FWC Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report November 6, 2015 thru November 12, 2015

(Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.) FWC Division of Law Enforcement   Weekly Report November 6, 2015 thru November 12, 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 ESCAMBIA COUNTY K-9 Officer Pineda and Officer Clark were in Yellow River Management Area looking for baited areas. They came upon an area where a vehicle had been parked recently and deployed the K-9.  The K-9 located two stands that were baited with corn, one had a climber stand and the other a ground blind.  The officers checked the area several times and two days later observed a vehicle parked in the area.  They split up and found two subjects hunting over the bait.  The subjects stated that they had baited the area to attract deer.  Both subjects were charged accordingly. FRANKLIN COUNTY While returning from offshore on the Gulf Sentry and entering the mouth of the Carrabelle River, Officer Robb observed a small skiff headed up river.  The skiff had nets on the stern deck of the vessel.  Officers Hughes, Raker, and Robb launched the small tender vessel and proceeded to the skiff to conduct a fisheries and boating safety inspection. One of the occupants observed the small patrol vessel approaching the skiff and quickly moved to the stern of the vessel and started manipulating the nets. Lieutenant Marlow advised the individual to stop with the loud hailer of theGulf Sentry while Officer Robb quickly maneuvered to the vessel and Officer Raker gave the individual verbal direction to stop and move away from the nets.  The individual stopped twice, made eye contact with the officers, then moved to other locations of the nets and continued to manipulate them. Officer Raker boarded the vessel and placed the individual in custody for interference of an FWC officer’s duties.  The vessel was taken to the city boat ramp and the inspections were completed.  The vessel was found to have no hull identification number (HIN) and insufficient safety gear.  An inspection of the nets revealed that there were four seine nets (three of them being partially connected, resulting in one large net and one smaller one) and two cast nets.  An interview of the occupants resulted in a confession that all four seine nets were tied together and were being utilized to catch fish and that they were attempting to untie the nets after they saw the patrol vessel approaching. The stop resulted in charges for safety gear violations, interference of an FWC officer, failure to place HIN on vessel, and use of seine nets tied together/over 500 square feet.  Multiple warnings were issued for other boating violations. OKALOOSA COUNTY The FWC Tallahassee Regional Communication Center received a request for assistance from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Emerald Coast Wildlife regarding a dolphin entangled in netting gear.  A recreational boater reported seeing in the Choctawhatchee Bay a juvenile dolphin entangled in netting causing the mammal to surface more frequently than normal. Lieutenant Clark launched a patrol vessel and, along with Emerald Coast Wildlife personnel, began a search in the area of Crab Island and Choctawhatchee Bay. Several dolphin pods were located but the juvenile dolphin was not found. Lieutenant Clark responded to a complaint regarding a black bear in the Mary Esther area off Highway 98.  The neighborhood borders the property of Eglin Reservation. Issues with black bears have been historically documented in the area of the complaint. Lieutenant Clark observed a white household trash bag removed from a garbage can, dragged and torn open.  This household trash became a food source for the black bear. Lieutenant Clark contacted the homeowner and provided an educational brochure, “A Guide to Living in Bear Country.” The contact was documented with a non-compliance letter. Officers Maltais and Molnar responded to a complaint regarding a black bear in the Willow Bend area of Fort Walton Beach, which is adjacent to Eglin Reservation property.  The complainant stated a black bear was in their yard and would not leave.  Issues with black bears have been historically documented in the Willow Bend area. This particular black bear has been documented as aggressive and has lost his natural fear of humans. Officer Maltais safely discharged his bear hazing shotgun with two bore thunder shots.  The bear retreated back into the Eglin Reservation property. The FWC Bear Management Section has placed traps to capture the bear safely. SANTA ROSA COUNTY Officer Hutchinson received information about a male subject who had trespassed onto a hunting lease.  While the subject was walking thru a food plot, a trail camera took several pictures of him.  The subject returned to the food plot approximately 20 minutes later and began removing the camera from the tree.  He was unaware that his actions was still being captured on camera.  The subject then took the camera to his residence and placed it inside of his shed.  The owner of the camera contacted Officer Hutchinson and showed him the pictures of the male subject.  Officer Hutchinson identified the subject and located his residence.  After several unsuccessful attempts to contact the subject, Officer Hutchinson waited in a concealed location until he observed the subject arriving home. Officer Hutchinson made contact with the subject and began interviewing him.  The subject first denied any wrongdoing, but after further questioning, the subject admitted to trespassing on the property and taking the camera.  The subject offered to return the camera to the owner but was unable to locate it.  Charges for trespassing on private property and theft are being filed through the State Attorney’s Office.

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