worked a detail monitoring fishing within the Madison Swanson, a Federal Marine Protected Area located 65 miles south of the Panama City Pass. One recreational vessel was found fishing in the middle of the closed area and the fishers admitted to knowing they may have been in a closed area. During the inspection, gag grouper filets were located as well as numerous legal marine fish. The captain was cited for fishing in the closed area and possession of the grouper filets while on the water.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
During the past weeks, the FinCat and crew were offshore several times. During these patrols, the crew issued one federal citation and one state citation for over the bag limit of red snapper to different boat captains. Warnings were also issued for possession of greater amberjack and grey triggerfish during closed season. The FinCat also responded to a vessel in distress and taking on water 23 miles south of Orange Beach, Alabama, which was 20 miles west of the FinCat’slocation. After a 30-minute run, the crew found the boat capsized and all persons accounted for on a Good Samaritan’s vessel.
Lieutenant Hahr was patrolling in the Perdido River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) when he observed a young man walk by holding a beer. It is unlawful to possess alcohol in this area. After stopping the man, it was also determined that he was under the legal drinking age of 21. The subject was arrested for possession of alcohol under 21 and warned for possessing the alcohol in a prohibited area.
Later that afternoon, Lieutenant Hahr observed several young adults tubing and drinking beer. He approached them and determined that one of them was only 20 years old. While talking to them, he discovered a box containing a glass drug pipe, a metal grinder, and a bag of fresh cannabis buds. He arrested one subject for possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia and the other for possession of alcoholic beverages by a person under 21.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Officers Rockwell and White were offshore in the Gulf of Mexico conducting fishery inspections. After stopping a vessel, the inspection revealed that the occupants were over the bag limit of red snapper. The captain of the vessel was cited for the fishery violation.
Officer Arnette responded to a search and rescue on the Shoal River after receiving information about six subjects stranded after their canoes capsized at night. After the subjects were located, one of the female occupants was having labor pains. They were all safely transported back to the boat ramp to their vehicle. Okaloosa Fire and Rescue and Okaloosa Sheriff’s Department also responded and assisted with recovering the subjects.
The annual Billy Bowlegs Festival was worked by a multiple-agency detail made up of FWC officers, other law enforcement agencies, and EMS / fire rescue personnel. Several arrests were made. Eight subjects were arrested for BUI and five subjects were arrested for possession of controlled substance and disorderly conduct. There were 42 responses to calls for medical care. Two of those occurrences are detailed in the next two paragraphs.
While working the Billy Bowlegs event, Lieutenant Hahr and Officer Hutchinson smelled the odor of burning cannabis and determined that it could have come from only one vessel. They approached the vessel and conducted a boating safety inspection. During the check, one subject attempted to conceal what appeared to be contraband. The officers boarded the vessel and secured the subject. As they did, the subject tried to discard a small bag of cocaine, but it landed on the deck of the vessel instead of the water. After securing that subject, another subject was found to be in possession of a pill bottle that contained two cannabis joints and two pills. When asked what the pills were, the subject stated that they were “molly.” The pills tested positive for controlled substances. Both men were arrested for possession of controlled substances.
While working the Billy Bowlegs event, Lieutenant Hahr and Officer Hutchinson observed a young subject drinking beer right in front of them. When they inquired about his age, he stated that he was 21 and gave them a false birth date. When they told him that they were going to confirm his birth date, he admitted to lying to the officers. After confirming his identity and age, they issued him a notice to appear for possession of alcoholic beverages by a person under the age of 21.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
While patrolling the Blackwater Hutton Unit, Lieutenant Hahr located a group of youths that were stranded after starting their tubing trip at the wrong end of the river. Fortunately for them, a fisherman found them and was giving them a ride. Unfortunately, he also got turned around. While giving them directions, Lieutenant Hahr smelled the odor of alcoholic beverages on the youths and discovered water bottles filled with liquor among their possessions. The youths were issued notices to appear for possession of alcoholic beverages by a person under 21.
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