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FWC
Division of Law Enforcement
Weekly Report
October 23, 2015 thru October 29, 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
BAY COUNTY
Officer Gore was conducting resource and boating safety checks at the West Bay Ramp when he observed a commercial oyster boat coming to the ramp with a large pile of uncurled oysters on its cull board. A check of the two harvesters found only one had a current saltwater products license. Also noted was the oysters that were bagged weren’t properly tagged with harvester tags. A safety inspection of the vessel found no fire extinguisher, no throwable device and no commercial grade life jackets. The vessel also had no marine sanitation device onboard. Citations and written warnings were issued. Later in the week, Officer Wicker encounter the same two oystermen again and found the one oystermen still didn’t have a saltwater products license. A citation was issued.
Officer Wicker responded to a call of a swamped vessel off Panama City Beach. Upon arrival, he found a 14-foot Bayliner submerged in the surf and the two occupants onshore. The operator said they were looking for a place to fish when waves overtook the vessel’s bow. A boating accident self-report form was given and the owner/operator said the vessel would be removed from the surf within 24 hours.
CALHOUN COUNTY
Officer Baber responded to a complaint in which a homeowner’s dogs drug up the remains of a deer carcass that had been shot with a gun. Officer Baber canvassed nearby residences and developed a suspect. During an interview, the suspect admitted to shooting the deer that morning with a shotgun. The suspect was charged with taking deer during the closed season.
GADSDEN COUNTY
While on patrol, Officer Jones observed a silver vehicle pulled off the road near a creek. As Officer Jones passed the vehicle, he observed two subjects near the car and what appeared to be a live trap. He turned around and pulled up to the car. Officer Jones observed one subject carrying the live trap and the other subject was carrying a single-shot .22 rifle. The subjects advised that they were looking for a place to set out the live trap. After securing the rifle, Officer Jones asked for a hunting license or trapping license. The subjects had no identification nor did they have any hunting or trapping license. Officer Jones observed the car tag was expired and it did not belong to a vehicle. A driver license and warrant check and check for convicted felon through Dispatch revealed one of the subjects was a convicted felon, who had just been released from prison earlier in the year. Officer Jones advised the subject that he could not possess a firearm. When Officer Jones attempted to arrest the subject, the subject pulled away and fled into the wood. Units from the Academy, Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, and Lieutenant Colonel Warren responded to the area to assist. The subject turned himself in near his residence without incidence. He was booked in Gadsden County Jail for convicted felon in possession of a firearm and resisting arrest without violence.
JACKSON COUNTY
On the opening weekend of archery season, Officer Forehand was checking hunters in Apalachee Wildlife Management Area hunting along the Chattahoochee River. He observed a vessel pulled on shore in the management area. After the vessel left the area, Officer Forehand walked into the area and located a tree stand baited with corn. That evening, Officer Forehand returned and found the same vessel pulled on shore. He walked to the baited stand where he found a hunter hunting over the baited area. The hunter was cited for placing bait in a wildlife management area.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Officer J. Rockwell located several baited areas on Blackwater and Eglin Wildlife Management Areas prior to opening day of archery season. Lieutenant Hollinhead, Officers Arnette and Land assisted Officer J. Rockwell with working the baited areas. Lieutenant Hollinhead and Officer Arnette observed a subject hunting in a ladder stand on one of the baited areas on Eglin. They later determined the subject was hunting in a group. Their vehicles were located and three subjects were tracked to different hunting locations which revealed they were hunting over bait as well. Two of the subjects were discovered hunting in a closed area and one of them fled the area when he learned the officers were looking for him. Blood and drag sign in the closed area where he had been hunting led to a dead deer and crossbow the subject concealed behind a berm. The subject later called from his residence and admitted to his actions. All four subjects were cited for hunting over bait (corn) and two received additional charges for hunting in a closed area. Three of the subjects were issued a notice of suspension for one year by Eglin Security Forces.
Officers J. Rockwell located a baited area on Blackwater Wildlife Management Area after he observed a suspicious vehicle exiting a wooded area prior to archery season. Officers J. Rockwell and Land checked the baited area on opening morning of archery season and observed a subject hunting from a tree stand at the baited area. The subject was cited for hunting over bait (corn).
Lieutenant Hollinhead and Officer Corbin located a subject hunting over bait after receiving a complaint from a hunter that had discovered the bait while scouting. The subject was cited for hunting over bait (corn).
Officer J. Rockwell checked a hunter in a ladder stand on Eglin Wildlife Management Area after earlier in the week observing corn around the stand. The subject admitted to placing the bait out and was cited for hunting over bait on a management area. Eglin Security Force personnel responded to the area and issued a notice of suspension for a period of one year.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Lewis was on forest patrol in Blackwater River State Forest in a primitive campsite when he observed a group in possession of alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in this area. A computer check on one of the subjects came back with a warrant out of Okaloosa County for larceny and criminal mischief. The subject was arrested and transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail and issued a warning for the alcohol violation.
Officer Ramos was patrolling Blackwater River State Forest and encountered a vehicle whose operator had been firing multiple rifle rounds. During a conversation with the operator, Officer Ramos discovered an empty bag of corn in the vehicle. A short while later, he found an area at the end of the road where fresh corn had been placed on the ground in the management area. Officers Ramos and Hutchinson visited the operator of the vehicle from earlier and the man admitted to placing bait in the management area. He was issued a citation.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING OKALOOSA COUNTY
Officers J. Rockwell and Brooks spoke to approximately 30 students at Crestview High School about the requirements of becoming an FWC officer and the various equipment used to accomplish the FWC mission. They were also available to answer other questions.
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