FWC
Division of Law Enforcement
Weekly Report
July 18 - July 24, 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
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Manning and Officer Livesay conducted an offshore patrol in state waters focusing on the red snapper closed season. They seized several red Snapper, undersized king mackerel and greater amberjack. They wrote two resource citations, one boating safety citation and three resource warnings. .
Officer Pineda and Lieutenant Lambert were patrolling Little Sabine. Officer Pineda observed a vessel leave a sandbar and begin driving erratically. Concerned for the safety of the people on board and others around, the officers made a vessel stop. After further investigation, it was determined that the operator was boating under the influence of alcohol. The operator was cited for BUI and transported to the Escambia County Jail.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Officer Forehand was working in a covert capacity in the Caryville area when he observed several subjects preparing three separate vessels to go fishing on the Choctawhatchee River. He noted that the subjects were loading the vessels with coolers and nets and no fishing poles. He also overheard the subjects talking about chains and cables. Officer Forehand waited for them to return and contacted K-9 Officer Guy to respond to the area for assistance. Shortly after sunset, the three vessels returned to the boat ramp a few minutes apart. Officer Forehand made contact with the subjects in an attempt to view any obvious violations. The subjects acted very nervous and seemed eager to recover their vessels and depart the area. Officer Forehand identified himself and began to conduct a resource inspection of the subjects and their vessels. Officer Guy arrived on scene to assist. The subjects had numerous catfish in each vessel and no legal fishing gear upon inspection. During the inspections, one of the subjects admitted to using a shocking device to catch the fish and disclosed its location in one of the vessels. He also disclosed the location of the cables and chains used to shock the fish. Seven subjects were issued citations for taking freshwater fish by illegal method.
BAY COUNTY
Officers Gore and Hellett were conducting surveillance at the St. Andrews Park jetties when they observed two snorkelers with pole spears and no dive flag working the jetty rocks. After about twenty minutes, the snorkelers were checked and found to possess a speared spade fish. A citation was issued for spear fishing in a state park and written warnings issued for the dive flag violation.
FRANKLIN
Officers Allen, Marlow, Stephens, Jones, Martin, Harrison, Anderson and Nelson worked a Boating Safety detail working the Apalachicola Bay Area. There were 52 vessels and 111 users checked resulting in 8 citations and 35 warnings issued. This included multiple cases for commercial possession of undersized oysters, a BUI arrest, and Medical Emergency assistance.
Officers Marlow and Jones were working Apalachicola River and observed a vessel operating up river. The vessel eventually drove up into the marsh. Officers Marlow and Jones went to investigate and Officers Allen, Stephens and Martin were in a separate vessel and went to investigate as well. Upon coming on scene, the vessel was observed still in forward gear with the operator slumped over the steering wheel and unresponsive. The operator was eventually awakened after several minutes and was transported to EMS for evaluation and refused treatment. The operator showed signs of impairment and field sobriety tasks were completed. The operator was arrested for boating under the influence.
WAKULLA
While working the Cherokee Sink Tract of Wakulla Springs State Park, Officer Marlow observed two vehicles parked on the west-side boundary and tracked several sets of foot tracks to an eight-foot fence that is posted “No Trespassing.” The tracks continued onto the other side and down to the sink. Officer Marlow located 14 individuals at the sink. Officers Raker, Maynard and Anderson arrived to assist and 17 warnings and 6 citations were issued to the group ranging from Fee Evasion, Unlawful Entry, and Alcoholic Beverage Consumption.
http://live.oysterradio.com/
Missing/Runaway Juvenile: Sylvia Brooke Moore
