FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Report August 2, 2019 through August 8, 2019

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

 

Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report

Patrol, Protect, Preserve

 

August 2, 2019 through August 8, 2019

 

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.

 

 

NORTHWEST REGION

 

CASES

 

BAY COUNTY

 

Officers Green and Burkhead responded to Econfina Creek regarding a missing kayaker. The officers found the man but could not locate his lost kayak.

 

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

 

Officer McHenry was getting into his truck at a Pensacola marina when he noticed two individuals posing for pictures with a red drum. They were standing next to a small fishing pier and were also holding spear fishing equipment. Officer McHenry approached the individuals and spoke to them about the red drum. They denied spearing anything, they had wrapped the fish in a towel and placed it in a vehicle when they noticed Officer McHenry. Officer McHenry explained what he had witnessed and they admitted spearing the fish. The fish was over the legal-size limit. One of the individuals was cited for harvesting red drum by illegal methods.

 

Officer Allgood and Lieutenant Lambert were checking subjects as they returned to Galvez landing. They saw a charter boat returning to the ramp without the proper navigational lights. After discussing the lighting violation, a fisheries inspection revealed several fillets of vermillion snapper. Citations were issued for the violations.

 

Officers Allgood and Long stopped a vessel to perform a fisheries inspection. They found the two occupants in possession of six red snapper. Citations were issued accordingly.

 

Officers Allgood and Long were on patrol in the Big Lagoon area when they heard several people on a vessel yelling. They approached the vessel and spoke to the operator. The operator showed several signs of being impaired. Field sobriety tasks confirmed the operator was impaired and he was arrested for BUI. The operator was transported to the Escambia County Jail where he refused to give a breath sample.

 

FRANKLIN COUNTY

 

Officers McLeod and Travis were working in the area of the Lanark Boat Ramp. They saw a vessel returning from fishing and conducted a fisheries inspection. During the inspection they discovered a hidden compartment in the floor of the vessel with 26 red snapper. The red snapper was seized and entered into evidence. The subjects on the boat were cited for possession of red snapper during closed season.

 

Officer McLeod and Travis were working near Eastpoint when they saw a subject pulling crab traps. They contacted the subject and found he had multiple violations relating to crabbing. The traps were not marked correctly, and he had too many traps for a recreational crabber. The subject was cited accordingly.

 

Officers Clark and Kossey were working near Dog Island Reef when they saw a boat returning from fishing. They boarded the boat and conducted a fisheries inspection. Officer Kossey discovered a cooler containing two undersized and out of season gag grouper. The captain of the vessel was cited for the violation and the fish were seized and entered into evidence.

 

JACKSON COUNTY

 

Officers Little and Humphrey were on patrol at Merritts Mill Pond when they saw a subject actively throwing a cast net from a vessel. The officers watched the subject take fish out of the cast net and place them in the vessels live well. Once the subject returned to shore the officers conducted a resource inspection. In the live well they found undersized shell cracker. The subject admitted to catching the fish with the cast net. He was cited for taking freshwater game fish by an illegal method and possession of undersized shellcracker.

 

OKALOOSA COUNTY

 

Officers Corbin, McVaney and Hahr were on vessel patrol in Destin Pass when they saw a pontoon vessel traveling towards the Gulf of Mexico with a small child onboard not wearing a personal flotation device. During the boating safety inspection, the officers determined the vessel had been rented from a nearby livery and there were not enough life jackets for the adults onboard. The operator was issued a boating citation for failing to require the child under 6 to wear a life jacket. Officer Hahr later made contact with the individual at the livery that rented the vessel to the group and conducted an interview. The livery employee was issued a notice to appear citation for renting a vessel without the proper boating safety equipment onboard.

 

WAKULLA COUNTY

 

Officer Specialist Raker and Major Duval were on patrol on the Wakulla River near Crowley landing when they saw a vessel violating the slow speed zone. The vessel was stopped to address the violation. Officer Raker saw an open container of beer next to the operator’s seat and checked the age of all persons onboard the vessel. They were all under 21 years of age. The operator was cited for possession of alcohol by a person under 21 years of age.

 

WASHINGTON COUNTY

 

Officers Green and Forehand responded to a boating accident with injury in the area of Jenkins Landing on the Choctawhatchee River. The operator had severely cut his finger on the broken outboard motor tiller handle after striking a submerged object and was stranded on the river. FWC escorted EMS to the accident site and the operator was transported to the hospital.

 

Officers Holman and Williams, with Washington County Sheriff Office Deputies Hayes and Lykins, conducted a search for one adult and two children on the Econfina Creek in Washington County. They were on kayaks and stranded. The officers safely recovered the subjects and brought them back to their vehicle.

 

 

NORTH CENTRAL REGION

 

CASES

 

NASSAU COUNTY

 

Resource Protection Unit (RPU) Officer Shearer watched a subject harvesting shellfish from an oyster bed in Amelia Island State Park. When Officer Shearer contacted the subject, he was able to keep him from dumping his harvest back into the water. The bucket contained seven undersized out of season stone crabs. The subject was cited for three stone crab violations, drinking beer in a state park and no salt water fishing license.

 

COLUMBIA COUNTY

 

Officer Specialist Yates received information through the FWC Wildlife Alert Program about individuals catching young alligators in Columbia County and keeping them as pets. During a two-week investigation, Officer Yates identified two suspects involved and located three young alligators at a local residence. Interviews were conducted with both suspects and confessions were obtained in their involvement with the incident. All appropriate charges were filed with the local state attorney’s office.

 

SUWANNEE COUNTY

 

Officer Cline responded to a boating accident with injuries that occurred on the Suwannee River just north of the Suwannee/Santa Fe confluence. A jet ski was pulling a single tube with two female occupants. As the jet ski approached a turn on the river, the tubers were slung wide and one occupant struck the motor cowling of a beached vessel. The female sustained a broken/dislocated arm and was transported by a friend to Lake City Medical Center for treatment. The investigation is underway and charges are pending in this case.

 

UNION COUNTY

 

K-9 Officer Gill along with Officers Johnston, Yates, and Troiano responded to assist the Union County Sheriff’s Office with a subject who fled from them while attempting to serve a warrant. After an extensive search the subject was found and arrested.

 

LEVY COUNTY

 

While on water patrol, Officers Starling and Hilliard saw two subjects fishing from a small dock at a local boat ramp. A fisheries inspection discovered that one of the men had an undersized redfish in a small cooler. Officer Starling issued the man a notice to appear for possession of undersized redfish.

 

While on patrol in an area with several large hunting clubs, Officer Starling noticed a vehicle parked in an area known for trespassing and illegal artifact digging. Officer Starling made his way to one of the popular spots for artifacts and saw a man and woman actively digging. The woman said she was looking for an earring she had dropped. The man quickly admitted they were looking for artifacts. Charges were filed with the Levy County State Attorney’s Office.

 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING – EXPANDING PARTICIPATION IN CONSERVATION

 

LAFAYETTE COUNTY

 

Officer Vazquez participated in the law portion of a hunter safety course in Mayo. This course allows participants to learn and interact with conservation law enforcement on hunting safety topics. Numerous questions were answered on matters of conservation enforcement, public safety and various hunting issues. Approximately 26 participants attended the course.

 

SUWANNEE COUNTY

 

Officer Boone and Fowler provided outreach to the Youth Camp of Dowling Park Village. There were more than 30 children and adults in attendance. Both officers presented information on boating safety, resource conservation and conflict wildlife. The wildlife display included a small gator and discussions on living safely and successfully with wildlife in Florida.

 

 

NORTHEAST REGION

 

CASES

 

ST. JOHNS COUNTY

 

Officers Thomas and Lawrence conducted a resource inspection on two male subjects commercially gigging fish on the Intracoastal Waterway. One subject had a saltwater products license and the other did not. The two men were in possession of 20 red drum, 38 flounder, 12 sheepshead, a snook and a sea trout. There were no hook and line equipment for catching the fish onboard the vessel. All the fish had been gigged and none of the fish were being kept on ice. Both men were cited and booked into the St. Johns County Jail.

 

Officer Thomas saw a male subject cast netting on the Guana Dam structure. Florida rules provide that it is illegal to cast net within 50 yards of Guana Dam. A check of the subject’s record revealed he was given a warning for cast netting within 50 yards of Guana Dam previously. Officer Thomas issued the appropriate criminal citation.

 

BREVARD COUNTY

 

Officer Marroquin was on land-based water patrol when he saw an individual snorkeling in an area known for harvesting stone crabs. Officer Marroquin conducted a resource inspection and found the individual to be in possession of five whole stone crabs, one of which was egg-bearing. The individual was issued a notice to appear for harvesting stone crab during the closed season. He was issued warnings for undersized stone crab, possession of egg-bearing stone crab, and stone crab in whole condition.

 

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

 

Officer Marroquin was on patrol at Sebastian Inlet State Park when he was dispatched to a call about a suspected impaired driver inside the park. Officer Marroquin saw the suspect vehicle leaving the park and observed the driver and passenger switch seats while he was behind them. Officer Marroquin conducted a traffic stop and found the original driver to be driving on a suspended license. The driver admitted to throwing marijuana into the woods when he saw the officer approaching. A pat-down of the subject found THC oil (felony). The subject also showed signs of impairment. A drug recognition expert was called to assist, and the suspect was found to be under the influence of marijuana. The driver was cited for driving while his license was suspended or revoked, possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

 

 

SOUTHWEST REGION

 

CASES

 

HERNANDO COUNTY

 

Officer Canamero was on patrol in Hernando County and saw a subject actively fishing at a local fishing pier. He contacted the subject to conduct a resource inspection. The subject was in possession of undersized sheepshead, undersized black drum and his fishing license was expired. The subject was cited accordingly.

 

Officer Canamero saw a subject fishing from the shoreline. The officer contacted the subject and saw a stringer of fish in the water. The subject was in possession of several undersized black drum. The subject was cited accordingly.

 

LEE COUNTY

 

Officer Gray was on patrol at a popular boat ramp when he saw two men near a fish cleaning table with what appeared to be some undersized mangrove snapper. He approached the men and asked the men about their catch. The men showed Officer Gray ten mangrove snapper. After measuring the fish, Officer Gray determined some of them were undersized. A misdemeanor citation was issued to the subjects for possession of undersized mangrove snapper.

 

Officer Gray was on land patrol when he received a call from a state park manager about someone illegally harvesting plants in the park. Officer Gray was able to locate the person and watched as he was collecting palmetto berries. Officer Gray approached and saw the subject was in possession of a small number of berries. The subject admitted to picking the berries in the state park but said he didn’t know he couldn’t pick the berries. The subject was issued a misdemeanor notice to appear for picking palmetto berries in a state park.

 

Officer Winton was on vessel patrol in Estero Bay when he saw a commercial blue crab vessel without properly displayed buoy colors and endorsement number on the sides of the boat as required by law. Officer Winton conducted waterborne inspections of several of the blue crab traps being utilized by the crabber. He found violations pertaining to trap tags, failure to have the adequate number of escape rings and failure to have an adequate biodegradable panel. A vessel stop of the improperly marked boat was conducted and the operator was issued a notice to appear and several warnings for the related violations.

 

Officer Winton was on resource patrol on Pine Island when he checked several subjects fishing from shore. One of the subjects was in possession of several undersized mangrove snapper. The subject possessing the snapper was issued a notice to appear for the violation, and an additional subject was cited for failure to possess a valid fishing license.

 

PASCO COUNTY

 

Officer Canamero and Officer Rothchild were on patrol when they saw several subjects trespassing at a local swimming spot. Upon making contact, they found that one of the swimmers was a young female who had been reported missing/endangered. The Pasco Sheriff’s Office was called in to assist and the teenager was released safely, on scene, to her grandmother.

 

Officer Rothchild was on land patrol at the Anclote River Boat Ramp when he conducted a boating safety inspection on a vessel. During the inspection the operator exhibited signs of impairment and Standardized Field Sobriety Tasks were conducted. The operator was arrested for boating under the influence and refused to provide a sample of his breath for testing. The subject was booked into the Pasco County Detention Center.

 

Senior Officer Pulaski was on land patrol in the Hudson Beach area when he saw a vessel violate the idle speed zone in the main channel. A vessel stop was conducted to address the violation. The operator exhibited signs of impairment and Standardized Field Sobriety Tasks were conducted. The operator was arrested for boating under the influence and refused to provide a sample of his breath for testing. The subject was booked into the Pasco County Detention Center.

 

PINELLAS COUNTY

 

Officer Specialist Bibeau saw a fishing vessel return to a nearby marina and conducted a fisheries inspection. The inspection located an undersized greater amberjack. The operator of the vessel was conducting a charter fishing trip with four customers onboard and had an expired charter fishing license. The subject was cited accordingly.

 

Officer Specialist Bibeau stopped a vessel to conduct a fisheries inspection. He boarded the vessel and located a zip-lock bag containing fillets. Officer Specialist Bibeau questioned the individuals onboard about the fillets and the operator of the vessel admitted that the fish were from an undersized greater amberjack and an undersized hogfish. Officer Specialist Bibeau cited the operator for failure to land reef fish in whole condition and issued two warnings for the other fisheries violations.

 

Officer Specialist Bibeau saw four individuals wading near commercial blue crab traps without fishing equipment in the area of Fort Desoto. He went to a concealed location and watched the individuals as they removed four commercial traps and emptied the contents into a five-gallon bucket. The individuals walked to a nearby vehicle and placed the five-gallon bucket into the trunk. He contacted the individuals to conduct a fisheries inspection and found them in possession of ten blue crabs. The individuals did not have permission from the commercial crabber who owned the traps to pull them. The officer cited the subjects for molestation of commercial blue crab traps.

 

Officer Specialist Bibeau stopped a vessel to conduct a fisheries inspection. He boarded the vessel and located three undersized tripletails onboard. One of the occupants onboard the vessel admitted to catching the undersized tripletails and was cited for the violation.

 

Officer Specialist Bibeau stopped a vessel to conduct a fisheries inspection and located a twenty-five-inch greater amberjack onboard. The operator of the vessel was cited for possession of an undersized greater amberjack.

 

Officer Specialist Bibeau stopped a vessel to conduct a fisheries inspection and located a twelve-inch triggerfish onboard. The operator of the vessel was cited for possession of an out of season triggerfish and a warning for possession of an undersized triggerfish.

 

Officer Specialist Bibeau saw two individuals fishing from a bridge that was posted “No Fishing.” He contacted the subjects to conduct a fisheries inspection and found an undersized mangrove snapper and a ten-inch gag grouper. One of the individuals admitted to catching both the mangrove snapper and gag grouper and was cited appropriately.

 

POLK COUNTY

 

Officer Munkwitz was patrolling Lake Shipp when she saw a vessel operating without an all-around white light. She conducted a vessel stop to address the violation and proceeded with a vessel safety inspection. The vessel operator showed signs of impairment and Standardized Field Sobriety Tasks were conducted. The operator was arrested for BUI and transported to Polk County Jail. The operator’s breath alcohol content was .094 and .095.

 

Officer Earls was patrolling the perimeter of Tenoroc Fish Management Area when he saw an ATV being operated along the road. The two occupants were using handheld spot lights to illuminate an area of a blueberry field. In the cargo area of the ATV were two unleashed dogs wearing GPS collars. The subjects said they were pig hunting and did not have permission to be in or hunt the blueberry field. The subjects were issued a notice to appear for attempting to take wildlife from the roadway.

 

Officer Earls and Lieutenant McCorkle were patrolling Lake Shipp when they saw a vessel on plane displaying alternating LED colored lights to include blue lights. A vessel stop was conducted to perform a boating safety inspection. The operator displayed signs of impairment and was asked to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tasks. The operator was arrested for boating under the influence and transported to Polk County Jail. The operator was also cited for possession of marijuana and various paraphernalia.

 

 

SOUTH REGION A

 

CASES

 

MARTIN COUNTY

 

Officer Hudson was on patrol at Sand Sprit Boat Ramp when he saw a vessel with multiple fishing rods on board. He conducted a fisheries inspection and found a cooler that had a false bottom. Underneath the false bottom was a wrung lobster tail. The subject was issued a notice to appear citation for out of season lobster and for possessing a lobster not in whole condition.

 

PALM BEACH COUNTY

 

Officer Norbrothen saw a vehicle driving around a marsh area off a named and numbered trail in the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area (WMA). He saw the vehicle driving off the MO Canal and conducted a stop once it returned to the roadway. The subject said he was unaware he was operating his vehicle in violation of the WMA rule, and stated he did not have a valid driver license. The subject was found to be a habitual traffic offender with a revoked driver license. The subject was arrested and transported to the Palm Beach County Jail for the traffic offense and received a warning for violation of the WMA rule.

 

Officer Norbrothen saw a vehicle driving recklessly on the road outside the FWC Jupiter Field Office. He attempted to conduct a traffic stop but the vehicle sped away at a high rate of speed and went through a four way stop. Officer Norbrothen got a look at the driver, reported the license plate number to dispatch, and did not pursue the vehicle further. A short time later, Officer Norbrothen learned the vehicle was involved in a hit and run in Jupiter before his attempt to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was stopped and the driver was arrested by the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department and Juno Beach Police Department. Officer Norbrothen responded to the scene and cited the driver for multiple criminal violations.

 

Officer Boyd was on vessel patrol at the Lake Worth Spillway during closed snook season. Officer Boyd saw two subjects catch and conceal snook under brush and later transport the fish and place them in the bed of their pickup truck. Officer Boyd approached the subjects and conducted an inspection. The subjects were issued citations for possession of snook out of season and possession of oversize snook. One of the subjects admitted to catching both snook and received an additional citation for taking and possessing over the daily bag limit of snook.

 

Officer Hudson was on patrol when he saw an individual exiting the water with a mesh bag. Upon inspection, the subject had 16 pieces of live rock coral. The subject was removing pieces of the reef to take home and put in her aquarium. The subject was issued a notice to appear for possessing live rock coral.

 

Officer Brodbeck was on patrol at the Boynton Inlet and saw several subjects fishing. Two of the subjects were cutting up a recently caught shark. The subjects were checked for compliance with the new shore-based shark fishing regulations. One subject appeared nervous and a check of his bucket revealed a false bottom, concealing two undersize mangrove snapper. The subject harvested over the daily bag limit of 5 mangrove snapper and was cited accordingly. The undersize fish were returned alive to the water.

 

Officer Brodbeck was on vessel patrol offshore Palm Beach Inlet when he observed a sportfishing vessel was actively fishing. A resource inspection revealed a dolphin measuring 17.5 inches in length. Officer Brodbeck issued the subject a criminal resource citation for the violation. The fish was seized for evidence.

 

Captain Clark and Officer Brodbeck were on vessel patrol near Palm Beach Inlet when a vessel was observed with fishing equipment. A vessel stop was initiated to conduct a resource inspection. The vessel was returning from the Bahamas and had fish filets without any skin attached and approximately 40 pounds of stone crab claws. Stone crab, regardless of where it is caught, may not be possessed on state waters during the closed season. Criminal citations were issued accordingly.

 

Officer Brodbeck received information from investigations regarding a dive shop with an undersized and out of season spiny lobster in a fish tank. An inspection revealed the shop had a spiny lobster approximately 4 inches in total length in an aquarium. An employee of the dive shop said they had a permit for the lobster but was unable to produce one. The owners of the dive shop arrived and produced a Special Activity License, permitting the possession of the lobster. Numerous violations of the permit conditions were discovered including method of harvest, location the lobster was harvested, and false statements. The appropriate enforcement actions were taken.

 

Officer Brodbeck responded to a complaint regarding subjects on Singer Island in possession of hatchling sea turtles. The officer located the subjects and discovered a bucket containing 4 hatchling sea turtles. The subject said they had been instructed by Loggerhead Marine Life Center to place the hatchlings in a bucket and bring them to the facility for veterinary care but were unsure of the location to take the turtles. The subjects were from out of state and were issued warnings relating to possession of sea turtles. They were educated about the nature of the violation and the turtles were taken by the officer to the Loggerhead Marine Life Center.

 

 

SOUTH REGION B

 

CASES

 

MIAMI DADE COUNTY

 

Miami Port Investigation received a call from the USFWS about an importation containing Conditional Species, which included Cherax quadricarinatus (red-clawed crayfish) along with several other freshwater invertebrates and fishes. A permit is required to import and possess Cherax in Florida. The business did not have the required permits and were issued a citation for no freshwater fish dealers license and two warnings for the unlawful import of CS and no import permit.

 

Officer Hedgepeth and Officer Hernandez stopped a recreational vessel fishing outside of Haulover Inlet. An inspection revealed over the bag limit of hog fish with two being undersized. There was also one porkfish, an undersized mutton snapper, thirteen undersized yellowtail snapper and three undersized mangrove snapper. The appropriate citations were issued.

 

Officer Hart and Officer Guy were checking shoreline fishing activity to ensure compliance with regulations. They found one subject hiding an out of season snook in a towel in his car, a subject in possession of four undersized lobster, and a subject with an illegally harvested bonefish. Another subject checked was in possession of sixteen mangrove snapper, fourteen of which were undersized. Appropriate citations were issued for the violations.

 

While on water patrol near Haulover Inlet, Officers Presser and Cartaya stopped a vessel coming in from off-shore fishing to conduct a resource inspection. The inspection revealed 16 undersized mahi. The two adults on board were cited for being in possession of saltwater fish without a valid saltwater fishing license. The captain was also issued a warning for improper display of registration and not having his registration certificate on board.

 

COLLIER COUNTY

 

Officers Conroy and Yurewitch were on water patrol near Keewaydin Island when they saw a vessel traveling with passengers who were standing and posing for pictures. The location of the standing passengers restricted the operator’s ability to maintain a proper lookout. The officers conducted a vessel stop to address the navigation rule violation and to conduct a boating safety inspection. The operator exhibited indicators of impairment and standardized field sobriety tasks were conducted. The operator was arrested for boating under the influence and refused to provide a breath sample. He was transported and booked into the Naples Jail Center.

 

Officer Polly received information from a landowner who saw a subject carrying a large bag of corn in the Picayune Strand State Forest. Officer Polly relayed the information to Officers Reams and Thurkettle who were on patrol in the Picayune Strand. They located corn that had been placed in the forest prior to opening day of deer season. On the opening morning of archery season, Officer Thurkettle watched the corn from a concealed location. A subject pulled up and walked directly to the corn with his bow. He began to search the area around the corn for deer. Officer Thurkettle spoke to the subject and he admitted to placing the corn in the WMA and knew it was illegal. The subject was issued a criminal citation for placing bait in a WMA.

 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING – EXPANDING PARTICIPATION IN CONSERVATION

 

MIAMI DADE COUNTY

 

Officer Moschiano and Officer Washington were invited to present the FWC mission and purpose at Camp Manatee, a nature-based educational day camp out of the Greynolds Park Boathouse. The officers brought patrol boats and talked to the campers about FWC and its responsibilities. They promoted environmental stewardship and brought native and nonnative species for display. Educational materials were provided for boating safety and conservation.

 

COLLIER COUNTY

 

Officer Rubenstein represented FWC while attending the City of Marco Island’s Summer Camp 2019. He spoke to over 40 children about threatened and endangered species and what a day in the life of an FWC officer is like. The children were especially interested in the skulls and skins of native wildlife that was on display.

 

MAJOR WILDLIFE ASSISTANCE

 

COLLIER COUNTY

 

Officers Yurewitch and Curbelo rescued an injured osprey that had been struck by a vehicle on Oil Well Road. The officers found the bird on the shoulder of the road with an obvious injury. They secured the injured bird and transported it to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida for recovery.

 

Officer Yurewitch responded to a call regarding an injured osprey in a small Naples development. Upon arrival the officer saw a lethargic osprey with an apparent leg injury unable to fly. The injured bird was secured and transported to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida to be rehabilitated and released.

 

SEARCH AND RESCUE

 

COLLIER COUNTY

 

Officers Oldsen and Kleis were on patrol when they received a Marine Emergency Response Team (MERT) notification regarding a vessel fire near Marco Island with passengers on board. While responding, the officers learned that flames were visible from the boat and there was a lot of smoke coming from the vessel. The officers, along with Collier County Sheriff’s Office Marine units and Fire Rescue boats responded to the scene. Three people were aboard the vessel and were safely removed. Fire Rescue extinguished the fire quickly. One passenger sustained minor burn injuries to one hand.

 

Officer Reams and Thurkettle responded to a call about a boating accident in the Golden Gate Main Canal near the water management dam, located off City Gate Blvd. When they arrived, they saw a small jon boat caught in the current next to the weir. The occupants of the boat told the officers that the vessel was tied off to the bank but had broken loose. The operator tried to regain control of the vessel, but due to the water flow, the vessel continued towards the weir and went over. The vessel capsized and the occupants swam to shore. Officer Reams and Thurkettle, along with the two subjects were able recover the vessel. The investigation determined that a boating accident self-report could be issued for the accident.

 

 

 

• Weekly Report August 2 2019 through August 8 2019.pdf