FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Reports for March 31-April 6

March 31 through April 6, 2023

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

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CASES

Bay County

• Lieutenant Wicker, Officer Jarrell and Senior Officer Brady were notified of a vessel operating in a careless manner. Officer Brady responded to the area by land while Lieutenant Wicker and Officer Jarrell responded by water. Officer Brady spotted the vessel and relayed the information so Lieutenant Wicker and Officer Jarrell could stop the boat and conduct a resource inspection. Officer Jarrell found the individuals to be over the limit of Spanish mackerel by 24 fish and possessed undersized fish. Officer Jarrell noticed multiple empty beer cans in the vessel, and everyone showed signs of impairment. Officer Jarrell conducted standard field sobriety tasks on the vessel operator, and he was subsequently arrested for boating under the influence. Lieutenant Wicker idled the vessel to the boat ramp next to them. Officer Brady issued the other subjects citations and warnings for over the bag limit and undersized violations. The operator of the vessel refused to give a breath sample and was booked into the Bay County Jail.
• Lieutenant J. Allen and Officer T. Basford were on patrol at St. Andrews State Park when they received a call that a vessel had crashed into deepwater point and was stuck on the beach near the Panama City Pass. Lieutenant Allen and Officer Basford responded to the scene by UTV. The vessel had been pulled off by Sea Tow and had left the scene. Lieutenant Allen and Officer Basford contacted the operator of the vessel at Treasure Island Marina. The operator displayed signs of impairment and was arrested for boating under the influence. The boating accident is still under investigation.

Escambia County

• Officer Specialist Allgood was conducting safety and resource inspections at Wilson Robertson boat ramp. He observed a vessel returning to the dock around sunset. The officer noticed the vessel had a Florida decal but displayed out of state registration numbers. Officer Allgood conducted an inspection on the vessel and recognized the owner/operator of the vessel from two previous boating under the influence investigations last summer. The officer checked to see if the operator paid his $500 civil penalty for refusing to provide a breath sample. It was determined the operator had not paid the penalty; therefore could not legally operate a vessel on state waters. Officer Allgood issued the subject a notice to appear for operating a vessel on state waters without paying a previous refusal citation.
• Senior Officer Hahr completed an investigation into a trespass complaint on property owned by the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority. A caretaker observed a man enter the property and drive through with a loaded rifle. The witness called Officer Allgood who was familiar with the subject. He contacted Officers Hahr and Senst who interviewed the suspect and witness. A .30-30 rifle was seized and a warrant was obtained charging the subject with armed trespass.

OFFSHORE PATROL

• Officers Matechik and Rockwell were on patrol conducting recreational and commercial fisheries inspections in offshore waters. During a stop of a vessel where occupants had been fishing, Officer Matechik discovered several out of season, undersized red snapper, and vermillion snapper. The captain of the vessel stated he knew that was illegal. The appropriate citations were issued.

Franklin County

• Officer Hartzog was patrolling the Carrabelle River. He conducted a resource inspection on a recreational angler at the Moorings Marina. During the inspection, the individual was observed to be in possession of and concealing an undersized red drum. The officer addressed the violation appropriately.
• Officer Hartzog was patrolling the Carrabelle River and conducted a boating safety inspection on an individual on board a cabin vessel. The individual was identified as having extensive previous history of boating safety and registration violations. During the inspection, the individual was observed to be operating a vessel on the waters of the state with expired registration, failure to transfer title within 30 days, and multiple boating safety violations. The officer addressed the violation appropriately.

Gulf County

• Senior Officers H. Webb and J. Lipford responded to a call of an overturned sailboat with occupants in the water close to the Mexico Beach area. The officers maintained contact with the caller as they were in route. The caller advised that he saw the vessel right itself and make it back to the shoreline but was not sure if anyone was still in the water. Once the officers arrived on scene minutes later, they confirmed all vessel occupants were well and accounted for and used the situation as an opportunity to educate them about boating safety and being mindful of sea conditions.

Jackson County

• Officer H. Forehand was on patrol and located a blind with cracked corn spread within 20 yards of the blind. The following morning, he checked the area and found a subject hunting wild turkeys. The subject was cited for hunting wild turkeys over bait.
• Officer J. Carr was conducting fisheries inspections on Merritt’s Mill Pond Fish Management Area. He checked one subject who was in possession of five undersized shellcracker. He was cited for the violation.

Okaloosa County

• Officer Oliver was on patrol and conducting boating safety and resource inspections when he conducted a vessel stop. The subjects on board stated they had been fishing and had vermillion snapper, red grouper, triggerfish, and almaco jacks on board. Upon Officer Oliver inspecting the fish, two undersized triggerfish and an undersized, out of season greater amberjack were found. The captain of the vessel was cited for the undersized triggerfish and a warning was issued for the greater amberjack.
• Officer Oliver was conducting a boating safety and resource inspection on a cabin motorboat. The subject stated he had a scamp on board that he recently caught. Upon inspecting the fish, Officer Oliver advised the subject he was in possession of a gag grouper, not a scamp. The subject was charged with harvest and possession of out of season gag grouper.

Santa Rosa County

• Officer Roberson was dispatched to a call regarding Santa Rosa County deputies traffic stop on the interstate. They needed help regarding iguanas in the back of an individual’s truck and wanted to know if a permit was needed for possession of the iguanas. Officer Roberson responded and spoke with Investigator Williams while on the way. Investigator Williams stated they needed a permit for green iguanas. Officer Roberson arrived on scene and determined the subjects were in possession of green iguanas. Officer Roberson interviewed the individual who was in possession, and it was determined there were no permits for the iguanas and there was a violation regarding their safe storage and transportation. Officer Roberson booked the individual into jail for no proper permits and violation of transporting/storing the iguanas properly.

Walton County

• Officers Letcher and Tison received a tip from a citizen about night hunting. The complainant alleged he had leased a piece of property from someone he knew who subleases land throughout the Panhandle. The complainant stated he suspected the man he had leased the property from killed an antlered deer at night from that property. The complainant had trail camera photos showing an antlered deer with recognizable antler characteristics that was alive after dark. The next day he saw a photo showing the man he leased property from posing with that same deer after it had been harvested. After a thorough investigation by Officers Letcher and Tison, the subject confessed to killing the deer at night. The subject was charged with taking deer at night.
• FWC officers worked a targeted enforcement action on Point Washington Wildlife Management Area organized by Officer Graves to deter careless driving, damage to state lands by motor vehicles, and illegal entry into Grayton Beach State Park from the forest. During the detail, 29 citations and 22 warnings were issued for driving on closed posted roads, damage to state lands, illegal entry into the state park, excessive speed, and possession of alcohol by minors.  

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Bay County

• Officers J. Coker and T. Basford represented the FWC at Parker Elementary School’s career day. They educated the students and staff about boating safety and some of the wildlife species FWC officers help conserve. They spoke to over 150 students and staff at the event.

CASES

Alachua County

• Senior Officer Stanley and Reith were patrolling private land and contacted two individuals who were fishing from the property. Neither individual had permission to be on the property. Both subjects were issued citations for trespassing and one for not having a freshwater fishing license.

Columbia County

• Senior Officers Yates and Davenport responded to a residence where a window had been shot. Further investigation by Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Busby revealed a wild turkey had been killed in the wood line behind the residence. The FWC’s Lieutenant Douglas, Investigator Ayers and Investigator Bembry assisted with the investigation. Baker County Correctional Institution K-9 Team also assisted. Based on evidence regarding direction of travel, they tracked the subject back to a nearby residence in the woods. Additional evidence of a wild turkey that had been field dressed was located at that residence. The subject later returned to the scene and admitted to killing two turkeys. Further evidence revealed the subject had also shot into the pool house of the neighboring residence. This incident is still being investigated.
• Senior Officer Yates was patrolling private parcels of land and identified hunting sites with bait on the ground. Tire sign entering one of the properties in question was discovered and Officer Yates tracked the sign and contacted an individual found to be hunting within 20 yards of bait with two turkey decoys placed in the baited area. The appropriate charges are being filed with the local State Attorney’s Office for hunting wild turkeys within 100 yards of a baited area. 

Dixie County

• Officer Specialist Robson and Lieutenant Ward were on vessel patrol along the coastline when they observed a commercial oyster vessel in waters prohibited for the harvest of oysters. The harvesters had visible unculled oysters aboard. After completing a marine fisheries inspection, the subject was issued notice to appear citations for harvesting oysters in prohibited waters, having unculled oysters, and not having a marine sanitation device. The subject was also issued civil infraction citations and warnings for violations relating to boating safety and vessel registration requirements. 

Madison County

• Officer Vazquez was working in an area he suspected of being used for the illegal take of wild turkeys. This area consisted of a hunting blind and cracked corn spread on the ground as close as 10 yards from the hunting blind. While surveilling this area, Officer Vazquez observed a man enter the area with a shotgun and turkey decoys, set up the decoys and enter the hunting blind and begin calling. Officer Vazquez contacted the man and issued him a citation for attempting to take wild turkeys within 100 yards of feed or grain.

Taylor County

• Officer Clark was on water patrol out of Steinhatchee when he checked a vessel that had three undersized spotted sea trout. The operator was issued a citation for the violation.
• Officer Rowe was on patrol when Taylor County Sheriff’s office called for assistance with a trespass complaint. Officer Rowe responded and located two individuals digging on private property. The male subject fled on foot and the female subject was detained for further investigation. Charges are being filed for felony criminal mischief and trespassing on the two subjects. 

OFFSHORE PATROL

• Officer Suttles and Hughes were on water patrol aboard the Fin Cat offshore patrol vessel, conducting inspections on commercial shrimping vessels harvesting shrimp in federal waters. During their inspections, they found three of the vessels did not have a Federal Gulf Shrimp Permit to harvest shrimp in federal waters. A total of six federal citations were documented and will be turned over to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for prosecution.

RESCUES

• Lieutenant Loyed received a call regarding an overdue boater who had launched out of Econfina River State Park and had not returned. The information provided indicated the vessel had broken down at the mouth of the Econfina River with a 19-year-old subject onboard. Lieutenant Loyed launched a patrol vessel and went to the location given. When he arrived, there was no vessel so he began to search the shoreline for the vessel. He located the vessel about three miles south of the river. Lieutenant Loyed rescued two occupants and their dog and transported them back to the boat ramp. They declined medical treatment.  

CASES

Brevard County

• Officer St. Martin was on night patrol at Sebastian Inlet State Park and noticed an angler who was in a hurry to return to his vehicle. A resource inspection of the subject’s gear revealed he was in possession of an over slot snook. The subject was cited accordingly.
• While on water patrol in the Indian River, Officer Specialist Marroquin noticed a personal watercraft violating the slow speed manatee zone. After stopping the vessel, Officer Marroquin noticed the operator showed signs of impairment. The operator performed the standardized field sobriety tasks poorly and was arrested. The operator provided a sample of his breath, which showed his breath alcohol content was almost double the legal limit. The operator was transported to the Brevard County jail and charged accordingly.
• Officer Specialist Balgo observed an individual fishing in Port Canaveral and conducted a resource inspection. During the inspection, he located a goliath grouper hidden under the individual’s cast net. Officer Balgo also found the individual to be in possession of an undersized mangrove snapper. The individual was cited accordingly.
• While on land patrol, Officer Specialist Rasey contacted several individuals who were saltwater fishing at a local park. One of the subjects advised he caught several sand trout, which is an unregulated species. A resource inspection revealed the angler had misidentified some of the fish, which were actually spotted seatrout. Size and bag limit violations were addressed with a citation and a warning.
• Officer Specialist Hallsten responded to a call for service in reference to a subject discharging a 12-gauge shotgun within a residential area. He arrived on scene and found that the subject at the residence was shooting Anhingas out of the pond in the backyard. The subject was charged with discharge of a firearm in a residential area and take of migratory bird listed in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. 
• Officer Specialist Balgo observed an individual throwing a large cast net along Haulover Canal. While conducting a resource inspection, he found the individual to be in possession of five undersized sheepshead and three undersized mangrove snapper. The individual also illegally harvested the mangrove snapper with a cast net. The individual was cited accordingly.
• Officer Specialist Balgo observed an individual walking back to his vehicle, and when the individual saw the officer, he ran back away from his vehicle onto a trail. Officer Balgo located the individual as well as another individual off the trail in the bushes. He then located a bucket hidden in the nearby bushes that contained 12 undersized mangrove snappers. The individuals were cited accordingly.
• Officer Hopkins conducted patrol of Sebastian Inlet State Park and noticed an individual hurrying back to his vehicle with a snook that appeared to be over slot. Upon investigation, the individual changed his story multiple times. The snook measured over the legal slot and the individual was cited accordingly.

Indian River County

• Officer Delano worked with a local landowner to address trespass issues on the landowner’s property. During hunting season, the landowner’s fence was cut and accessed by poachers numerous times. During the Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend, Officer Delano received trail camera photos showing a side profile of an individual entering the property with a firearm and exiting with a harvested wild turkey. Officer Delano notified K-9 Officer Specialist Hadwin to help him locate the site of the kill and document the scene. The officer networked with the local community until the subject’s name was revealed. Officer Delano and K-9 Officer Hadwin interviewed the subject who confessed to harvesting a wild turkey out of season and armed trespass. During the interview, it was discovered a second subject assisted in the armed trespassing and poaching of the wild turkey. Both subjects were cited accordingly.
• While on patrol, Officer Hopkins received information from Officer Delano that illegal turkey hunting was occurring on private property near his location. Officer Hopkins began a foot patrol of the property and encountered a subject in camouflage with a rifle and vest with turkey hunting equipment. Upon investigation, the subject commented he had been calling to gobblers in the distance. At this time, Officer Delano arrived on scene for assistance and further investigation revealed cracked corn approximately 12 yards away from the location the subject was hunting. The subject was cited accordingly.
• While conducting inspections on the south side of Sebastian Inlet, Officer St. Martin identified a subject who said he had a snook but it shrunk. A inspection of the snook revealed it was undersized and the subject was cited accordingly.

Osceola County

• Officer Specialist Hallsten was patrolling Big Toho Marina when he conducted a fisheries inspection on a subject who did not have a fishing license. While officers were working to identify the individual, the subject fled on foot. An extensive investigation concluded the subject was a homicide suspect from New Hampshire. The subject was arrested by the U.S. Marshal Service. Officer Hallsten traveled to New Hampshire to testify in the trial and the subject was found guilty of first-degree murder among other charges. 
• Officer Specialist Hocker was on patrol when he located cracked corn and grain seed on private land. On a later date, Master Officer Hahr and Officer Hocker observed a vehicle enter the property. Upon investigation, the officers located an individual who was turkey hunting about 70 yards from cracked corn and grain seed. The individual also did not have a hunting license or turkey permit. The individual received a notice to appear for hunting wild turkeys within 100 yards of bait and the license violations were addressed.

St. Johns County

• Officer Specialist Christmas was on patrol when he observed a truck and trailer leaving a boat ramp with no trailer lights and the boat unsecured from the trailer. He stopped the vehicle to address the violations. During the stop, he found the driver had been fishing that day. He conducted a fisheries inspection and found the subject had harvested three red drum. He issued the subject a citation for harvesting over the bag limit of red drum.
• Officer Self conducted a dockside fisheries inspection on a vessel returning from a day of offshore fishing. During the inspection, Officer Self discovered a small graysby grouper onboard, which was harvested during the closed season. The subject was cited for the violation.
• Officer Specialist Lawrence was returning from a day of water patrol when he observed a vehicle make an illegal u-turn and not be able to maintain a traffic lane. Based on the safety concerns, Officer Lawrence conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. In speaking with the operator, the subject was determined to be driving while their normal faculties were impaired. Based on the investigation, the operator was arrested and booked into the St. Johns County Jail.
• While conducting fisheries inspections at Guana Dam State Park, Officer Thomas checked a subject with a cooler full of Atlantic croaker. The subject was aware the legal bag limit was 50 per person. However, the subject was found to be in possession of 109 Atlantic croaker and was cited for the violation.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Brevard County

• Officer Specialists Balgo and Hallsten taught approximately 40 Boy Scout troops about boating safety. After the lesson, the officers assisted the Boy Scouts with fishing in a pond where several troops caught bluegill.
• Officer Specialist Balgo, Johnson, and Kearney attended the marine flea market in Merritt Island. The officers handed out fishing regulations, boating safety pamphlets, and answered the public’s questions on several topics.

Sumter County

• Senior Officer Shaw and Officer Specialist Scrambling attended the Florida Bass Conservation Center, Richloam Fish Hatchery Annual Fishing Event. This event coincided with the free freshwater fishing license weekend. There were over 300 people in attendance. Officers Scrambling and Shaw worked with FWC biologists to educate the public about FWC’s mission and the role of FWC law enforcement officers. The officers also helped introduce youth to fishing. 
• Lieutenant Chase and Officer Specialist Scrambling were patrolling Nichols Spring off the Withlacoochee River. They educated users about a newly passed Spring Protection Rule, which prohibits anchoring, mooring, beaching, and grounding within the spring protection zone. This rule is meant to prevent negative impacts on water quality, water quantity, hydrology, wetlands, and aquatic and wetland-dependent species.

Lake County

• Officer Stamp attended the hunter education course being held at a local business to teach the law portion of the class. The 21 course attendees asked questions and learned about FWC law enforcement work and conservation.

St. Johns County

• Officers from St. Johns and Flagler Counties participated in a multi-agency operation surrounding the 77th annual Blessing of the Fleet. Over a hundred vessels participated in the event this year and cooperation between the U.S. Coast Guard, St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office, St. Augustine Police Department, and the FWC ensured participants had a safe and fun day.

Marion County

• Officers from Marion and Citrus Counties joined together for the annual FWC Youth Turkey Hunt in Halpata Preserve, which is public land owned by Southwest Florida Water Management District. This initiative is for youth between the ages of 12 to 17 who want to try hunting, many for their first time. The youth hunt was guided by Lieutenants Rice and Dias, Investigator Sumpter, Officers Ulrich, Flynn, and retired Officer Hargabus. All youth who participated harvested a gobbler and learned about conservation and skills such as scouting and turkey calling.

CASES

Hernando County

• Lieutenant Grover was conducting resource inspections, when he located a subject who did not possess a valid fishing license. The subject was acting nervous, and a computer check revealed an active warrant out of Pasco County for DUI. The subject was arrested and taken to the Hernando County Jail.
• Officer Brown was conducting resource inspections on vessels returning to shore. The officer found individuals on two separate vessels in possession of undersized spotted seatrout. Both were cited accordingly.
• Officer Brown received a call regarding a blueberry farmer killing cedar waxwings. Upon investigation and interviews, the subject admitted to shooting his shotgun in the direction of the birds. Officer Brown located multiple dead cedar waxwings and a shotgun shell that matched the ammunition the subject was using. Charges were filed related to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Lee County

• FWC officers received a request for assistance from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to help search for a missing subject in a forested area near a wildlife management area. Officer Stapleton, K-9 Officer Collazo and Lieutenants Barrett and Ruggiero assisted with the search, which went through the night and into the next morning. Unfortunately, the subject was found deceased and an investigation is being conducted by LCSO.

Pasco County

• Officer Brown received a call from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office to assist them with an armed trespass. Upon further investigation, the subject admitted to placing cracked corn on the property and was actively hunting wild turkeys within 100 yards of the bait. The subject also did not have a valid hunting license or turkey permit. The subject was charged accordingly for the licensing violations and hunting wild turkey over bait.

Pinellas County

• Lieutenant Bibeau observed an offshore fishing vessel return to a nearby boat ramp and contacted the three individuals onboard to conduct a fisheries inspection. At the conclusion of the inspection, Lieutenant Bibeau found the individuals to be in possession of 13 undersized triggerfish, six undersized red grouper, five undersized yellowtail snapper, one undersized scamp grouper, one undersized sheepshead and one out of season gag grouper. He issued the vessel operator citations for the fisheries violations along with an infraction for not obtaining a valid saltwater fishing license.

Sarasota County

• Senior Officer Sierra and Officer Johnston were on patrol at the 10^th street boat ramp. They boarded a vessel to conduct a saltwater fisheries inspection. During the inspection, they located several species of fish including snapper and grouper. Upon further inspection of the fish, they located five undersized hogfish and two undersized scamp groupers. The subject was issued citations for the hogfish and warnings for the scamp.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Charlotte County

• Officer Upton participated in an outreach event at the Refuge Retreat at Bethel Farms for approximately 60 people who are part of All Friends Network, an organization for disabled young adults. Officer Upton spoke about the FWC’s work on behalf of conservation and also exhibited a juvenile alligator.

CASES 

Broward County

• Officer Lopez responded to the Las Olas area in Ft. Lauderdale in the Intracoastal Waterway regarding a call about a boating accident. Officer Lopez conducted a boating accident investigation that involved one personal watercraft. One individual suffered non-life-threatening injuries. 

Martin County

• While conducting boat safety inspections at a local boat ramp, Officers Cernuto and Castle observed an individual backing up a trailer to retrieve his boat. The officers attempted to contact the subject, but he avoided them by walking to the back of the vehicle and walking back to his vessel. Once contact was made, the subject displayed signs of impairment. He denied operating the vehicle and operating the vessel. When asked about performing field sobriety tasks, he refused to cooperate. The subject was arrested and charged for operating a vessel (BUI) and vehicle (DUI) while normal faculties are impaired. He was booked in jail without incident.   
• Officers Cernuto and Landers were on water patrol near the St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park along the Intracoastal Waterway when they observed a vessel without proper navigation lights. They stopped the vessel to address the violation and while speaking with the operator, numerous indicators of impairment were detected. After conducting the seated field sobriety tasks, the operator was arrested for boating under the influence and transported to the Martin County Jail. The operator was charged with boating while normal facilities impaired, issued a citation for refusal to submit and a written warning for the navigation lights.
• An officer with Stuart Police Department stopped a driver he believed to be driving under the influence. Due to a medical issue, the driver would not be able to complete the standardized field sobriety tasks so he called Officer Cernuto with the FWC to assist with standardized seated field sobriety tasks. Based on the findings of the seated field sobriety tasks, as well as other physical clues and indicators of impairment, the driver was placed under arrest for DUI by the SPD Officer.
• While in Stuart, Officer Cernuto observed a vehicle driving with no headlights and stopped the vehicle to address the violation. The driver displayed signs of impairment and told Officer Cernuto he was leaving the Kava Bar. Officer Cernuto requested routine back up and asked the driver to complete a series of standardized field sobriety tasks and he complied. Based on physical clues and indicators, the driver was placed under arrest for DUI and transported to the Martin County Jail.
• Captive Wildlife Investigator Booth received information regarding a deer held in captivity without proper licensing.  Upon arrival, he found a young male deer in a pen. Investigator Booth learned the owner had applied for a license for the deer but was denied due to it being from the wild, which is illegal. He issued a citation for the illegal possession of the deer, and two warnings for related violations. The deer was placed at a licensed rehabilitation facility. Officer Merizio assisted with this incident. 

Palm Beach County

• Officers Trawinski and Gilmore responded to a complaint of a stolen vessel in Riviera Beach Marina.  The manager of the marina reported a suspicious person on a vessel that was reported stolen a day prior. The vessel was reportedly towed to the marina property by a subject who was in the area. Officers interviewed the subject who admitted to bringing the vessel to repair it.  Officers were able to speak with the registered owner, who told them, he did not give an authorization to move it or work on it to anyone. Subject was arrested for grand theft of a motor vehicle.
• Officer Rea responded to John D. MacArthur Beach State Park after receiving a call from the park ranger stating there were two subjects who appeared to be ill and acting strange. Officer Rea located the subjects and they explained they had too much to drink. The two subjects were cited for consumption of alcohol in a state park and had to contact family members to get them and drive their vehicle home. Both subjects were also trespassed from the park for a year.
• Officer Constance was dispatched to the Palmetto Park boat ramp in Boca Raton regarding a boating accident in which a female was injured. The officer responded at the boat ramp and gathered information and then to a Delray hospital and spoke to an individual who relayed she was injured when she fell in a boat that was offshore fishing. The officer conducted a boating accident investigation.  There will be no charges in this case.

RESCUES

Broward County

• Officers Dudas and Bruder were on federal fishery patrol in Port Everglades when they were flagged down by a vessel coming into Port Everglades Inlet. As they got close to the vessel, they observed an unresponsive male subject on the deck of the boat.  Officer Bruder boarded the vessel and began to conduct CPR on the individual. Officer Dudas tied the vessels together and proceeded to 15th Street Marina to meet with Broward County Fire Rescue as Officer Bruder continued to do CPR on the subject. The subject was turned over to Fire Rescue for further medical treatment.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Palm Beach County

• Officer Rea and Officer Morgan attended a veteran’s fishing event at the Jupiter lighthouse to assist and support an evening of fishing from the lighthouse’s dock. The event was a success with five different species of fish being caught, including a stone crab. There was turnout of 24 people including participants and volunteers.

MAJOR WILDLIFE ASSISTANCE

• Officer Bouras responded to the City of Cooper City regarding an injured bird. Upon arrival, the officer was able to safely capture an injured burrowing owl.  The owl was delivered to the Wildlife Care Center in Fort Lauderdale where it will be rehabilitated.

CASES

• Officers Givens and Allen were conducting resource inspections around Spanish Harbor Bridge. Three individuals fishing in that area had several coolers and indicated they had caught several fish. During the inspection, the individuals were found to be in possession of a goliath grouper and two undersized mangrove snapper. After questioning, one of the individuals admitted responsibility for the goliath grouper and another for the undersized snapper. Both individuals were cited accordingly.
• While patrolling Sanctuary Preservation Areas aboard the SeeVee, Officers Carpenter, Cobb, and Sargent observed a vessel moored to a buoy marking the boundary of Eastern Dry Rocks. Officers identified four occupants, two of whom were diving within the SPA boundaries. As officers approached the vessel, one subject was observed releasing fish from the stringer of his spear gun. After asking the subject to retrieve the fish he was unable to do so but provided images of the gray triggerfish he had speared. After questioning, he admitted to shooting and dumping the fish within SPA boundaries, which is clearly marked as a “no take” zone. The subject was placed under arrest for multiple violations.
• Officer Venus Garcia and Officer Janzen were patrolling Channel #5 Bridge when they approached three individuals who were fishing. One of the individuals did not have a valid saltwater fishing license. A bag containing two undersized mutton snapper and four fish fillets was discovered in a trash bin adjacent to the individuals. All three individuals refused to sign a notice to appear when issued and were transported to Plantation Key Jail.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

• Multiple Monroe County FWC officers joined MCSO, KWPD, NOAA to participate in the 2023 Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Florida. In Monroe County the run started at the College of the Florida Keys, stopping at Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, both local Publix Supermarkets, multiple school campuses and ending with a presentation at the southernmost point in Key West.