FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Reports for April 21-27

April 21 through April 27, 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

• Officer M. Gore was patrolling St. Andrews Bay on Watson Bayou and stopped a vessel to conduct boating safety and saltwater resource inspections. The vessel had multiple boating safety violations and one of the subjects onboard was in possession of two undersized spotted sea trout. The subject also did not have a valid saltwater fishing license. Officer Gore cited the individual for possession of undersized spotted sea trout and no saltwater fishing license. Officer Gore issued written warnings for boating safety violations.
• Officer T. Basford was on patrol at St. Andrews Bay near Deepwater Point and stopped a charter vessel returning from fishing in the Panama Pass. A saltwater resource inspection revealed the captain and crew were in possession of an oversized red drum. The captain did not have a proper measuring device on board. He was educated on the size limits for red drum and issued a notice to appear citation for possession of oversized red drum.

Franklin County

• Officer Hartzog and Lieutenant Smith were patrolling the Carrabelle River and observed a vessel with several fishing rods heading in from offshore. Lieutenant Smith boarded the vessel and conducted a resource inspection. During the inspection, the individuals were observed to be in possession of undersized flounder and over the bag limit of spotted sea trout. The appropriate citations were issued.
• Officer Hartzog and Lieutenant Smith were patrolling the Carrabelle River. They observed a vessel gigging for flounder along the bank of the river. Officer Hartzog conducted a resource inspection and the individuals were observed to be in possession of several undersized flounder. The appropriate citations were issued.

Gulf County

• While on patrol, Officer Gerber discovered a firearm hidden in the Apalachicola River Wildlife Environmental Area. A sailboat displaying an expired registration was tied off on the river close by. While inspecting the sailboat, two additional firearms were discovered. The suspected owner of the sailboat is a convicted felon. While conducting surveillance in the area, Officer Gerber was able to make contact with the suspected owner and another individual who is a convicted felon and found them in possession of the firearm. The suspects are facing several charges.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

• Officers J. Coker and M. Gore represented the FWC at Covenant School’s career day. They educated students and staff about boating safety and some of the wildlife FWC officers work to conserve. They spoke to approximately 120 students and staff at the event.

RESCUES

• FWC Officers responded to a search and rescue attempt from United States Coast Guard advising that the crew of a local shrimp boat was reported overdue and missing. Its last known location was somewhere south of Cape San Blas within the Gulf of Mexico. Officers assisted with the search by vessel while USCG mobilized aircraft. The aircraft eventually spotted the crew drifting in a life raft several miles offshore. Both crew members were picked up and safely returned to land.

CASES

Brevard County

• Officer Specialist Marroquin was conducting patrol at the Christenson’s Landing Boat Ramp when he observed a vessel having difficulty docking. The operator showed signs of impairment during a vessel safety inspection and performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tasks. The subject was arrested and charged with boating under the influence and issued a civil penalty for refusing to provide a breath sample.
• Officer Specialist Marroquin was on state water patrol in Turkey Creek to address several reports of individuals violating the idle speed zone when he observed a vessel with improper display. A vessel stop was conducted, and the operator was observed showing signs of impairment. The operator attempted to hide a large trash bag of beer cans during the stop and performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tasks. The subject was arrested and charged with boating under the influence and issued a civil penalty for refusing to provide a breath sample. 
• Officers Snyder, Balgo, Navarino, Parrish, and Hallsten teamed up with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Officer Hamilton to conduct a saturation detail on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The officers spent many hours enforcing littering, fisheries, and refuge specific rules. Highlights from the detail included cases for no fishing license, littering, undersized mangrove snapper, sheepshead, and snook, and harassment of manatees.  

Officer Specialist Hallsten and Officer Parrish were patrolling the St. Johns River when they observed a vessel on the shoreline pulling in a large net. They watched the subjects hide the net in the woods and head back out on the water. Officer Hopkins conducted a resource inspection on the vessel while Officers Parrish and Hallsten went to the wooded area and located two gill nets concealed in the brush. The officers seized the gill nets and met with the subjects back at the boat ramp. The two subjects were arrested and charged with using and transporting gill nets on Florida waters. Both nets were over a thousand feet long.

Seminole County

• While patrolling the St. Johns River in the Christmas area, Officer Fahnestock observed several individuals fishing with cast nets. Officer Fahnestock conducted a resource inspection and found the subjects possessed freshwater gamefish and tilapia. The subjects did not possess valid freshwater fishing licenses. They were cited accordingly for taking freshwater gamefish by illegal methods and for fishing without valid freshwater fishing licenses.

Volusia County

• Officer Cameron and deputies from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a subject shooting cedar waxwings, a protected migratory bird. Further investigation revealed that the subject had shot cedar waxwings on two previous occasions. The subject was charged appropriately.

Orange County

• Lieutenant Riley responded to a report about land clearing on a property with active gopher tortoise burrows. Upon arrival, Lieutenant Riley observed two individuals clearing the property with a tracker equipped with a grader. He spoke with the individuals and documented their information. Lieutenant Riley walked the property and located five active burrows, two of which were damaged by the tracker. The individuals did not have the proper permits and completed surveys. The appropriate charges were issued.   

Osceola County

• Officer Hocker received information from a landowner regarding a wild turkey that had been poached from his pasture at sunset. Officer Hocker responded to the area the next day and located the kill site and footprints leading in the direction of a neighboring house. After a few knocks and talks, Officer Hocker came to a house that had a few wild turkey feathers next to the garbage cans. Upon investigation, the individual at the household admitted to trespassing onto the property and shooting at several turkeys but was only able to harvest one. The individual was cited accordingly.

Indian River County

• While on night patrol in the marsh, Lieutenant Lightsey conducted a boating safety inspection of an airboat operator. During the inspection, the operator smelled strongly of alcohol, had an open container of beer in the operator seat, and had difficulty with boating safety items. After performing seated standardized field sobriety tasks, the operator was placed under arrest for operating a vessel while impaired. While at the jail, the operator gave a sample of his breath, which was over double the legal limit. The operator was charged with operating a vessel with a breath alcohol content of .15 or higher.

St. Johns County

• Officer Self was on patrol when he observed a car swerving all over the roadway, nearly striking multiple other vehicles. A traffic stop was conducted to address unsafe driving. During the traffic stop, the operator displayed signs of impairment and consented to standardized field sobriety tasks. After completing the investigation, the operator was arrested for driving under the influence and transported to the St. John's County Jail.

Flagler County

• Officer Self was conducting traffic enforcement at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park when he observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed through the state park. The vehicle was operating in an unsafe manner, nearly striking oncoming traffic. Officer Self conducted a traffic stop. During the traffic stop, the operator displayed signs of impairment. Upon completing standardized field sobriety tasks, the operator was arrested for driving under the influence and transported to the Flagler County Jail. A sample of the operator's breath indicated the operator was over three times the legal limit.

Marion County

• K-9 Officer Simpson and Officer Flynn were on patrol when they observed a vehicle run a red light, almost causing a collision. The officers activated their emergency lights and siren to conduct a traffic stop. The driver failed to stop and a pursuit ensued for approximately 2.5 miles before the operator pulled over and was taken into custody. The officers’ investigation revealed the subject had just moments prior been involved in a hit-and-run accident and was driving on a suspended license. The driver was arrested and charged with reckless driving and fleeing and eluding.  

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Brevard County

• Captain Gaudion conducted a meeting with about 200 people in a neighborhood to talk about how to safely co-exist with alligators, FWC officers’ responsibilities, and the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP).
• Lieutenant Riley and Officer Navarino taught hunter education to eight students. The class covered laws and regulations regarding hunting in Florida as well as other FWC topics. 

CASES

Hillsborough County

• While on patrol, Officer Rivard received a call from an animal control officer advising they had received information about an individual in possession of an alligator and a bobcat. Officer Rivard and the animal control officer gained access to the individual’s property from a family member and conducted a search. Officer Rivard located a black tub that contained a small alligator and a small cage that contained a bobcat with a collar around its neck. Officer Rivard found the homeowner had already been arrested and booked into jail for unrelated charges. Officer Rivard filed felony and misdemeanor charges for illegal possession of an alligator, violations pertaining to caging and permitting requirements for captive wildlife, and animal cruelty.

Pinellas County

• While on land patrol, Lieutenant Bibeau observed a large fishing vessel return to a boat ramp. He contacted the individuals onboard the vessel and conducted a fisheries inspection. Lieutenant Bibeau found the individuals in possession of four undersized and out-of-season greater amberjacks. Lieutenant Bibeau issued the operator of the vessel a citation and a warning for the fisheries violations.

Sarasota County

• Officer Blyar and Officer Ariel Devine were patrolling the Venice inlet and observed a vessel with multiple fishing rods coming into the inlet from offshore. They contacted the charter captain and conducted a fisheries inspection. The officers found two undersized gray triggerfish. The legal size limit for gray triggerfish is 15 inches fork length. The charter captain was charged with possession of undersized gray triggerfish.
• Officers Davidson, Blyar and Johnston were patrolling New Pass Bridge. They observed a vessel coming in from offshore and conducted a fisheries inspection. During the inspection, the subject was unstable on his feet, was slurring his speech, and smelled like alcohol. Officer Davidson conducted standardized field sobriety tests and the subject showed signs of impairment. He provided breath samples over the legal limit and was arrested for boating under the influence.
• Officer Christopher Davidson along with Officers Matthew Johnston and Esteban Blyar, contacted a vessel coming in from offshore near the New Pass Bridge. During the fisheries inspection, two undersized red groupers and two undersized triggerfish were located in buckets. The minimum size limit for red grouper is 20 inches and the minimum size limit to keep triggerfish is 15 inches. The subject was charged accordingly.
• Officer Blyar was patrolling Venice inlet and observed a vessel with multiple fishing rods coming into the inlet from offshore. The operator failed to reduce vessel speed in a manatee protection zone. Officer Blyar conducted a fisheries inspection and found one undersized cobia. The minimum size limit for cobia is 36 inches to the fork. The captain received a citation for being in possession of an undersized cobia, a warning for speeding in a slow speed zone, and a warning for not having his registration onboard the vessel.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

• Senior Officer Ridgway and Officer Specialist Dalton participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Events. Many other agencies were in attendance along with great support from the community and local businesses.

CASES 

Broward County

• Officer Beppel observed a suspicious vessel docked at 15^th St. boat ramp in Fort Lauderdale. A records check of the hull identification number revealed the vessel had recently been reported as stolen. The scene was cleared, documented and the owner was contacted.
• Officers Lopez and Constance were on vessel patrol on the Intracoastal Waterway in Hollywood.  They conducted a marine fisheries inspection on a vessel returning from the Atlantic Ocean. Pursuant to the inspection, Officer Constance issued a notice to appear to one individual for possession of undersized yellowtail snapper.

Okeechobee County

• Officer Specialist Crosby located two subjects hunting wild turkeys during the closed season while working in the Chandler Slough portion of the Kissimmee River Public Use Area. Both subjects were issued notices to appear for hunting during a closed season.
• Officer Allen observed two subjects who appeared to be hunting in the Kissimmee River Public Use Area, Paradise Run Unit when hunting seasons were not open. The officer made contact with the subjects and they stated they were hunting wild hogs. They also were hunting with a centerfire rifle, which is prohibited in the PUA. They received notices to appear in court for attempting to take wild hog during closed season and warnings for hunting with a centerfire rifle.

Palm Beach County

• Officer Brevik was patrolling Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West when he observed an individual illegally enter the area though a clearly marked nondesignated entrance. The officer made contact with the individual and explained the violation. The subject admitted to being previously warned a few hours earlier by another FWC lieutenant for illegally entering. Due to the previous warning, the officer issued the subject a citation for the violation.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Palm Beach County

• Officer Wences educated youth and helped them with their fishing tackle at the Pahokee Marinna Kids Fishing Tournament. There were over 30 children participating in this event.

CASES

• Investigator Chris Mattson was on unmarked water patrol near Watson’s Reef in Key Largo Existing Management Area (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary) when he observed a subject spearfishing in the prohibited area. A resource inspection revealed the subject had speared fish inside his cooler including two hogfish, with one of them being undersize. The subject admitted to harvesting both fish with the spear and was cited for over the bag limit of hogfish and possession of undersize hogfish.
• Investigator Mattson was on unmarked patrol about a mile north of Davis Reef and observed a subject spearfishing on the 3 nautical mile line. Investigator Mattson observed the subject was using a dive flag with no wire stiffener, making it hard to see. Continued surveillance revealed another subject take something out of a bait bucket and throw it into the water near the person who was spearfishing. Investigator Mattson conducted a resource inspection and discovered three lobster carapace heads inside the bait bucket. The subject said he thought it was still lobster season and admitted he had harvested the lobster earlier in the day and that the tails were on shore. The subject was cited for possession of lobster out of season.