FWC Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report May 5 through May 12, 2016

(Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.) FWC Division of Law Enforcement   Weekly Report May 5 through May 12, 2016 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 CASES GULF COUNTY While checking a vessel on the Apalachicola River with three occupants for fishing licenses and compliance, Officer McMillion observed four catfish underneath the passenger’s feet. Right behind him at the operator’s feet was an orange extension cord with a chain tied to the end of it which is commonly used to shock fish. There were no fishing poles of any kind on the vessel. Officer McMillion asked the operator where his shocker was located and he pulled an electrical device used to shock fish (snuff can style) out of his back right pocket. The shocking device and extension were seized as evidence. The owner/operator was cited for taking freshwater fish with an illegal device (electroshocking) and the passengers were issued written warnings. OKALOOSA COUNTY Officer Maltais was on land patrol conducting state fisheries inspections at a local boat ramp in Niceville and observed a small Jon boat on a boat trailer with three individuals around the boat. The vessel was rigged out for flounder fishing. In conversation, Officer Maltais established that the individuals had returned from a fishing trip. The individuals stated they had caught one sheepshead. An inspection revealed one legal-sized speared sheepshead and one grossly undersized red drum. One of the individuals was issued a notice to appear citation for the undersized red drum and for an expired saltwater fishing license. SANTA ROSA COUNTY While on patrol in Navarre, Officer Land witnessed an individual fishing from a dock, throwing a cast net. Officer Land watched as the individual pulled the net in from the water and shook a fish out onto the dock. The man hesitated, looked around the area and then picked the fish up and placed it in a five‑gallon bucket. Officer Land made contact to see what the man had caught. The fisherman said that he had not had any luck that day. After inspecting the bucket, the officer found an undersized red drum measuring 14 inches. The fish was released to the water and the fisherman was issued a notice to appear for the violation. While patrolling the Escambia River by vessel, Officer Hutchinson observed two men pulling their vessel up to a boat ramp. He made contact with them and noticed that they were both acting nervous. He observed several fishing poles and live bait in the boat. After Officer Hutchinson conducted a vessel safety equipment inspection, he asked them if they had caught any fish. The owner of the vessel said that they had caught several bream. After Officer Hutchinson inspected the fish, he asked both subjects if they had anything else that they had caught onboard the vessel and they both said, “No.” After further inspection of the vessel, Officer Hutchinson discovered a large live alligator snapping turtle hidden inside one of the compartments on the vessel. When he asked the subjects why they didn’t tell him about the turtle, the owner of the vessel said, “Because I didn’t know if it was legal to keep or not.” Officer Hutchinson seized the turtle and the owner of the vessel was charged with illegal possession of an alligator snapping turtle. The turtle was released alive back into the Escambia River. Officer Ramos was working in Blackwater State Park when he was approached by a Park Ranger about two men who camped in the campground and did not pay the fee. When approached by the Park Ranger, one subject refused to identify himself and sped out of the campground, nearly colliding with another vehicle. The man’s license plate number was recorded and matched a vehicle that was also involved in a disturbance at a local convenience store. The subjects circumvented the gate at the park and entered illegally. Officer Ramos determined that the one subject was stationed at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola. He contacted NAS Police and with their assistance and made contact with the subject, who later admitted his wrongdoing. Both subjects were issued citations for fee evasion. RESCUES SANTA ROSA COUNTY Officer Land responded with fire/rescue to the report of a wrecked personal watercraft (PWC). Two individuals were on board a PWC when it rolled over. Due to the current, they were unable to get back to the vessel and they held onto a channel marker. A Good Samaritan on shore witnessed and reported the incident. Both individuals were returned to shore unharmed, and the PWC was recovered undamaged. Officers Pettey, Barnard, FWC Pilot Tolbert and Lieutenant Berryman assisted the National Park Service on the Gulf Islands National Seashore on a report of a missing person. Utilizing FWC aircraft, ATVs and patrol vehicles, officers located the missing subject from the air walking down the beach. DIRECTED CONSERVATION PATROLS This past week, officers throughout the region concentrated their patrol efforts targeting saltwater fisheries violations. BAY COUNTY Officers Wicker, Gore and Lieutenant Keen patrolled federal waters and made six federal fisheries cases for taking red snapper in closed season. ESCAMBIA COUNTY Officer Allgood and Investigator Livesay worked several days offshore conducting resource inspections. They issued three notices to appear citations for undersized triggerfish, amberjack, and red snapper. Additionally, FWC Pilot Tolbert observed two vessels returning from federal waters and followed them in to state waters. Officer Allgood and Investigator Livesay conducted a vessel stop at the Pensacola Pass. The operators of both vessels were in possession of red snapper. They were issued federal citations for possession of red snapper in federal waters. Several other related warnings were issued. FRANKLIN COUNTY On the opening day of state red snapper season, Officers Raker and Nelson conducted patrol in federal waters. While on patrol, they encountered numerous state and federal violations regarding red snapper, gag grouper and amberjack. In total, the two officers issued four federal citations for the harvest of red snapper during closed season in federal waters, two federal citations for harvest of gag grouper in federal waters during closed season, and one state citation for undersized amberjack. While on patrol in the offshore patrol vessel Guardian, Lieutenant Marlow, Officers Nelson and Robb, and FWC biologists Shipley and Walthall conducted several vessel inspections. During their patrols approximately 24 miles offshore, they stopped a recreational vessel with several red snapper on board. A later stop of a commercial vessel south of Cape San Blas resulted in officers locating multiple undersized greater amberjack. Another stop of a commercial vessel resulted in the occupants throwing red snapper and other items overboard during the Guardian’s approach. The FWC aircraft was flying above and FWC Pilot Tolbert observed the offense and radioed the information below. The FWC staff was able to recover the fish thrown overboard. The appropriate citations and warnings were issued for the violations mentioned above. GULF COUNTY Officers M. Webb, H. Webb, and Lieutenant Casteneda patrolled federal waters and made ten federal fisheries cases for taking red snapper in closed season. OKALOOSA COUNTY Officers P. Rockwell, J. Rockwell and Bartlett conducted federal/state fisheries patrols on the offshore patrol vessel Vigilance. The patrol centered on the opening of red snapper in state waters, resulting in three federal violations for possession/harvest of red snapper during closed season, one federal violation for undersized greater amberjack, one state violation for possession of an undersized greater amberjack and one written warning for undersized gray triggerfish. SANTA ROSA COUNTY Officers Cushing, Land, Miller and Lieutenant Berryman patrolled both state and federal waters during the opening weekend of red snapper season aboard FWC vessel FinCat. Over a two‑day period, officers boarded 35 vessels to conduct fishery inspections resulting in ten of the vessels in violation of federal or state marine fishery rules and regulations. These violations included possession of red snapper during the closed season (federal), possession of over-the-bag limit of red snapper, possession of gag grouper during the closed season, and possession of undersized greater amberjack and triggerfish. During the week, Officer Lewis patrolled Blackwater River State Forest checking campsites throughout the forest. He also patrolled various waterways throughout his assigned work area. Officer Lewis issued citations and warnings for no fishing licenses, possession of alcoholic beverages in prohibited area, glass containers in and around waterways, operating off-highway vehicles on managed lands and littering. Officer Lewis also issued various traffic warnings in the forest to deter users from disobeying traffic laws in the forest. COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING ESCAMBIA COUNTY Officers Manning and Allgood spoke to members of a bass club at Olive Baptist Church discussing the upcoming changes to black bass. They also discussed boating safety and the process to get a permit for a bass tournament. OKALOOSA COUNTY Officer Hutchinson was patrolling the Blackwater Forest near a creek and was approached by five Girl Scout leaders. They informed him that they were from several states including Florida and were looking for a couple of good places within the forest to launch their canoes that were easily accessible. Officer Hutchinson spent about an hour with them showing them several places on their map that would be easily accessible and answered several questions that they had about the forest. He also answered their questions about the duties of an FWC officer. WALTON COUNTY Officer Tison participated in a community outreach event at Bay Elementary School in Point Washington. His patrol truck and vessel were displayed and he answered questions about the role and duties of an FWC officer. There were approximately 200 parents and students in attendance. MUTUAL AID/AGENCY ASSISTANCE ESCAMBIA COUNTY Officer Allgood assisted Naval Air Station (NAS) base police and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office regarding a man who fled. Officer Allgood arrived at the location where the man was about 150 yards from the beach in chest-high water. He refused to turn himself in for allegedly beating his 9‑year‑old daughter. As the sun was starting to set, Officer Allgood immediately went out in the water and apprehended the suspect. Officer Allgood escorted him to land and turned him over to NAS Police. FWC officers, along with U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) officers, participated in a joint training day at the USCG Station in Pensacola. This training consisted of search and rescue (SAR) policy and procedure and proper search techniques and patterns commonly used by the USCG on SAR missions. Training was conducted in the classroom and on the water.

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