FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Reports for June 16-22

June 16 through June 22, 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.

View this as a web page.

View previous editions.

CASES

Walton County

• Officer Graves was on patrol and checked two subjects on Eglin Air Force Base Property who were unable to produce an Eglin Permit as required. The passenger was observed concealing a small plastic bag and the driver did not have a valid driver’s license. Officer Graves could smell the odor of burnt cannabis while speaking to the driver. Officer R. Brooks arrived a short time later and searched the vehicle, which revealed small plastic bags of a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine. The passenger was arrested and booked into the Walton County Jail for possession of cocaine and no Eglin Permit. The driver was cited for not having a valid driver’s license and issued a warning for no Eglin Permit.  

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

• Lieutenant J. Allen, and Officer’s M. Gore, D. Brady, K. Hellett, and T. Basford participated in an outreach event with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office Youth Academy. Lieutenant Allen and Officer Gore did a presentation about safety related to wildlife and plants commonly found in Florida.
• Lieutenant Allen and Officers Brady, Hellett, and Basford participated in the Youth Academy Fishing Field Trip at the Pine Log State Forest's Sand Pond Campground.  Lieutenant Allen and the officers helped the children tie knots, bait hooks, and shared basic information about freshwater fishing. There were about 20 children at the Academy.

RESCUES

Bay County

• Officers D. Palmer and T. Basford and Lieutenant S. Wicker responded after dark to a family forced to seek refuge on Crooked Island South after the seas were too rough for their 28-foot vessel to return to Panama City Beach. They ferried the grandmother, mother, and two children back to shore with an FWC vessel and then took them to the Tyndall Air Force Base main gate where they made travel arrangements to get the passengers back to Panama City Beach. The officers provided water to the father and grandfather, who stayed on the vessel overnight in the protected sound and then returned the vessel to Panama City Beach the next day.
• Officer Z. Rice and Investigator D. Nelson responded to a May Day call in St. Andrews Bay regarding a pontoon vessel in distress. The vessel had lost engine power in a rough storm off Davis Point in the middle of the Bay. The officers took the nine adults and one child safely back to shore on the FWC vessel.

Santa Rosa County

• Officers Burkhead, Lugg, and Ramos assisted in a search for overdue boaters who were trapped in severe weather on Escambia River. The boaters had run out of fuel and were lost on Escambia River after going night fishing. The officers located and assisted the boaters safely back to a local boat ramp.
• Officers Wilkenson, Lugg, and Burkhead assisted in a search for two kayakers who were caught in severe weather on Blackwater River. The kayakers launched from Bryant Bridge Road and proceeded down river. Swift current from a storm overturned one of their kayaks. They were able to swim to a sandbar. The officers located them and transported them safely back to a boat ramp with the assistance of Munson Fire Rescue.

CASES

Brevard County

• While on road patrol, Officer Pereles (pilot) observed a personal watercraft violating the marked manatee zone. Officer Pereles conducted a vessel stop and detected signs the operator was impaired. Standardized field sobriety tasks were requested but the subject declined to perform them. Based on the observations made during the encounter, the officer determined the operator was impaired and the subject was arrested for boating under the influence and booked into the Brevard County Jail.
• Officers Delano and St. Martin were on federal fisheries patrol outside Sebastian Inlet when they conducted a resource inspection on a vessel returning from fishing. The vessel captain stated he was in a hurry to return to shore and he did not catch any fish on that day. The officers assured the captain they would expedite the inspection. The first cooler they checked had four out-of-season red snapper and one undersized red grouper. The captain was cited accordingly.

Putnam County

• Officer Carroll was on patrol in the Etoniah Creek Wildlife Management Area when she observed a vehicle parked in the roadway. Officer Carroll saw two people outside the vehicle, cutting branches from trees in the state forest. Upon contacting the two subjects, one refused to comply with Officer Carroll's commands and fled into the woods. Officer Carroll detained the second subject and maintained control of the scene while assisting officers searched for the other subject. While the search was met with negative results, the subject was positively identified and multiple charges have been filed with the State Attorney's Office.
• While on patrol, Officer Dodd observed a truck on the side of the highway engulfed in flames. Officer Dodd approached to ensure the driver, passenger, and pet were safe. Officer Dodd radioed for assistance and quickly began using her fire extinguisher to combat the flames. Officer Specialist Thomas and Lieutenant Jones responded to assist. In total, three fire extinguishers were needed to extinguish the fire from the truck's engine compartment. The driver, passenger, and pet were uninjured.
• Officer Specialist Christmas was on land patrol when he observed a vehicle swerving all over the road. He conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and observed signs of impairment from the driver. Standardized field sobriety tasks were conducted and the driver was arrested for driving under the influence.

RESCUES

Volusia County

• During a severe storm, Lieutenant Eason responded to a call about an elderly woman stuck in Callalisa Creek on a kayak and was unable to paddle in the strong winds. Lieutenant Eason secured a shallow water pro-drive and met fire rescue personnel under the State Road 44 bridge to begin the search. The elderly female was located and was suffering from exhaustion, hypothermia, and chest pains. The patient was transported to land and taken to a local hospital for treatment.

CASES

Charlotte County

• Officer Salem responded to a call regarding an alligator that had killed a dog. Upon arrival, he determined the dog was unfortunately deceased. A contracted nuisance alligator trapper was called to the location and the alligator was removed from the pond. 

Hillsborough County

• While on land patrol, Officer Rivard observed an individual fishing with a cast net in a freshwater canal. Officer Rivard contacted the individual and conducted a fisheries inspection. At the conclusion of the inspection, he found the individual to be in possession of five largemouth bass. The individual admitted to catching the bass with the cast net and was issued a citation for illegal method of take of freshwater game fish.

Lee County

• Officer Bradley Johnson and Lieutenant Ruggiero were on water patrol when they approached two vessels anchored in a shallow area. A female subject came out of one of the boats and said she and her fiancé were responsible for the vessels. An inspection of one of the vessels revealed it was sinking, stripped of its components, and had gaping holes in the hull. The female was issued a misdemeanor for leaving a vessel in a derelict condition on the waters of the state. 

Manatee County

• Officer Specialist Gonzales was patrolling the South Skyway Fishing Pier when he noticed a group of people fishing. A resource inspection revealed they had caught and kept an undersized, out-of-season snook. Officer Specialist Gonzales issued a citation for the out-of-season snook and numerous warnings.

Monroe County

• Officer Hardgrove was on patrol when he inspected a subject fishing from the shore. During the inspection, the subject said he had no fish. The officer looked around the subject’s vehicle and found a cooler that contained numerous fish including barracuda, lobsters, grunts, catfish, and lane snapper. The fish were measured and found the barracuda and lobsters were undersized. The man was charged with possession of undersized barracuda, possession of spiny lobster out of season, and five counts of possession of undersized spiny lobster. He was also issued an infraction for no lobster stamp and written warnings for no lobster gauge and not measuring lobster while in the water.
• Officer Hardgrove conducted fisheries enforcement and numerous fisheries inspections that revealed the following violations:
  • Two subjects were in possession of several fish, some of which they said had been given to them by someone else. Inspection revealed they were in possession of an undersized mutton snapper, undersized schoolmaster snapper, undersized mangrove snapper and dead ornamental fish. The subjects were issued misdemeanor charges for the violations. 
  • Officer Hardgrove inspected a vessel in possession of several fish including an undersized dolphin. One of the subjects admitted to catching the fish and was issued a citation for possessing an undersized dolphin.
  • Several subjects fishing from a bridge were in possession of undersized schoolmaster snapper. One subject had three undersized schoolmaster snapper and two other subjects had 11 schoolmaster snappers with 10 of the 11 being undersized. The subjects were issued a citation for the violations.
  • Two men were found to be in possession of two dead ornamental fish. Ornamental fish must be kept alive. One of the men admitted to keeping them and was issued a citation for the violation.
  • A subject admitted to catching and keeping two permits. After inspection, one of the permits was found to be under the minimum size limit. The fish were also kept from the special permit zone where the season is closed. The man was issued two misdemeanors or the violations.    

Sarasota County

• Officer Specialist Morrow received information about a subject who had posted a picture of a tarpon, well over 40 inches, being held out of the water. Officer Specialist Morrow was able to identify and locate the subject. After conducting an interview, Officer Specialist Morrow direct filed charges with the Sarasota State Attorney’s Office for the violation.  

CASES 

Broward County

• Officer Hammad was conducting saltwater fisheries inspections along Boca Inlet Park when she spotted a subject cast netting from the beach. Officer Hammad conducted a resource inspection and the subject had a bucket of unregulated fish and five undersized pompano. The subject was issued a citation for possession of pompano with a fork length less than 11 inches and a warning for not having a saltwater shoreline fishing license.
• Officers Hudson and Hammad were working in western Broward and Palm Beach counties when they observed someone shining a light into the woods. The officers initiated a traffic stop and observed a subject with an air rifle that had a red flashlight attached. The subject admitted to hunting rabbits and did not have permission to hunt on that property. Moments later, another subject exited the woods wearing camo and carrying an air rifle. Officer Tarr and K-9 Rambo were called to the scene and found a bag with a skinned migratory bird. One subject was charged for violation of the migratory bird treaty act. Both subjects were charged for violation of hunting game at night.
• Officer Bruder and Officer Dudas were on water patrol in Broward County when they observed a vessel coming into Port Everglades with dive gear.  They conducted a fisheries inspection on the vessel. The operator was cited for marine life violations.
• While on patrol at the 14^th Street boat ramp, Officer Olivera observed a vessel with fishing equipment onboard and conducted a vessel safety stop and marine fisheries inspection.  There was a cooler with marine life species not kept alive, an undersized yellowtail snapper and undersize gray triggerfish.  The subject who caught the fish was issued citations for the marine life and undersize violations.
• Officer Constance and several other officers responded to a call for assistance from Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park rangers regarding individuals not following park rules in reference to dog restrictions. Officer Constance in coordination with the assistant park manger gave two individuals trespass warnings, banning park entry for a period of time.

Martin County

• Officer Hudson was conducting plain clothes patrol when a subject approached him at a gas station and asked him to buy seafood from his van. The subject showed the plain clothes officer a variety of seafood he was offering for sale. The subject continued to attempt to sell to several other people at the gas station as well. The subject was inspected for a commercial retail saltwater license and proper records to which the subject did not have. The subject was issued a notice to appear for selling seafood products to the public without a retail license and for not having sufficient records.

Palm Beach County

• Senior Officer Moss, Officer Dudas, and Lieutenant Harp were on water patrol in Palm Beach Inlet. They conducted a fisheries inspection on a charter vessel and discovered the vessel wasn’t registered commercially and the operator was in possession of undersize dolphin.  The operator was cited for the violations.
• Officer Schroer and Officer Spirito responded to a report of a white Ibis, which is federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, being shot and killed. The officers recovered the bird and located the subject suspected of killing it. After a brief interview, the officers obtained a confession and the subject was subsequently charged for the violation.

St. Lucie County

• Officer Bruder, Senior Officer Moss, and Officer Whitty were on federal water patrol in Stuart when they observed a vessel fishing in the St. Lucie Hump Marine Protected Area.  They conducted a fisheries inspection on the vessel, which revealed the operator had seven undersize dolphin.  The operator was issued several federal citations for undersize dolphin and bottom fishing in a marine protection area. 

CASES

• Investigator Chris Mattson was in plain clothes and on unmarked state water patrol in an area known as the Triangles, where spearfishing is prohibited. Investigator Mattson observed a flats type vessel at anchor and displaying a dive flag. One man was in the water freediving. Further surveillance revealed a female passenger hand a speargun to the man in the water. The subject who was spearfishing received a written a notice to appear for the violation.