FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Report 02/27 - 03/05/2015

(Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.) FWC Division of Law Enforcement   Weekly Report February 27th – March 5th, 2015 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 SANTA ROSA COUNTY Officer Johnson responded to a night hunting complaint north of Milton.  The caller advised that he heard two shots from a field near his home.  He observed a truck leave the area and return a short time later.  Officer Johnson arrived as the suspects were leaving the area.  When he stopped the truck, he was greeted by five juveniles in possession of four loaded rifles.  Two of the juveniles admitted to shooting at deer in the field, but apparently, they did not hit any of them.  Officer Miller arrived on scene to assist.  The officers obtained written statements from each of the juveniles detailing their involvement in the incident.  After discussing the incident with the State Attorney’s Office, two warrant affidavits were filed charging each of the two shooters with attempting to take deer at night with a gun and light. Officer Hoomes concluded a trespass investigation which led to the arrest of a suspect.  The suspect was charged with one count of armed trespass and one count of trespass on property.  A landowner contacted him regarding a subject captured on a game camera as he trespassed on his private property.  The man had apparently cut part of a link out of a chain on a gate and drove a golf cart onto the property.  He placed a tree stand on the property and had been doing so for some time based on the number of trees that had been climbed on the property.  Officer Hoomes was able to identify the suspect and determined that he lived a short distance from the property.  He went to interview the suspect and observed the golf cart used during the incident in his yard.  The man denied trespassing, but his distinct features captured in the photo clearly told otherwise.  The subject was arrested after Officer Hoomes obtained a warrant. BAY COUNTY Officer N. Basford was leaving St. Andrews State Park and observed a scooter traveling towards the park. The park was closed at the time except for pass holders and registered campers. Officer Basford turned around to see if the operator of the scooter was going to go around the gate or use the gate code to enter the park.  The scooter had stopped on the road shoulder before entering the park and Officer Basford stopped behind the scooter to see if the operator needed assistance. When she approached the operator, she could see he was bleeding from his head and could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. She also observed what appeared to be fresh damage to his scooter.  When asked, he stated that he had injured his head falling at a bar and would provide no information on how the scooter received the damage. Officer Basford requested EMS to respond to the scene to treat the operator’s injury, however, he refused treatment. The operator consented to perform field sobriety tasks, and at the end of the tasks, the operator was arrested for driving under the influence. He consented to a breath test and the results were .138 and .156. Officer Basford transported the operator to the Bay County Jail. Officers Wicker and T. Basford were working in Warren Bayou on the first morning after the four month winter closure to harvesting of fish. While there, they watched a local fishing guide on two occasions take a brown pelican that a customer had hooked, move to the back of the vessel, wrap fishing line around the pelican’s beak, and knot the line before releasing the bird.  The guide was cited for animal cruelty and for taking a protected species.  Both pelicans were caught and the line removed from their beaks.  While doing this, a dead pelican was noted on a nearby bank and an inspection of the carcass found its beak also had been tied with fishing line. Officer Goodwin was working a night hunting detail where complaints have been received recently. He observed a truck that was shining a spotlight on a private hunting lease. After stopping the vehicle, further investigation revealed that one of the subjects had an outstanding warrant for failure to pay fines.  The subject was arrested for the warrant and transported to the Bay County Jail. ESCAMBIA COUNTY Investigator Wilkenson received a referral from the Sheriff’s Office regarding a wetland complaint.  The complainant stated that a property owner was dredging and filling in wetlands.  Upon receipt of this environmental complaint, Investigator Wilkenson coordinated the investigation with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).  A DEP specialist completed a wetland impact assessment on the property.  Investigator Wilkenson followed up by conducting a site inspection on the property and observed fill dirt placed on wetlands.  Further, Investigator Wilkenson interviewed the contractor hired by the property owner.  The contractor stated he was hired to place fill dirt on the property to create a driveway access.  It was determined the activity required an authorization from DEP.  The property owner was issued a citation for dredging and filling wetlands without a valid permit from DEP, which is a first degree misdemeanor.  This same property owner was cited in October 2013 and adjudicated guilty for the same violation on the same property by Investigator Wilkenson. COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SANTA ROSA COUNTY Officer Cushing spoke to members of the Gulf Coast Mentoring Club at Gulf Breeze High School about FWC and related boating safety and resource topics. The club exists to create a culture among young men from this area regarding how to be good stewards of our coastal community.  There were approximately 48 youths in attendance.

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