Law Enforcement Weekly Report 01/29-02/04/2016

FWC

Division of Law Enforcement

 

Weekly Report

January 29, 2016 through February 4, 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

 

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

 

Officer Cushing was conducting fisheries inspections at the Bayou Texar Boat Ramp when he encountered some individuals pulling their vessel out of the water.  When asked how their day was, they stated that they had a good day and had caught an assortment of fish.  Officer Cushing boarded the vessel and just prior to opening the cooler, the owner stated that they had three greater amberjack.  When asked what the size limit was on greater amberjack, the owner responded 34 inches to the fork.  Two of the greater amberjack measured under 34 inches and the owner of the boat was issued a notice to appear for possession of undersized greater amberjack.

 

LEON COUNTY

 

Investigators Williams and Louque assisted Leon County Animal Control regarding an anonymous complaint of neglectful treatment of birds at a licensed bird facility.  Upon inspection of the facility and the cages the birds were being housed in, it was determined they were being kept in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. It appeared the facility had been neglected for an extended amount of time and the licensed facility has been warned in the past.  The licensee was cited for unsafe and unsanitary conditions.  

 

Investigators Louque and Williams were traveling west on I-10 just before arriving into Leon county when Investigator Louque spotted two whitetail deer tails hanging out of the bottom rear of an enclosed trailer being pulled by a Ford truck.  A traffic stop was conducted to perform a wildlife inspection.  Upon inspection of the trailer, investigators observed whitetail deer inside the trailer. Some of the animals appeared to be sedated while others were alert.  Investigators spoke with the driver who supplied them with proper FDACS movement paperwork.  The driver stated that there were 16 deer inside the trailer and that they would be moving a total of 48 animals to a separate farm. After checking her paperwork, investigators thanked her and sent her on her way.  There were no violations noted.

 

OKALOOSA COUNTY

 

Officer Corbin was on land patrol conducting an offload fisheries inspection on a commercial vessel in Fort Walton Beach.  The officer obtained the names of the operator and crew members.  The Tallahassee Communications Center confirmed that one crew member had an active warrant for failure to pay child support in Okaloosa County.  Officer Corbin transported the individual to the Okaloosa County Jail and completed the intake process.

 

Officer Corbin was on land patrol conducting boating safety and resource inspections at the Cinco Bayou Boat Ramp, and observed a boat return to the boat ramp.  The operator was returning to pick up another individual.  While conducting a boating safety inspection, the Tallahassee Regional Communications Center confirmed the operator of the boat had an active warrant for failure to provide child support.  A deputy transported the individual to the Okaloosa County Jail.

 

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

 

Officer Hutchinson was working an area where he received complaints of illegal night hunting activity.  While working the area late at night, he observed a truck slow down while approaching a field.  He observed a spotlight being shined from the cab of the truck into the field and then into a group of trees.  He conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the driver.  The driver said that he was looking for deer and admitted to having a rifle in the truck.  Officer Hutchinson observed a loaded hunting rifle lying in the driver seat between the driver and the center console.  He continued his search of the vehicle and discovered an ice chest on the back of the truck with deer meat in it.  When questioned about the deer meat, the man informed Officer Hutchinson that it was from a cow horn buck that he shot a few days ago.  Officer Hutchinson followed him to his residence where he determined that the man had shot an illegal antlered deer.  The man was charged with night hunting, taking an illegal antlered buck, and driving with a suspended license.

 

Officer Hutchinson received information that a man had possibly shot an illegal deer the previous day.  He located the man, and after being questioned, the man admitted to shooting a deer the day before and that the deer was not a legal sized antlered deer. After measuring the antlers, Officer Hutchinson confirmed that the antlers did not meet the minimum required length.  The man was charged with taking an illegal antlered buck and hunting without a valid hunting license.

 

Officer Hutchinson received information that a man had an illegal deer carcass hanging inside of his barn.  Officer Hutchinson located the subject at his residence and questioned him about the deer.  The subject said that his younger sister shot the deer, a small spike. Officer Hutchinson questioned him about the antlerless deer that he received information about the subject shooting.  The subject claimed his younger sister shot it also.  Officer Hutchinson measured the antlers and confirmed that the antlers length did not meet the minimum required length.  After further questioning, the subject admitted to shooting both of the illegal deer.  He showed Officer Hutchinson the deer meat from one of the deer which was inside an ice chest without any ice or water on it and spoiled.  Officer Hutchinson also discovered that the carcass was dumped in a public park.  Warrants were obtained charging the subject with taking an illegal antlered buck, taking an antlerless deer out of season, wanton and willful waste of a game animal and hunting without a valid hunting license.

 

Officer Land received a complaint of a vehicle parked in a closed area within the Eglin Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and the occupants of the vehicle possibly hunting.  Officer Land arrived in the closed area and observed a vehicle matching the description given in the complaint.  The officer observed footprints leading away from the vehicle and out through the closed area and began to track the subject.  Once well out into the closed area, Officer Land encountered a subject who was bow hunting.  The hunter admitted that he was aware that he was hunting in the closed area and was unable to present an Eglin Permit.  This subject was issued a notice to appear for hunting in a closed area and a warning for no Eglin Permit.

 

WALTON COUNTY

 

Officer Brooks made contact with a subject after observing him hunting from a tree stand well within the boundary of posted private property. Officer Brooks had located the tree stand and conducted surveillance on the property throughout the hunting season prior to making contact with the subject. When the subject was questioned, it was determined he had entered the property knowing it was private and posted. The land manager of the property requested that the subject be charged with trespassing. He was booked into the Walton County Jail for felony trespass.

 

 

NORTH CENTRAL REGION

 

CITRUS COUNTY

 

Citrus County officers started a detail targeting fishermen taking snook out of season. During the detail the following charges were filed: possession of snook during closed season; entry/fish into Manatee Sanctuary; BUI with possession of cannabis, drug paraphernalia; boating citations and two charges for no navigational lights. A total of eight misdemeanors and two boating infractions were issued during this targeted enforcement effort.

 

Officers apprehended a subject in Homosassa WMA taking/attempting to take game during closed season. The officers received a call from a local hunter who advised that a subject was possibly hunting in the WMA. The officers responded and located the subject in the WMA. The subject was wearing camouflage clothing and was carrying a tree stand. The subject stated he was hunting but did not realize he was in the WMA.

 

Officers were working an overnight detail covering commercial oyster harvestering in the area when, after sunrise, the officers observed what they believed was a subject harvesting oysters in a closed area. The officers continued to watch the subject as he pulled blue crab traps in a nearby creek. The subject was in a vessel that was not marked with the required vessel marking to pull commercial blue crab gear and was wearing slickers (protective clothing). The officers, in an unmarked patrol boat, approached and made contact with the operator. The operator stated he was taking crabs out of the traps and was cutting them up to bait his commercial Mud Minnow (A long skinny bait fish sold to bait houses). Contact was made with the owner of the traps who stated he told the subject he could pull his traps and use the crabs as bait. The officers explained that written permission needed to be filed for this to happen and that the vessel would need to be properly marked. The man was told that the crabs harvested from the traps would have to stay in whole condition and could not be cut up.

 

Officers worked the area offshore Citrus and Hernando Counties in the shrimp/stone crab zones. During the detail, a commercial shrimp vessel was observed in inshore/ nearshore waters. Based on the profile of the shrimp boat the officer suspected it to be a four-trawl boat. One officer followed behind the shrimp boat and documented its location and activity. Approximately 30 minutes later, the shrimp boat hauled its nets from the water and the officer was able to confirm that the boat was pulling four trawls in inshore/nearshore waters. During the boarding, the officer observed the track history on the vessel navigational instruments, which showed that the vessel had been working in the area for some time. The captain/operator was issued a citation to pay a Citrus County fine of $318.00 or appear in court.

 

DUVAL COUNTY

 

A load of construction debris and garbage was found in a wooded area of Duval County by Investigator Terrones.  The account holder information from a receipt that was found in the debris was subpoenaed and a subsequent investigation revealed that a Jacksonville handyman performed some remodeling work for a family and illegally dumped the material.  An arrest warrant was obtained and will be served on the suspect at the Walton Correctional Institute where he is incarcerated on an unrelated charge.

 

UNION COUNTY

 

Lieutenant Huff was working a duck hunters detail in Union County when he observed two hunters shooting ducks on a local lake. After several hours of hunting, the hunters returned to the boat ramp. While checking the hunters, Lieutenant Huff discovered the hunters did not possess a federal duck stamp and were using illegal lead shot and unplugged shotguns to take ducks. Lieutenant Huff issued appropriate citations for the violations.

 

 

NORTHEAST REGION

 

BREVARD COUNTY

 

While on night patrol, Lieutenant Bonds and Officer Balgo were conducting resource inspections on vessels returning from offshore fishing. The officers observed a vessel with inoperable navigation lights traveling north on the Indian River. During a subsequent vessel stop, they learned the vessel was returning from an overnight fishing trip. A detailed inspection of the ice box revealed seven red snapper, two of which were approximately 14 inches. During an interview, the captain of the vessel admitted that all of the fish were caught approximately eleven miles offshore in federal waters. Lieutenant Zamonis arrived on scene to assist in the investigation. Lieutenant Zamonis was able to retrieve valuable evidence from the GPS on the suspect vessel. The two adult subjects onboard received federal citations for taking red snapper during the closed season.

 

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

 

A man was reported to be unconscious in a vessel in a remote area. Officers Platt and Balgo were close by and responded to the area, where they met with local Fire/Rescue. The vessel operator was pronounced deceased by EMS and the scene was secured. Lieutenant Bonds and Lieutenant Bowlin, along with Investigator Loeffler and Officer Cybula arrived on scene to assist with the investigation. The case was worked as a boating accident pending a determination from the Medical Examiner’s office. Preliminary evidence suggests heart failure as the cause for the man’s death.

 

OSCEOLA COUNTY

 

Lieutenant Trusley with Officers Platt, Balgo, Miller, Arendas, Mendez, Mendelson, Cybula, Horst, along with Reserve Officer Stermen responded to assist Florida Highway Patrol and Indian River County Sheriff’s Office with a suspect that assaulted a trooper and fled from him. The suspect crashed his car and fled on foot into the Buffer Preserve. The officers helped set a perimeter and assisted apprehending the suspect. The suspect was charged accordingly.

 

Lieutenant Trusley and Officer Mendelson conducted a public outreach in Kenansville. Numerous people including the Commissioner Liesa Priddy, the Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam, several local land owners, local ranchers as well as ranchers from other parts of Florida and other states including but not limited to Colorado, Michigan, and New York, were on the “Great Florida Cattle Drive.” The cattle drive was a week long and ended on January 30^th at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kenansville where hundreds of people came to watch the drive’s final push. They had pushed the cattle several miles over the course of a week through multiple private properties and WMAs and camped like the cattlemen of the past would have done. Lieutenant Trusley and Officer Mendelson made many land owner contacts and were able to answer numerous questions from the public. They assisted the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office in directing traffic and showed strong support for the community.

 

St. JOHNS COUNTY

 

Lieutenant Dack received a call from St. Johns Water Management District about an all-terrain vehicle found in a conservation area off State Route 16 in St. Augustine.  Lieutenant Dack checked Florida Crime Information Center and National Crime Information Center records and discovered the all-terrain vehicle was stolen out of St. Augustine in June of 2015.  A records search through the local sheriff’s office provided a phone number to the owner of the all-terrain vehicle. Lieutenant Dack and St. Johns Water Management District employees returned the all-terrain vehicle to the elated owners.  There are no leads at this time as to who stole the all-terrain vehicle.

 

 

SOUTHWEST REGION

 

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

 

The FWC received numerous complaints regarding trap robbing occurring in the Little Manatee River. Reports indicated that commercial crab traps were being robbed of the crabs and, in some cases, the traps themselves had been stolen. FWC Officers spent many hours conducting surveillance on the river, mostly during late night and early morning hours. A motion activated game camera ultimately caught the suspect robbing the trap. The subject was recently found guilty in a Hillsborough County courtroom of felony blue crab trap molestation and misdemeanor theft of blue crabs from the trap. The defendant was ordered to remain in custody until sentencing. The molestation of a crab trap carries a penalty of up to five years in jail and fines of up to $5,000.

 

 

SOUTH REGION A

 

BROWARD COUNTY

 

On the L5 levee in Broward County and extending up into Palm Beach County, Lieutenant McDonald and Officers Tarr, Moore, Sullivan, Ryan, and Wright worked a targeted enforcement detail focusing on resource protection and public safety.  Several violations were documented including littering, night time target shooting, public discharge of a firearm, trespassing, fishing license violations and criminal traffic violations.  During the detail, the officers also educated people about the high water closure that was still in the draft phase at that time.  People were educated about the effect the high water has on the animals in the management areas.  The closure is to reduce unnecessary stress on the animals that are trying to avoid the high water.

 

Officers Matthews, Brock, Gamage, Albert, Bussek, Delatorre, Defeo, Mirabal and Vacin patrolled the western parts of Broward County to include the Palm Beach County line vicinity, the Dade County line vicinity and Lox Road vicinity. They patrolled during late night hours to ensure the safety of hunters, the general public and conserve natural resources.  Numerous individuals were contacted in the WMA as well.  Citations and warnings were written for numerous violations ranging from vehicle violations to littering, illegal bon fires, underage drinking, illegal discharge of firearms and trespassing.

 

FWC Officers also responded to two vehicle accidents including a roll over and a vehicle that snapped a power pole. They made sure no individuals were trapped or injured.  The Broward Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol responded to work the crashes. Officers were also worked the area near the crossover on the L-5 levee and, with the aid of individuals in the area, they cleared trash left by careless people.

 

Investigator Coffin, Officers Strader, Stower and Moore responded to a reported vehicle running the gate and crashing at the S-turn inside John U Lloyd State Park.  When the officers arrived, the driver of the vehicle was sitting in the grass next to the wrecked vehicle.  Investigator Coffin observed possible impairment of the vehicle operator and performed standardized field sobriety tasks.  It was determined that the operator was impaired, arrested and taken to the Breath and Alcohol Testing facility where he provided two samples of breath at .189 and .183 BAC.  The subject was booked into Broward County Jail for DUI with an unlawful balance greater than 0.15 BAC, DUI property damage, evasion of park fees and damaging state park resources.

 

HENDRY COUNTY

 

Officers Toby and Nasworth represented the FWC at a public outreach event in Clewiston. The event was “Meet the Pros Night,” hosting multiple professional bass fisherman that were in town for the upcoming national tournament on Lake Okeechobee. Officers Toby and Nasworth set up an informational table at this event and engaged the crowd of approximately 120 individuals with fishing rules, safety tips and professional knowledge of the surrounding area.

 

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY

 

Officer Toby observed multiple individuals fishing around midnight at the Henry Creek Lock on Lake Okeechobee. While conducting fisheries inspections, one individual was fishing without the proper fishing license. Once Officer Toby provided the individual’s information to the FWC dispatch center, a felony warrant for grand theft was identified and confirmed from Broward County. Officer Toby placed the individual under arrest and Officer Norbrothen arrived to assist. Officer Toby took the individual to the Okeechobee County Jail for the out of county felony warrant.

 

St. LUCIE COUNTY

 

Officer Miano was conducting resource and fishing license inspections at Fort Pierce Inlet State Park. Officer Miano observed two subjects fishing on the north jetty. She also observed them place the fish among the jetty rocks. When the subjects began to leave the area, she made contact with them at their vehicle. An inspection revealed two legal size red drum in a bucket. Further inspection revealed a third red drum in a plastic bag inside the vehicle trunk. The subject was issued a citation for possessing over the bag limit of red drum.

 

Lieutenant Rogerson was on land patrol traveling north on a major highway when he observed a subject leaving a canal bank with what appeared to be a snook. At the time, snook was in a closed harvest season. Lieutenant Rogerson turned his patrol vehicle around to conduct a resource inspection. He found the subject standing behind a vehicle with the trunk open. After making contact with the subject, an undersized snook was found in a cooler. The subject was issued a citation for harvesting snook during the closed season.

 

Officer Arnold was conducting resource and license inspections at a popular fishing spot in Fort Pierce when he made contact with several different subjects who were actively fishing. Several of those stops resulted in multiple violations. They included undersized sheepshead and undersized snapper violations. The illegal undersized fish were discovered hidden in buckets and a backpack. Citations were issued for the violations.

 

 

SOUTH REGION B

 

COLLIER COUNTY:

 

Officer Kleis responded to a call in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park after a Park Ranger reported a possible drunk driver in the park after hours.  While driving on Janes Scenic Drive, a vehicle matching the suspect’s vehicle description drove past Officer Kleis at a high rate of speed.  Officer Kleis conducted a stop of the suspect’s vehicle and upon approaching the vehicle, was able to detect the strong odor of marijuana and an alcoholic substance.  There were multiple open beer bottles in the vehicle between the passenger and driver seats.  Lieutenant Sushil arrived on the scene to assist and search the vehicle.  After performing field sobriety tasks on the driver, Officer Kleis determined that the driver was impaired and placed him under arrest for Driving Under the Influence.  The passenger was subsequently arrested for possession of marijuana and had an active warrant out of Miami.  The Collier County Sheriff’s Deputy transported both subjects to the Collier County Jail, where the driver provided breath alcohol samples of 0.098 and 0.099.

 

Lieutenant Sushil and Officer Lugg responded to an injured deer on State Road 29.  When the officers arrived, they found the juvenile deer was still in good condition even though it had been hit by a car.  The officers retrieved the deer and took it to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida in Naples, where it is being rehabilitated.

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY:

 

Investigator Corteguera read an article regarding a kinkajou that was recovered in Miami.  The article stated a female woke up with the animal in her bed.  The animal was recovered and turned over to a veterinarian’s office.  Investigator Corteguera contacted the veterinarian’s office to gain further information and to discuss the requirements for possessing the animal.  A Class III personal pet license is required to possess a kinkajou.  Investigator Corteguera learned the owner of the kinkajou produced an expired license for the animal and was given custody at the veterinarian’s office.  This information was turned over to Investigators Smith and Landa.  Both investigators visited the veterinarian’s office and issued a warning for releasing the kinkajou to an individual with an expired permit.  The investigators met with the owner of the kinkajou and issued citations for the animal escaping and for the expired license.  He was issued a warning for not being able to produce records of acquisition for the animal.  He is in the process of renewing his license. 

 

Officer Sarmiento was conducting night patrol at Crandon Park Boat Ramp (Key Biscayne) in Miami Dade County. Upon approaching a vessel, the operator stated that they had caught several mackerel.  The officer conducted an inspection on a cooler on the boat where 44 Spanish mackerel were found.  The bag limit for Spanish mackerel is 15 fish per license holder - the two subjects had 14 Spanish mackerel over the allowable bag limit.  Both subjects were cited for being in possession of over-the-bag limit of Spanish mackerel. The operator was also given a warning for operating a vessel with no serviceable visual distress signals aboard.

 

MONROE COUNTY:

 

Officers Pestka and Wilkins were on foot patrol on the Long Key Bridge when they spotted a group of individuals fishing from the side of the bridge. As Officer Pestka and Wilkins began to conduct a fisheries inspection, one of the subjects tossed a fish into the water. The subjects were immediately detained and a thorough inspection of their catch was conducted. Officer Pino responded and interpreted, since none of the subjects spoke English. As a result of the inspection, the officers discovered that one of the men was in possession of two undersized out of season black grouper, one undersized mangrove snapper and one parrot fish. Another man was in possession of one undersized mangrove snapper and the third subject was fishing without a license. The three men were cited accordingly.

 

Officer Plussa was conducting state water patrol of Boot Key Harbor when he observed a well-known subject aboard one of his four near-derelict vessels. Monroe County FWC Officers had been seeking him for multiple unresolved violations relating to the vessels being navigational and environmental hazards. Officer Plussa attempted to conduct an inspection of each vessel, but the operator was unable to complete it. Officer Plussa boarded each vessel and conducted a detailed inspection. The subject had failed to correct or answer more than seven previous boating citations. Additionally, two of his four vessels had their marine toilets set to pump raw human sewage directly into state waters.  Officer Plussa charged the suspect with six total misdemeanors relating to vessel registration and title crimes, providing false information to law enforcement, two marine sanitation citations, and a total of 33 other documented non-criminal violations relating to navigation light, vessel safety equipment and registration display. The suspect was advised that his vessels were declared nuisance and hazard to public health and safety, and that in accordance with state law, he must correct the MSD violations or his vessels would be seized and removed from the waters of the state.

 

Officer Plussa was conducting state water patrol in the area of Sister’s Creek near Sombrero Beach in Marathon. He observed a small unnumbered inflatable skiff motoring towards him on plane, weaving in and out of the idling vessel traffic. Officer Plussa sped up and stopped the violator. Officer Plussa asked him why he was operating on plane in a no wake zone, cutting in and out of vessel traffic. The young operator stated he was just in a hurry to watch the sunset. An inspection revealed that the vessel was placarded for six occupants, but contained eight. The subject was only carrying three life jackets, leaving five occupants without flotation devices and did not carry a fire extinguisher as required.  The operator received citations and documentation for violating the wake zone, being overloaded, insufficient number of life jackets, failure to carry a fire extinguisher, failure to possess a Boating Safety ID card, and failure to display registration numbers.  

 

Officer Plussa and Piekenbrock were on water patrol in the Marathon area when they observed a blacked out vessel operating in violation of navigation rules relating to lighting requirements. As officers stopped the vessel, the subject became very hostile to the officers. Officer Plussa conducted a safety inspection of the vessel and asked the operator to see the vessel’s flares, since it was almost midnight and after dark. The operator told the officers that they were wrong, that he did not need them and was exempt from the boating safety card legal requirement. Officer Plussa issued the subject citations for failing to display navigation lights as required, failure to possess a Boating Safety ID card and failure to carry visual distress signals accordingly.

 

Over the past week, Officer Plussa conducted a targeted enforcement detail in the Middle Keys, focusing on nighttime boating safety violations. During that time, he stopped and inspected approximately 75 vessels. Many of the violators were non-Florida boaters and unfamiliar with Florida boating laws. Officer Plussa issued more than 100 warnings and 30 boating citations.

 

 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

 

Officer Dube manned a booth with staff from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary at the Annual Key Largo Stone Crab Festival in the Upper Keys over the weekend. Officer Dube answered questions along with handing out information about FWC. The event was attended by thousands and was the busiest year to date.

 

Officer Veloz was invited as a guest speaker at Bowman Foster Ashe School in Miami Dade.  The theme for the event was “Life under & above the sea.”  Officer Veloz spoke to more than 300 students, their parents and staff about the FWC and its mission.  Officer Veloz also covered topics like our oceans, coast line preservation, stopping pollution in our oceans and how we can all make a difference with education.  Also covered was the importance of boating safety and boating regulations.

 

Officers Boyd, Foell and McKay attended the annual Sugar Loaf Key Elementary/Middle School Safety Day. Approximately 400 students and staff were in attendance along with representatives from numerous law enforcement and fire rescue agencies.  Officers Boyd and Foell brought a patrol vessel and spoke to the students about boating safety regulations.  Officer McKay is with the local Islamorada Fire Rescue K9 search and rescue team, part of the South Florida C.A.R.T. group, and spoke to the groups about how the multiple agencies and assets work together when there is a missing or abducted child.  The team brought five dogs for the children to interact with. 

 

Officers Reith and Veloz attended The Naples High School Career Day Fair Event.  Both officers spoke to more than 100 seniors interested in applying and becoming part of the FWC. Questions ranged from law enforcement to dispatch communication duty officers and all branches related.  Both officers talked about the FWC’s mission and how we can all help in conservation.