FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Report 10/10 - 10/16/2014

FWC

Division of Law Enforcement

 

Weekly Report

October 10 – October 16, 2014

 

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

 

Lieutenant Chesser, Investigator Nelson and Officer T. Basford responded to a boating accident at a marina in Panama City Beach. A vessel trying to dock at the marina struck a docked vessel. When the operator realized his vessel was going to strike the other vessel, he put his arm out in an attempt to avert the collision which resulted in a broken arm.  Officer Basford is conducting the investigation.

 

Jackson County

 

Officers Johnson and Forehand responded to the Sneads area after receiving information about two buck deer being taken during the closed season. After arriving on scene and interviewing the suspect, they were directed to an area where the carcasses had been disposed. While searching the area for the deer carcasses, the officers also located eight cannabis plants on the property. The suspect admitted to killing the two bucks and claimed ownership of the cannabis plants. Appropriate citations were issued.

 

OKALOOSA COUNTY

 

Officer Maltais was on evening vessel patrol when he conducted a stop on a vessel for operating with no navigational lights displayed.   During the vessel stop, Officer Maltais observed scrap material as follows:  12 vehicle tires (bundled in two’s by a rope), metal chairs, furniture frames, and three window air conditioning units.  The material, by definition under Florida Statutes, is considered artificial reef material.  When questioned about the scrap material, the operator stated that the material came from a residence and he was disposing of the material in a dumpster located in the Indian Bayou community.  Officer Maltais issued warnings for operating a vessel with no navigational lights and relayed his observations to Investigator Nelson regarding the transportation of scrap reef material.  Investigator Nelson conducted interviews of the operator and passenger of the vessel.  Investigator Nelson presented his findings to the Assistant State Attorney and a local judge signed and issued two arrest warrants for the transportation of reef material without a manifest, a first degree misdemeanor.

 

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

 

While working the Munson Heritage Festival at Krul Lake, Officers Barnard and Hutchinson received information from off-duty FWC Officer Johnson about a fugitive from justice who was seen at the festival.  After receiving a description of the fugitive, the officers observed him walking in their direction.  They approached and detained the fugitive and confirmed that he had an active out-of-state warrant.  He was transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail.

 

COPS

 

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

 

Investigator Wilkenson was a guest speaker for a community public outreach event hosted by the Escambia County Code Enforcement Division.  Investigator Wilkenson discussed FWC core missions and the responsibilities of the Environmental Units to a neighborhood watch group.  Investigator Wilkenson provided environmental brochures. There were 27 citizens who attended.

 

GADSDEN COUNTY

 

Investigator Dupree was asked to participate in an outreach event at a local high school.  Investigator Dupree spoke about women in law enforcement and FWC core missions and our constitutional and statutory responsibilities in the enforcement of conservation and environmental laws.  She also spoke to students on how to become an FWC officer.  There were 120 students in attendance.

 

LEON COUNTY

 

Investigator Dupree participated in a public outreach event that coincided with the FWC Wildlife Alert 5K fundraiser run in Tallahassee.  Investigator Dupree along with other FWC personnel manned a booth and provided educational information brochures regarding FWC core missions and environmental responsibilities.

 

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

 

Officers Barnard and Hutchinson worked alongside the FWC biologists at the wildlife display set up at the Munson Heritage Festival at Krul Lake. They educated the public on fishing and hunting rules and regulations and provided rule and regulation pamphlets to the public.

 

 

NORTH CENTRAL REGION

 

CITRUS COUNTY

 

Officer Casey Phillips received information that an Inverness resident had a deer in a cage. Officer Phillips went to the house and found the deer in a fenced area. Officer Phillips waited on the subject to return. When asked about the deer, the subject stated that someone had given him the deer. The subject was issued a citation for no captive wildlife permit.

 

Citrus County officers worked surveillance on the Stone Crab/Shrimp Zones after the October 1st change. During the first night of the detail, the squad detected the presence of a shrimp boat in Zone 3, which is currently closed to the use of trawls. The shrimp vessel was tracked by Lieutenant Jones, with the aid of the on board Ray Marine Chart Plotter. The patrol boat crew took up a position behind the shrimp vessel and observed that the trawls attached to the vessel were in the water and actively being used to harvest shrimp. The vessel was plotted and determined to be .272 of a mile inside the closed area. A vessel stop was initiated and the operator of the shrimp vessel was issued a citation to pay a fine of $250.00 to the Hernando County Clerk of Court or appear in court.

 

Citrus County officers recently worked the Big Bend Shrimp Nursery area in Citrus County. During the patrol, the officer observed a bait shrimp boat near the closed area. The officer closed in behind the shrimp boat, plotted the position and determined that the vessel was in the closed area line by .125 of a mile. The officer observed that the trawls on the vessel were in the water and actively being used to harvest shrimp. A vessel stop was initiated and the operator was issued a citation to pay a fine of $318.00 to the Citrus County Clerk of Court or appear in court.

 

COPS

 

Officers Waltman and Larosa attended the annual Halloween Festival at Gold Head State Park in Keystone Heights. There were several hundred attendees and the officers fielded several questions about state law and employment with the FWC.

 

Officers Waltman, Larosa and Lieutenant Glover attended the annual Camp Blanding Youth Hunt in Clay County. There were 44 youths who participated in the hunt along with their supervisors. The officers assisted with serving lunch for the participants along with transportation to their hunting areas and their taken game.

 

 

NORTHEAST REGION

 

SEMINOLE COUNTY

 

Officer McKee and Investigator Kees worked a detail targeting air boaters operating unlawfully within Lake Monroe Conservation Area.  Several contacts were made to include one criminal citation that was issued for operating a motorized vehicle in a closed area. This detail was in cooperation with St. John’s Water Management District, which had recently replaced the boundary signs. 

 

VOLUSIA COUNTY

 

Investigator Kees was on water patrol in the area of Blue Springs State Park when he observed two subjects approach the French Avenue Boat Ramp operating a small, open-bow vessel.  When the operator noticed Investigator Kees, he switched with another adult male passenger.  Upon conducting a boating safety inspection, Investigator Kees observed indicators of impairment on both subjects he had witnessed operating the vessel.  After Investigator Kees completed seated sobriety tasks on the two subjects, both were arrested for BUI. 

 

While watching a county road bordering a state forest, Officer North observed a vehicle moving slowly and shining a light into the area where it was parked. When the light illuminated Officer North’s patrol vehicle, the driver shut it off and sped away. Officer North followed and caught up to the vehicle in traffic on a nearby highway. Upon stopping the vehicle, the occupants were found to be in possession of two .22 magnum rifles, one .243 rifle and several spotlights and flashlights. Both occupants were issued notices to appear for displaying a light in a manner capable of disclosing deer while in possession of a firearm. The guns and a light were seized.

 

Officer Malicoat initiated an operational detail in an effort to enforce the regulations on the harvest of red drum during the month of September.  Seasonally, this is the time when this species migrates through the coastal waters and into the Atlantic Ocean following baitfish.  The regulations require that any fish harvested must be between 18’’ and 27” total length and only one fish per day may be taken.  FWC officers checked numerous shoreline (piers and jetties) and vessel anglers.  Several criminal citations were written for over the bag limit of red drum, possession of over the allowed size limit, and possession of under the allowed size limit.  In addition, there were citations issued for possession of under the legal size limit for sea trout, and over the bag limit and possession of under the legal size limit of mangrove snapper.

 

COPS

 

Officer Kazmierczak represented FWC at the annual Deleon Springs State Park youth cane pole fishing tournament in Volusia County. Officer Kazmierczak handed out literature and trinkets to the participants. She also answered questions about fishing laws and the duties of FWC officers.

 

 

SOUTH REGION A

 

BROWARD COUNTY

 

Officers Corteguera and Vacin while working a marine sanitation device detail in central Broward County issued two, $255-dollar civil citations to vessels for having direct overboard discharge of their raw sewage. These officers continue to be proactive in the enforcement of the marine sanitation device law to stop the discharge of raw waste into the waters of the state.

 

Officers Albert and Mirabel were on vessel patrol in John Lloyd State Park. They stopped a vessel for boating safety and marine fisheries inspections. Pursuant to the inspection, two individuals on board the vessel were found to be in possession of over the bag limit of lane snapper. With information gathered, Officer Mirabel issued the two individuals criminal notices to appear for possession of over the bag limit of lane snapper. Fifteen dead lane snapper were seized as evidence.

 

Lieutenant Laubenberger participated as the Honor Guard Commander of the Broward Multi-agency Police Honor Guard during a detail at Fort Lauderdale International Airport. This was for Honor Flight October 2014. World War II veterans returned by plane from Washington, DC where they were taken on a tour of sites and the World War II Monument.  Approximately 40 Honor Guard members and the Fraternal Order of Police Pipe and Drum Corps were involved in this ceremony. The detail included colors presentation, several cordons for the veterans to travel through and presenting arms as the Veterans got off the plane at the gate.

 

HENDRY COUNTY

 

Officer McLendon was patrolling Okaloacoochee Slough Wildlife Management Area (WMA) when he encountered a male subject carrying a large bag of palmetto berries. The subject immediately dropped the bag from his shoulder and fled into the vegetation. A Hendry County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit arrived and located four subjects hiding among the palmetto thickets. An estimated 1,400 lbs. of palmetto berries were destroyed and charges included resisting arrest without violence, littering, and illegal take of palmetto berries from a WMA.

 

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

 

Officer Pifer and Investigator Wade Turner observed three individuals fishing from one of the spoil islands in the ICW. As the officers made their way to the back side of the island to conduct a resource inspection, one of the individuals was observed picking up a five-gallon bucket and walking into the brush. The officers pulled up to the island at the same time the individual reappeared. In the five-gallon bucket was one legal-size mangrove snapper. Officer Pifer exited the patrol vessel and searched the area where the individual had come from and located three mangrove snapper and one mutton snapper in the woods. When asked about the fish, the individual came over, picked up one of the mangrove snapper and said “It’s still alive” and threw it into the water. He was instructed to put the remaining fish in the bucket. The mangrove snapper were determined to be legal size, but the mutton snapper was undersized. A records check determined the subject had been cited the previous year for possession of undersized mutton snapper. He stated that he knew it was short and wasn’t sure if the mangrove snapper were legal. The individual received a citation for undersized mutton snapper and interfering with an FWC Officer.

 

Officer James Payne was on foot patrol at a local catwalk, conducting license and resource inspections when he observed an individual throw a fish back into the water. When Officer Payne made contact with the subject, he found him to be in possession of four undersized mutton snapper. The subject was then questioned about what type of fish he had thrown back into the water. At first he stated that it was a mangrove snapper, but later recanted and claimed that it was only a catfish. The man was issued a citation for possession of the undersized mutton snapper.

 

Officer Fretwell was leaving the Black Pearl Boat Ramp, on his way to take care of some equipment, when he observed what appeared to be a subject lying on the ground in a parking lot in between two drinking establishments. As Officer Fretwell drove to the location, EMS was activated to respond. Officer Fretwell found the female subject to be non- responsive. Within minutes, Officer Irwin and Fort Pierce Police were also on scene. The subject was found to have a pulse and was breathing normally. After a few minutes, she regained consciousness. The subject admitted to having several very strong drinks. The subject was turned over to rescue personnel.

 

 

SOUTH REGION B

 

COLLIER

 

Officers Harris, Miller, Reams and Reith participated in the National Night Out event at the Golden Gate Community Center and had 300-400 people in attendance.  They educated the public about FWC and the Agency’s core missions, as well as the State and Federal fishing and hunting regulations.  The Officers also brought an alligator and the 850 Impact patrol vessel for display.  This event was an excellent place to showcase and display the type of law enforcement FWC performs.  In addition, several people were interested in becoming officers and were directed on how to start the application process.

 

Officer Van Trees was doing plain-clothes surveillance on a vessel that was fishing in the early morning hours.  After Officer Van Trees watched the vessel speed through a manatee zone to get back to the boat ramp, he hid in the bushes and waited for the subjects to return.  Upon their return, Officer Van Trees made contact and asked the men if they had any fish.  The fishermen indicated that they had “snapper and trout.” During Officer Van Trees’ fisheries inspection, he found that the men were in possession of an undersized snook.  The subject who admitted to keeping the snook also failed to have a valid fishing license and snook permit.  The subject was cited for the undersized snook and warned for his licenses being expired.

 

Officer Tolbert worked a detail in the Picayune Strand State Forest during general gun season.  Officer Tolbert conducted 33 hunting inspections resulting in the issuance of 7 resource warnings.  Also, Officer Tolbert patrolled areas closed to the general public, which were closed specifically to those wanting to hunt.  During his patrol, one visitor was observed within this designated closed area.  The visitor was issued a warning and provided with a brochure depicting all the closed areas.  No other visitors were observed or discovered within the designated closed areas.  

 

MIAMI-DADE

 

Lieutenant Pomares and Officer Pestka were patrolling the waters of Biscayne Bay when they encountered 6 stone crab traps with no clear identifiers. The officers recovered the traps and soon discovered that some of the traps had the remains of stone crabs in them. The traps also contained 6 undersized spiny lobster, 3 stone crabs and an undersized mutton snapper which were all returned to the water alive. They also found a crawfish trap with a permit number affixed to it which could indicate that the trap was stolen.  

 

Investigator Landa and Officer Martin were patrolling the waters near Elliot Key when they saw a group of adults on a vessel drinking what appeared to be an alcoholic beverage. One of the males on board, that appeared to be very young, was drinking a diluted pink beverage from a clear cup. Officer Martin asked the male what he was drinking and he said “vodka”.

Investigator Landa asked the male how old he was and he said “18”. The owner of the vessel, who was an adult, was present and stated that they were “just having a good time.” The owner of the vessel was subsequently charged with providing alcohol to a minor.

 

An investigator was on nighttime land patrol, checking fishermen at Haulover Inlet jetty.  In the darkness, he observed one subject carrying what initially appeared to be a large barracuda back to his vehicle.  The investigator approached, spoke to the subject and then inspected the fish.  The inspection revealed that the subject had just caught a 40-inch snook which was well over the allowable slot limit size of 32”.  The subject was issued a citation for the violation.

 

An officer on water patrol observed a vessel with two male and two female subjects on board returning to the docks at Homestead Bayfront Park Marina, so he elected to perform a boating safety inspection.  The officer observed the male operator having trouble with docking the vessel and then staggering toward his truck/trailer.  The officer instructed the male passenger to tie the vessel to the pier and not pull it forward.  The male passenger also appeared to be intoxicated and a verbal confrontation ensued.  The officer handcuffed the passenger as the operator returned with the truck/trailer.  After disobeying the officer’s verbal directions, the operator became violent, forcing the officer to utilize his pepper spray and taser to gain control of and subsequently arrest him.  Criminal charges included resisting arrest with violence, resisting arrest w/out violence, disorderly intoxication, and interference with an FWC officer.

 

MONROE 

 

Captain Beaton and Lieutenant Riesz were on water patrol in the upper Keys when they responded to a boater in distress near Islamorada. When the officers arrived on scene, they saw an 18’ skiff circling at a high rate of speed. The officers immediately contacted the owner of the vessel who was on board a good samaritan’s vessel. According to the captain of the skiff he fell off the vessel while the vessel was on plane causing the boat to run in circles. The officers attempted to disable the motor in an effort to stop the boat but were unsuccessful. The officers maintained a safe distance away from the out of control boat all the while monitoring the situation and keeping other boaters away from the scene. The vessel ultimately crashed against the mangroves and was recovered a short while later.