FWC Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report September 30 through October 13, 2016

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FWC

Division of Law Enforcement

 

Weekly Report

September 30 through October 13, 2016

This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past two weeks; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.

Patrol, Protect, Preserve

NORTHWEST REGION

CASES

BAY COUNTY

Officers Gore, Wicker and K-9 Kane responded to a complaint of subjects catching over the limit of redfish. Upon arriving at the area, K-9 Kane was released in the parking lot for an area detection search and alerted on a vehicle. The owner, who was identified fishing a short distance away, denied catching or possessing any fish. After a short interview, he and the passenger of the vehicle were found in possession of seven red drum. Both subjects were issued notice to appear citations for possession of over the daily bag limit of red drum.

Officer Alsobrooks received a call from U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) requesting assistance. The USCG stated they had conducted a vessel stop in St. Andrews Bay and the vessel had a strong smell of cannabis emanating from on board. Upon arrival at the Panama City Marina, the USCG stated they had found a small amount of cannabis and a small package of a white substance along with multiple paraphernalia products on the vessel. After a brief investigation, the powdery substance was tested and confirmed to be methamphetamine. The suspect was placed under arrest and booked into the Bay County Jail for possession of methamphetamine, possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis, and possession of paraphernalia. The Florida Highway Patrol and Bay County Sheriff’s Office K-9 assisted with the investigation.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

Lieutenant Hahr was patrolling in the Escambia River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) at Cotton Lake campground when he observed a couple sharing a pipe as they smoked cannabis. Both were charged with possession of not more than 20 grams of cannabis and possession of drug  paraphernalia.                                  

While on board the Offshore Patrol Vessel Fincat, Officers Cushing, Pettey and Tolbert patrolled federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend. They boarded numerous vessels and found violations for failure to allow inspection, possession of red snapper during closed season, possession of gray triggerfish during closed season, and no federal reef fish charter permit. The appropriate citations and warnings were issued.

JACKSON COUNTY

Officers Forehand and Burkhead checked several dove hunters and found that one hunter had killed 20 doves, five over the daily bag limit. The hunter was charged with taking over the daily bag limit of dove.

OKALOOSA COUNTY

Officers Pifer and Corbin conducted a resource inspection of a commercial fishing vessel at a local wholesale dealer. During the course of the inspection, the officers found 138 undersized vermillion snapper and 8 undersized red snapper on board the vessel. The vessel captain was issued a federal citation for the violation and the undersized snapper were seized as evidence. The seized snapper were photographed and turned over to a National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) law enforcement officer.

Officer Bartlett was on land patrol conducting fisheries inspection at a local boat ramp in Destin. He observed a vessel returning to the boat ramp with fishing rods displayed. The fisheries inspection revealed that the operator was in possession of four stone crab claws. Stone crab claw season is closed. The operator was cited and issued a notice to appear citation.

While Officer Corbin was on land patrol conducting state fisheries and license compliance, he observed three individuals fishing off a pier at a local marina in Destin. A fisheries inspection revealed three undersized bluefish and one undersized lane snapper. One of the three individuals was cited and issued a notice to appear citation.

Officer Corbin was on land patrol conducting state fisheries inspections and received a call from Officer Pifer regarding an individual he saw catch two red drum. Officer Pifer did not see the individual return either fish to the water. Officer Corbin located the individual and asked if he had caught any fish. The individual stated that he and another individual caught four red drum. After Miranda warning, the individual admitted to catching all four red drum. The subject was cited for a major violation and issued a notice to appear citation.

While conducting an offload inspection of a commercial vessel at a local wholesale dealer in Destin, Officer Corbin observed several undersized vermillion snapper coming off the vessel. After removing and measuring the vermillion snapper from four bins, a total of 142 vermillion snapper were found to be undersized, approximately 50 pounds. A total of 277 pounds of vermillion snapper were offloaded from the vessel, including the undersized. Officer Corbin contacted a NOAA law enforcement officer regarding the violation. The boat operator was cited for a Code Federal Regulation violation.

Officer P. Rockwell was on vessel patrol and observed an individual spearfishing with no diver down flag along the west jetty of the East Pass. This area of the jetty prohibits spearfishing. The individual was instructed to head to the shore where Officer Corbin, who was on land patrol, met with the subject. The individual was issued a notice to appear citation and two written warnings for no diver’s down flag and no saltwater fishing license.

While on board the Offshore Patrol Vessel Vigilance, Officers Rockwell, Cushing and Tolbert, along with NOAA Officer Harwell, patrolled the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. During the patrol, the officers located multiple vessels with fisheries violations. Those violations consisted of possession of red snapper during closed season, possession of gray triggerfish during closed season and possession of undersized Spanish mackerel. The appropriate citations and warnings were issued for the violations.

WALTON COUNTY

Officer Corbin was dispatched to a boating accident involving a PWC hitting a dock in Miramar Beach. The operator was attempting to dock the PWC at a residence in Choctaw Bay. The operator hit the accelerator instead of brake/reverse on the PWC causing the vessel to crash into the dock, taking out a piling and supports on the dock. The operator hit his head and was transported to a local hospital as a precaution. The operator was released with minor injuries. The boating accident is still under investigation.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

Officer Jackson located a small dove shoot while on patrol. A check of the field and hunters revealed that it was baited. Three subjects were issued notice to appear citations for taking migratory birds (doves) over bait and one juvenile was warned.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

Officers Jernigan and Lewis, alongside FWC biologists, worked a public outreach event at the Munson Heritage Festival. More than 2,000 people visited FWC’s booth. The officers discussed FWC-related topics with hundreds of visitors.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

Officer Greene taught the law portion of the hunter safety class at Hard Labor Creek Plantation. Approximately 30 students were in attendance.

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