 CASES
Bay County
- Officer M. Gore was on patrol around the Deerpoint Lake Dam and observed five individuals fishing on the saltwater side of the dam. A resource inspection revealed the individuals were in possession of 14 undersized gray snapper. Officer Gore issued citations for possession of undersized gray snapper and fishing with no saltwater fishing license.
Escambia County
- Officer Specialist Allgood was conducting resource inspections when he observed a vessel with fishing rods returning to a boat ramp. While conducting a fisheries inspection on the vessel, Officer Allgood found the subject to be in possession of two greater amberjack during a closed season and one undersized gray triggerfish. Officer Allgood issued resource citations to the individual.
- Officer Specialist Allgood and Ramos were on patrol when they observed a vessel with fishing rods heading west in the Santa Rosa Sound. During the resource inspection, the officers located one undersized gray triggerfish in the fish box. After the inspection, the officers asked the captain if there were any other fish on board and he said no. Officer Allgood noticed one of the occupants was sitting on a large bean bag and had not moved throughout the inspection. The officer asked the occupant to stand up so he could inspect the deck compartment underneath the bean bag. Officers found a five-gallon bucket full of triggerfish and red snapper fillets. A total of 16 triggerfish over the bag limit was found and one red snapper. All three subjects were given notice to appears for the appropriate violations.
- Investigator Livesay was on land patrol when he heard a shot near his location and found a vehicle parked on a small piece of private property that bordered a much larger tract of Gulf Power property. Investigator Livesay waited near the truck until a male dressed in camouflage exited the Gulf Power property. The individual claimed he was out for a walk and not hunting. Investigator Livesay did a quick search of the area and did not locate anything and released the individual. Because Investigator Livesay was confident the shot he heard came from the area, he continued to search for evidence with the help of Lieutenant Lambert and Officer Specialist Hahr. Investigator Livesay located a dead wild turkey hung in a tree along with a loaded shotgun and a camouflaged jacket on Gulf Power’s property not far from where the subject exited the woods. Investigator Livesay spoke to the subject who admitted to trespassing and killing the turkey out of season. Investigator Livesay issued the subject a notice to appear violation for killing the wild turkey out of season. Follow up charges are pending in reference to trespassing.
Santa Rosa County
- Officer Lewis completed an investigation of a submerged derelict vessel. The 28-foot sailboat had been stripped of its registration numbers and decal, however, the officer was able to identify the vessel's titled owner. Upon investigating, the officer determined the vessel was transferred and/or sold multiple times over the past two years. None of the individuals properly transferred the vessel title. Officer Lewis met with the most recent buyer and seller. Upon meeting with the seller, Officer Lewis learned the seller did not give the buyer the vessel title after their transaction occurred and was driving under a suspended driver’s license. The officer issued the seller a citation for failure to deliver the vessel title to the buyer, and a notice to appear for driving with a suspended driver's license. The officer also issued the buyer a citation for not obtaining a certificate of title for the vessel in his name, a citation for not having the vessel numbered, a notice to appear for leaving a derelict vessel on the waters of the state, and two warnings related to the vessel.
Washington County
- Lieutenant Walsingham responded to a complaint of an overturned submerged vessel with several personal items floating down the Choctawhatchee River below Douglas Ferry Landing. Officers Hicks, Alsobrooks, Basford, and Palmer along with Investigator Armstrong also responded. Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) was also on scene. After a short investigation, the operator of the sunken vessel was located while trying to salvage the vessel. It was determined three people were on the vessel the afternoon before and just before dark had overturned, took on water, and sunk. All three subjects were uninjured and received a ride back to their vehicle. The operator had returned to get the vessel. It was confirmed all parties were accounted for and uninjured. Officer Hicks completed the boating accident investigation.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Jackson County
- Officer’s N. Basford and T. Basford represented Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at Cottondale High School. The impaired driving awareness event was hosted by Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and the Keri Anne DeMott Foundation. The FWC Officers spoke with the students about the dangers and consequences of boating under the influence.
 CASES
Alachua County
- Officer Anthony Guirate received information regarding two adults who took a youth turkey hunting during the closed season. Officers Guirate, Reith, and K9 Officer Gill responded to a hunt club and located fresh tire tracks and multiple sets of footprints. Officer Gill deployed his K9, which located blood and feathers where the turkey had been field dressed and matched the area where the hunters took a photo with the harvested bird. The K9 also located the wad from a .410 shotgun consistent with the firearm in the photo. Officer Guirate and Reith traveled to the subject’s residence to conduct interviews. During the interview, the officers obtained confessions from both adult subjects who took the youth hunting. Both subject will be charged through the State Attorney’s office for take of wild turkey during closed season. One subject was also cited for failure to comply with the FWC’s wild turkey harvest reporting requirements.
Citrus County
- Officer Jacobs responded to a home where it was reported a person had captured an alligator. Through an interview, Officer Jacobs found the person had captured the alligator because of its presence near the property and nearby ponds and not because of any immediate danger. Officer Jacobs issued a citation for the criminal violation of unlawfully capturing an alligator.
Duval County
- Officers Goodfellow and Hauge were conducting seafood house inspections in Jacksonville when they discovered a business having untagged oysters and clams for sale. Citations were issued for the violations and the business was educated on the importance of having tagged oysters and clams.
Levy County
- In response to complaints about oyster harvesters illegally selling oysters direct to the public, Officer Corrie Bell worked with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) investigators and officers from two counties. The officers observed two subjects illegally sell oysters in Fanning Springs. The oysters were in the bed of a pickup truck surrounded by household garbage and gas cans. When confronted with the violation, the subjects claimed they had harvested the oysters that day. Instead of delivering the oysters to a certified processing facility as required by law (for public health), they chose to sell the oysters from the back of their truck. The subjects also did not have a Retail Saltwater Products License as required to sell seafood to the public. Also, eight grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were found in the vehicle. The subjects were arrested for the violations and charged with multiple misdemeanors and drug related felonies. All commercially harvested oysters in Florida must be delivered to a certified processing facility the day of harvest. To protect public health, all shellfish must go through the process prescribed by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services before being sold to the public.
Madison County
- Officer Humphrey responded to a complaint of a wild turkey being taken out of season. He met Madison County deputies at a private piece of property that had several vehicles parked at a campsite. Officer Humphrey walked the area in question and found a ground blind on a food plot that had chairs set up, a window open, an empty spent 20 gauge hull on the floor. Officer Humphrey also discovered a fresh pile of turkey feathers and a small amount of blood on the ground by an active corn feeder. Officer Humphrey approached the campsite and after questioning the four men, one of them admitted to killing multiple wild turkeys. Officer Humphrey and the hunter retrieved four turkeys - two gobblers and two hens - from under a tree on the edge of a swamp. Charges are being filed with the state’s attorney for taking wild turkey out of season, taking wild turkey over a baited area, taking unbearded (hen) wild turkey, and taking over the season bag limit of wild turkey.
Taylor County
- Investigator McMillan and Officer Clark were investigating the possible illegal taking of wild turkey prior to the opening of the season. While investigating, they observed a subject pull two recently harvested wild turkeys from a vehicle. After identifying themselves and conducting interviews, they found the subject had shot the two wild turkeys that morning. Further investigation led to another subject killing two more wild turkeys at the same location. The officers were taken to the site where all four turkeys were taken over a baited area. Charges of taking wild turkey during the closed season and taking wild turkey over a baited area are being filed with the State Attorney’s Office.
Union County
 CASES
Brevard County
- Officer Specialist Marroquin was conducting state water patrol at the Christenson’s Landing Boat Ramp when he observed a vessel with a large group having difficulty docking their vessel. Officer Marroquin made contact with the operator to conduct a vessel safety inspection. During the inspection, the operator showed several signs of impairment. The operator agreed to perform standardized field sobriety tasks and was found to be under the influence and arrested. The operator refused to provide a breath sample under arrest. The operator was also issued a citation for insufficient PFDs.
- Officer Specialist Balgo observed a vehicle parked along U.S. 1 near the Florida Power & Light plant. Officer Balgo located three individuals on top of the discharge in the no entry zone. The individuals were identified and cited accordingly.
- Officer Specialist Balgo observed a vessel fishing equipment near Port St. John and conducted a resource inspection. Officer Balgo found the operator to be in possession of five spotted seatrout. Violations included over the bag limit of spotted seatrout, possession of undersized seatrout, and possession of over the limit of oversized spotted seatrout. The operator was cited accordingly.
- Officers Nall, Hocker and Delano located several sites on private land that were consistent with attempting to take wild turkeys over bait. On the opening morning of the Youth Turkey Hunt Weekend, the officers observed several groups of individuals enter the property. Come sunrise, the officers used agency equipment and experience to verify the individuals were within 100 yards of the baited sites. Upon investigation, two groups of hunters were found to be within 100 yards of cracked corn and bird seed, with one group at 7 yards and another at 55 yards. The guiding adults were cited accordingly.
- After responding to a complaint at Sebastian Inlet State Park, Officer Marroquin noticed an angler carrying a bucket back to their vehicle. He approached the subject to conduct a resource inspection. The inspection of the bucket revealed 18 sheepshead, all of which were undersized. In addition, the subject was 10 sheepshead over the state bag limit of 8. The subject was cited accordingly.
Indian River County
- Officer Specialist Marroquin was conducting state water patrol near the Sebastian Inlet sandbar when he observed a vessel driving erratically and a causing a large wake in a slow speed zone and in close proximity of several other vessels. Officer Marroquin stopped the vessel to address the violations and conduct a vessel safety inspection. During the inspection, the operator showed several signs of impairment. The operator agreed to perform standardized field sobriety tasks and was found to be under the influence. The subject was arrested for boating under the influence and was also issued a citation for insufficient PFDs.
- While on foot patrol at Sebastian Inlet, Officer Hopkins was observing anglers from a concealed location and saw one angler pack his belongings. The subject discreetly hid a bucket near some vegetation and then proceeded toward his vehicle. Once the subject stowed his fishing gear in his vehicle, he returned to retrieve the bucket. Officer Hopkins approached and attempted to conduct a resource inspection at the subject’s vehicle, however, the subject quickly got into his vehicle and attempted to drive away. Officer Hopkins ran toward the exit and attempted to stop the angler a second time. An inspection of the bucket revealed an undersized snook. The subject incurred additional charges for not allowing the inspection.
St. Johns County
- Officer Lemaster was conducting routine water patrol approximately 25 miles offshore of St. Augustine when he observed a vessel fishing on a popular artificial reef. During a resource inspection, it was found that an occupant of the vessel was in possession of a large red snapper during the closed season. Officer Lemaster subsequently issued the individual a federal citation for the violation.
Marion County
- Officer Lambert was conducting a night patrol inside Ocala Wildlife Management Area when he observed a slow-moving vehicle shining lights from the driver and passenger side windows in a manner capable of disclosing the presence of deer. After conducting surveillance, Officer Lambert performed a traffic stop and made contact with the vehicle occupants. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded .308 rifle readily accessible, and the subjects admitted shining for deer. Appropriate citations were issued.
Sumter County
- Senior Officer Phillips was contacted by the Sumter County Sheriff Office in reference to a traffic stop where he was informed that a deputy located a gopher tortoise in a five-gallon bucket inside of the vehicle. The deputy released the gopher tortoise and documented the incident. Officer Phillips followed up with the deputy and subject, and the subject admitted to having possession of the gopher tortoise. The subject was cited appropriately.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Lake County
- Officer Specialist Weber attended an outreach event at the Umatilla High School as part of their agriculture field day. Approximately 250 students ranging from 5th to 12th grade were in attendance. Officer Weber spoke primarily about the duties of a conservation law enforcement officer, the importance of wildlife conservation, and hunter safety.
Marion County
- Officer Specialist Weber and Officer Flynn attended an outreach event at the Backyard Bash. The officers set up a wildlife display trailer and answered several questions from the approximately 100 attendees.
 CASES
Charlotte County
- Officer Devine received a call about a group of teenagers who were fishing when an adult male started yelling at them to stop fishing. The subject walked toward the group of teenagers and as he got closer, he reached for the fishing rods leaning against the guard rail and they fell. The kids started yelling at him and he walked toward one of the teenagers and pushed him. One of the teenagers in the group recorded the incident. Officer Devine investigated the incident and received statements from the involved parties. Charges were filed with the State Attorney Office for harassment of a fisherman.
- Officers Gabrielle Midolo, Joshua Kampmann, and Arielia Devine were observing a group a people fishing at a state park beach after hours. When they approached the group about being in the park after hours and having an unlawful campfire on the beach, they discovered a large bag of grouper fillets in a cooler. Several members of the group admitted to having harvested a gag grouper out of season. However, being there was nearly 20 pounds of fillets in the bag, the officers suspected something more serious had occurred. The officers’ suspicions were confirmed when forensic DNA testing confirmed the fillets had come from a goliath grouper. Appropriate charges were filed.
Hernando County
- Senior Officer Joshua Little and Officer Justin Holcomb observed an individual shining a light in a manner capable of disclosing the presence of wildlife from a vehicle in the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area. After following the vehicle, a stop was made, and the operator of the vehicle was found to have a loaded firearm in the front of the truck with him. Subject was cited accordingly.
Hillsborough County
- Officer Specialist Malachi Wilkins worked in conjunction with Hillsborough County Marine Unit deputies during a targeted BUI enforcement effort within Hillsborough County. While on water patrol, the officers were in a marked HCSO Marine Unit vessel when they were almost struck by another vessel near downtown Tampa. The officers conducted a vessel stop and noticed the operator showed signs of impairment during the inspection. Officer Wilkins asked the operator to perform seated field sobriety tasks to which the subject complied. The operator performed poorly on the standardized field sobriety tasks and was arrested for boating under the influence by Officer Wilkins. The subject has three prior impairment related arrests, two of which are BUI related.
Lee County
- Officer Bradley Johnson received complaints about contractors taking out boats to transport workers to more remote areas of the county and not having the proper safety gear on board. One of the vessels Officer Johnson stopped consisted of two pontoon boats tied together with one working motor and no safety equipment on board for the 42 passengers. The owner of the company was contacted and educated about the safety regulations and the potential liability. The appropriate citations were issued. Officer Johnson also stopped charter boat captains for violating the manatee zones and issued a citation for no charter fishing license (10 or fewer passengers).
Pasco County
- Senior Officer Josh Little was following up on a deer case from earlier in the year, when he found the subject failed to show up for his court date. The subject was found to have active warrants for:
- Illegal entry into a wildlife management area
- Taking game during a closed season
- Failure to enter through designated entrance
- Failure to meet antler point regulations in Green Swamp West WMA
Senior Officer Little located the subject, where he was arrested and booked into the Pasco County jail for the warrants.
Pinellas County
- While on water patrol, Officer Rodriguez observed a vessel leave a boat ramp with registration numbers improperly displayed. He initiated a vessel stop to conduct a boating safety inspection and address the registration violation. While interacting with the operator, he observed signs of impairment and could smell a strong odor of alcohol. Officer Rodriguez had the individual conduct standardized field sobriety tasks, which the subject performed poorly on. The officer arrested the individual for boating under the influence and requested the individual to submit to a breath test, which the subject refused.
- While on water patrol with the U.S. Coast Guard, Officer Rodriguez observed a large commercial fishing vessel return from offshore. They contacted the vessel operator and two deckhands to conduct a boating safety and fisheries inspection. The officer observed a pipe and tin foil containing residue and noticed the operator showed signs of impairment. Officer Rodriguez had the operator conduct standardized field sobriety tasks, which the operator performed poorly and was arrested for boating under the influence. The officer continued his inspection of the vessel and located a small bag containing a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine and approximately 60 grams of marijuana. Both deckhands were arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. The operator of the vessel was also charged with felony possession of marijuana and refusal to submit to a breath test.
 CASES
Broward County
- Officer Giani observed a subject trespassing on a South Florida Water Management District structure, inside a barbed wire “No Trespass” area. The subject was removed from the structure and issued a criminal citation for trespassing.
- Officer Favrot and Beppel conducted a fisheries inspection on a vessel near Port Everglades inlet. The subject was found in possession of three undersize/out of season red grouper, and two out of season graysby grouper. The subject was cited for the criminal violations.
Glades County
- Officer Watson worked a suspected wild turkey bait site that had been previously located. Officer Watson observed the feeder and blind from a concealed location and watched as two hunters were engaged in attempting to harvest wild turkeys over bait. Officer Watson conducted a stop of the two hunters who admitted to calling turkeys in an attempt to kill one. The hunters turned out to be a father and his young son. The father was charged with attempting to take wild turkeys within 100 yards of a game feeding station.
Okeechobee County
- Officers Dziewiatkowski and Allen observed a pickup truck parked on U.S. 98 near the Chandler Slough Unit of the Kissimmee River Public Use Area on the first day of the spring turkey season youth hunt. The occupants of the truck had illegally entered the area at an unauthorized location. Four subjects, two juvenile turkey hunters and two adult males were detained. The two adult males received notices to appear in court for the illegal entry.
St. Lucie County
- Officer Payne was working during spring turkey season near a property that had birdseed scattered on the ground. Officer Payne observed a subject walk into the baited area with a shotgun. The subject was seen collecting a game camera and walking back into the woods. A short time later, a turkey call was heard coming from the woods. The subject was seen exiting the woods about an hour later carrying two turkey decoys. Officer Payne asked the subject where he was hunting and was taken to a spot in the woods near an empty feeder. At this location were a chair, camo netting, and approximately 50 feet from the subject’s chair birdseed was found spread on the ground. The subject was cited for attempting to take wild turkeys over bait.
 CASES
Officers M. Williams and D. Jones were patrolling the waters off Bahia Honda State Park. Two individuals were observed diving approximately 200 yards off the beach. The individuals were found to have three undersized spiny lobster. Both individuals received a notice to appear.
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