August 11 through August 17, 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

Santa Rosa County

• Officers Ramos and Ates were on night patrol and observed two subjects gigging and attempting to take flounder. The vessel they were using did not display required navigational lights. The officers conducted a boating safety and resource inspection and asked the subjects if they had any fish. One of the subjects replied they had a flounder and took it from a small cooler and showed the officers, implying it was the only fish on board. Officer Ramos continued investigating and discovered the subjects were also in possession of a red drum they had gigged, which is an illegal method of harvest for this species. Officer Ates issued the subject a notice to appear for gigging the red drum and a warning for the navigation lights violation. 

CASES

Dixie County

• Officer Specialist Sheffield and Lieutenant Ward observed an airboat approaching a local boat ramp in Dixie County. Once the airboat was loaded onto a trailer, subjects began to move fish from the vessel to a cooler. A marine resource inspection was conducted, and it was determined the operator of the vessel was in possession of several undersized black drum and flounder. There were also multiple vessel safety and registration violations. Officer Specialist Sheffield issued the appropriate citations and written warnings.

Suwannee County

• Senior Officer Davenport initiated an investigation into possible title fraud on a vessel he had stopped for an inspection on the Santa Fe River.  After observing the vessel's hull identification number had been tampered with, the vessel was seized. In the following weeks, Officer Davenport conducted multiple interviews involving individuals from several different states. With the help of FWC Investigations, Officer Davenport was able to determine the subjects filed false information on Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles paperwork to obtain a homemade vessel title.  The vessel's hull identification number was also tampered with to remove it from the vessel. Two felony charges and one misdemeanor charge were filed with the Suwannee County State Attorney’s Office.  
• Officer Cline followed up on two individuals who were illegally camping on Suwannee River Water Management District lands. The individuals were initially issued warnings for multiple violations with the understanding that all litter was to be cleaned up. The officer checked multiple times over a span of two weeks to verify if the litter had been cleaned up. Officer Cline found a variety of litter, which exceeded 15 pounds, was left behind and he filed the appropriate charges for the violations.

RESCUE

Taylor County

• Officer Rowe received a call regarding a missing subject. The only information the officer received was a 75-year-old male subject left at around 9 a.m. to go fishing. Officer Rowe and Lieutenant Loyed began a search and after looking for five hours, they found the subject just inside Dixie County on the edge of the Steinhatchee River. The subject had a medical condition and slipped down the embankment and did not have the strength to get back to his vehicle. He was transported to a local hospital for severe dehydration and observation. 

CASES

St. Johns County

• Officer Self conducted a resource and boating safety inspection at the Vilano Boat Ramp. During the inspection, the vessel's operator was found to be wanted in Mississippi for the enticement of a child for sexual purposes. While searching the operator's vessel and vehicle incident to the warrant arrest, Officer Self found a live rifle round, grinders with marijuana residue, and 10.20g of marijuana. In addition to being arrested for the outstanding felony warrant, the operator was subsequently charged as a convicted felon in possession of ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and possession of cannabis under 20 grams. 

Brevard County

• Officer Delano received intel about the illegal harvest of saw palmetto berries in the state park. Officer Delano identified a vehicle that matched the description. When the subjects returned, the officer observed freshly harvested saw palmetto berries in their possession. The subjects were cited accordingly, and the berries were returned to the state park. 
• Officer Delano was on patrol and encountered a truck with two bins of saw palmetto berries loaded on the back, some freshly cut. After conducting a resource inspection, it was determined the subjects were harvesting berries without the proper permits. The subject was cited accordingly.
• While conducting a resource inspection on a vessel returning to Port Canaveral from offshore, Officer Specialist Balgo located four undersized dolphinfish and one undersized cobia inside a cooler. Citations for the undersized fish were issued accordingly.
• Officer Specialist Balgo conducted a resource inspection on a vessel inside Port Canaveral. During the inspection, Officer Balgo found the vessel to be in possession of an undersized cobia. The operator was cited accordingly. 
• Officer Specialist Balgo observed vessel returning to Port Canaveral from offshore. During a resource inspection, Officer Balgo found several resource violations. These violations included: possession of undersized cobia, possession of undersized red grouper, and possession of two undersized gray triggerfish. Citations were issued accordingly.

Indian River County

• Officer St. Martin was on foot patrol at the Sebastian Inlet State Park when he observed a subject throw a net, catch two snook in the net and put them in a bucket. Officer St. Martin initiated a resource inspection that revealed snook and snapper. The snook were out of season, undersized, harvested illegally and the subject was over the bag limit. The snapper was harvested illegally with a cast net. The subject was taken to jail for the violations.
• Officer Delano received information that subjects in a state park were harvesting large amounts of saw palmetto berries. Officer Delano patrolled the area and located two subjects who tried to flee when encountered. The two subjects were arrested two years prior by Officer Delano for the same offense. The subjects were cited accordingly and over 800 pounds of berries were returned to the state park. 

Osceola County

• Officers from throughout the Northeast Region came together to work the "Adult Games" on East Lake Tohopekaliga. During the event, officers stopped more than 30 vessels and checked over 100 users. Officers came upon vessels with operators who were showing signs of impairment and ran the operators through seated standardized field sobriety tasks. Two operators were arrested and transported to the Osceola County Jail for boating under the influence with one of the operators also being charged with possession of cannabis. A third operator was arrested and transported to the Osceola County Jail for charges of boating under the influence and driving under the influence with additional charges for blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit. Additionally, officers assisted with a vessel that had taken on water because of afternoon storms. 
• After watching a group hunt from a vehicle in a wildlife management area, officers conducted a stop to address the violation. During the stop, Lieutenant Lightsey and Officer Nall discovered one of the subjects had killed an antlerless deer out of season. Further investigation revealed several violations. The subject was placed under arrest and delivered to the county jail for take of deer out of season, use of gun and light at night, hunting from the roadway, and use of rim fire ammunition to take deer. 
• Officers Platt, Osborn, Stelzer, and Armstrong and Lieutenant Lightsey were working a night hunting detail when a truck was observed traveling slowly down the roadway while shining a light. The truck traveled in the oncoming lane of traffic while slowly working the light down the ditch line. A stop was conducted to address the violations. The two subjects in the truck were found to be in possession of a shotgun, a spent shotgun shell and admitted to shooting a wild hog from the roadway. A search of the immediate area revealed a freshly killed hog on the right of way. Notices to appear were issued for the violations. 
• Officers Armstrong and Nall observed a slow-moving truck with a man hanging out the passenger side window, shining a light along a right of way. A stop was conducted to address violation. The passenger was a man known to the officers and who had a warrant for his arrest stemming from previous FWC violations. The passenger was placed under arrest for the warrant and transported to the county jail without incident. 
• Officer Wild from the Seminole/West Orange County squad assisted the Osceola County squad in a Boating Under the Influence Task Force on East Lake Tohopekaliga. The officers all worked together targeting boating safety during a busy weekend. Officer Wild conducted an inspection on a vessel leaving the event and observed signs of impairment on the operator. He conducted seated standardized field sobriety tasks and at the conclusion of his investigation, he arrested the vessel operator for boating while normal faculties are impaired. The subject was booked into the Osceola County Jail. 

Volusia County

• Officer Specialist Balgo observed two vehicles parked along a fence line near Turnbull Creek and saw three individuals cross the fence with fishing equipment. He found one subject in possession of a red drum during the closure. Senior Officer Bohne arrived on scene and inspected the area where the individuals crossed the fence. Officer Bohne located two additional illegal red drum in a bucket. Citations were issued accordingly. 
• Officer Quick was patrolling the St Johns River when he stopped a vessel that was violating the slow speed zone. Upon contacting the operator, Officer Quick noticed several signs of impairment. After an investigation, it was determined the subject was operating a vessel under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The subject was charged appropriately.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Marion County

• Officer Specialist Weber (public information officer) and Officer Drake participated in the 5th Annual North Central Florida Outdoor Expo at the World Equestrian Center along with 165 other vendors. The officers set up FWC’s Wildlife Alert trailer and the Trophy Catch prize Phoenix Bass Boat for visitors. The officers interacted with over 300 adults and children and answered questions ranging from hunting and fishing to boating safety.

CASES

Charlotte County

• While on foot patrol in Gilchrist Park, Officer Russell located an individual fishing along the sea wall. A resource inspection revealed the individual had caught and kept four undersized mangrove snapper and an undersized red drum. Officer Russell issued a notice to appear in Charlotte County Court for the undersized red drum and a warning for the mangrove snapper.
• Captive Wildlife Investigator Ruggiero was conducting a follow up inspection on a captive wildlife license holder. During the inspection, the investigator found several violations pertaining to the transfer of ownership and housing of primates. The subject was given two citations and will have to appear in court for the violations.

Hernando County

• Officer Jason Brown and Officer Michael Lauria were on patrol at Bayport Boat Ramp when they noticed a vessel returning from fishing. Upon conducting a resource inspection, the individuals on board were found to be in possession of an undersized hogfish. The subject who admitted to shooting the hogfish was cited accordingly. 
• Officer Brown and Officer Lauria were conducting commercial vessel and fisheries inspections on the Hernando Beach shrimp docks. Upon boarding a vessel for an inspection, the officers observed marine life in two separate buckets with no aeration as required. The individual admitted to knowing he was in violation by not having aeration for the marine life. The subject was cited accordingly. 

Lee County

• Officer Hardgrove was on patrol when he observed a vessel returning from fishing and stopped the vessel to perform a resource inspection. When Officer Hardgrove asked the captain if he had any fish on board, the captain told him he had two gag grouper and he hoped they were in season. Officer Hardgrove informed the captain the gag groupers were not in season and he issued the captain a notice to appear for taking gag grouper during the closed season. 

Manatee County

• Senior Investigator O’Horo and Lieutenant Hinds IV were given information about a subject keeping a spider monkey without a proper license. Upon contacting the homeowners, the residents admitted to having the monkey inside the house. The possessor of the animal was cooperative and retrieved the spider monkey from inside the house. An infraction was issued and the monkey was taken to a properly licensed facility.  

Pinellas County

• While on land patrol, Lieutenant Bibeau observed a fishing vessel return to a nearby boat ramp. Lieutenant Bibeau contacted the individuals and conducted a fisheries inspection. At the conclusion of the inspection, he found the individuals to be in possession of two undersized triggerfish. Lieutenant Bibeau issued the operator of the vessel a citation for the fisheries violation. 
• While on land patrol, Lieutenant Bibeau observed a small fishing vessel with four occupants onboard return to a boat ramp. He contacted the individuals and conducted a fisheries inspection. At the conclusion of the inspection, Lieutenant Bibeau found the occupants to be in possession of 12 undersized mangrove snappers and three undersized yellowtail snappers. Lieutenant Bibeau issued the operator of the vessel a citation and a warning for the fisheries violations. 
• While on land patrol, Officer Criswell was notified of heavy machinery on St. Pete Beach. Officer Criswell arrived and observed a skid steer had destroyed a protective sand dune and sea oats to gain access to the beach. The operator of the skid steer was delivering sculpting sand onto the beach without the proper permits during sea turtle nesting season. The operator was given the appropriate citations.
• While on land patrol, Officer Criswell was approached a stop light and observed an occupied vehicle not moving on a green light. Officer Criswell pulled alongside the vehicle and observed the operator asleep behind the wheel. She initiated a vehicle stop and observed signs of impairment from the operator. The operator of the vehicle performed the standardized seated field sobriety tasks and Officer Criswell determined he was impaired. The operator was placed under arrest for driving under the influence.
• While on land patrol, Officer Criswell conducted a resource and safety equipment check on a charter fishing vessel. The charter captain’s state charter fishing license had expired, and the vessel did not have a serviceable fire extinguisher or a sound producing device on board. The appropriate citations were given to the charter captain.

CASES

Broward County

• While patrolling the Lauderdale-by-the-Sea area, Officer Olivera observed a subject using a hand-line yo-yo style fishing device. Officer Olivera conducted a marine fisheries inspection, which revealed the subject was in possession of a cooler containing several unregulated species and five barracuda. The daily limit of barracuda is two per shoreline angler. The subject had been cited before for similar resource violations. He was issued a criminal citation for being over the bag limit of barracuda.  
• While patrolling the Lauderdale-by-the-Sea area, Officer McCollin Davis observed a subject using a cast net. Officer McCollin Davis conducted a marine fisheries inspection, which revealed the subject was in possession of a cooler containing several unregulated species, an Atlantic stingray, and a large snook. The snook had abrasion lines and missing scales consistent with being taken with a cast net. The subject was issued three criminal charges for possession of oversize snook, out-of-season snook, and illegal method of take. This was the same subject Officer Olivera cited for possession of over the bag limit of barracuda just days prior. 
• In response to information from the public, Officer McCollin Davis responded to the Deerfield Pier and identified a subject matching the description in the complaint. Upon a resource inspection, the subject’s cooler was found to contain several unregulated species as well as five barracuda.  The subject was issued a citation for being over the bag limit of barracuda. 
• Officers Walcott, Perez, Bruder, and Bovee were on vessel patrol in Port Everglades inlet.  They observed a vessel with fishing equipment on board and stopped it to conduct a fisheries inspection.  On board the vessel, the officers observed two undersized yellowtail snapper, two undersized triggerfish, one dead tang, and one dead scrawled filefish. The tang and filefish are classified as marine life species and must be kept alive in a circulating live well. The subject on board that claimed possession of the fish was issued six charges for the resource violations. 
• Officer Olivera was conducting resource inspections on Dania Beach Pier when he came across a couple fishing.  Upon inspecting their cooler, Officer Olivera observed three undersized yellowtail snapper. The male subject claimed possession of the yellowtail snapper.  He was issued a citation for the undersized fish.  
• While on vessel patrol in the Hillsboro inlet, Officer Olivera conducted a resource inspection on a vessel with fishing equipment. Upon inspection, two lobster were found to be undersized. The subject was issued a citation for possession of the undersized lobster. The lobsters were still alive and were released back to the resource. 
• While on patrol at the 14^th Street Boat Ramp in Pompano, Officer Constance observed a vessel with lobster diving equipment on board. During a resource inspection, he found one of the lobsters was undersized. The subject that said he caught the lobster was issued a citation for possession of undersized lobster. 
• While on patrol, Officer Constance observed two beach divers near of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. One of the divers had harvested two lobsters. Officer Constance measured the lobster and one of them was undersized. The diver was issued a citation for possession of undersized lobster and the lobster was returned to the water alive.  
• Officer Constance was on beach patrol in Ft. Lauderdale. He observed two kayakers returning from the ocean. He conducted a marine fisheries inspection on the individuals. They initially relayed they did not have any fish. Pursuant to the inspection, one individual was issued a notice to appear for possession of two undersized gray triggerfish. 
• Officer Constance was on beach patrol near Commercial Pier and conducted a marine fishery inspection on a diver exiting the ocean. Pursuant to the inspection, he issued the individual several noncriminal citations in reference to dive flag and saltwater licensing.  He also issued the individual a notice to appear for possessing spiny lobster not in whole condition. 
• Captive Wildlife Investigator Wright inspected a hotel licensed to exhibit wildlife. During the inspection, he noted a gopher tortoise in captivity. Gopher tortoises are a state threatened species and are not allowed to be possessed in captivity without authorization. Investigator Wright questioned the facility owner about the gopher tortoise, who stated it was dropped off to him in a crate. He was issued a warning for the illegal possession and educated on the regulations pertaining to the species.  The gopher tortoise was placed at a permitted facility. 

Glades County

• Officer Watson was conducting patrols on a rural roadway known to be an area where illegal night hunting has occurred. Officer Watson observed a vehicle driving slowly and then turn off its headlights. The driver of the vehicle then began displaying a spotlight from the vehicle into the fields and wood line on both sides of the roadway. Officer Watson stopped the subject and found a loaded rifle in the front seat of the vehicle. The subject was issued a notice to appear for displaying a light in a manner capable of disclosing the presence of game while possessing a gun commonly used to take deer. 

Hendry County

• Hendry County officers were working a joint county and multi-agency night hunting detail along with Collier County officers. Senior Officer Polly, Officer Specialist Araujo, Officer Specialist Yurewitch, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officer, and Lieutenant Kleis responded to a report of multiple subjects shooting and killing an alligator in a canal. The officers arrived on scene, and located three subjects and a deceased alligator that was still in the canal. The officers worked on retrieving the alligator, which had a fatal injury to the head. The subjects admitted to shooting the alligator. The subjects were issued a notice to appear for killing an alligator out of season. 
• Officers Naules and Watson responded to a complaint in Spirit-of-the-Wild Wildlife Management Area regarding suspicious activity associated with a vehicle that dropped people off and then left the area. The subjects were suspected of illegally picking saw palmetto berries. The officers located the vehicle with the subjects driving and initiated a traffic stop in the WMA. The officers located multiple large bags of saw palmetto berries in the vehicle. The subjects were issued a notice to appear for harvesting saw palmetto berries within a WMA and the berries were seized and returned to the resource. 

Martin County

• Officer Spirito, Landers and Pullano were on vessel patrol inside St. Lucie Inlet. The officers stopped a vessel for a fisheries inspection and located a bag of spiny lobsters.  While Officer Pullano was checking the bag, Officer Spirito located two additional lobsters.  The captain of the vessel was told to give the officers the lobsters but deliberately threw one, which appeared to be undersized, into the water. He also had a child under six onboard not wearing a life jacket. The subject was charged with possessing spiny lobsters over the bag limit, interference with an FWC officer, destruction of evidence and child under six with no life jacket. 
• While at the Stuart Causeway, Officer Koger stopped to check two subjects fishing under the bridge. When asked if they had caught any fish, they told the officer they had not. While checking the anglers’ buckets, one subject tried to stop the officer from checking a bucket tucked in the rocks. The officer picked up the bucket and the subject then tried to take a plastic bag out of the bucket. Inside the bag, Officer Koger found two undersized mutton snapper. One subject was issued a misdemeanor citation for the undersized snapper and the other was issued a warning for interference of an FWC officer in the performance of duty. 
• Officer Landers was checking people fishing at the Jensen Beach Causeway when he found a porkfish and an undersized mangrove snapper and lane snapper wrapped in a plastic bag under six grunts and covered with a cast net in a bucket.  The subject was issued a citation for possession of the undersized snapper. 
• Officer Cernuto responded to the Jensen Beach Causeway after a concerned citizen reported an individual keeping undersized snook. The complainant took the time to discreetly photograph the subject and his license plate.  He texted the photos to Officer Cernuto and upon arriving at the causeway, the officer immediately recognized the subject and conducted a resource inspection.  The subject had no fish in his possession.  Officer Cernuto asked to inspect his vehicle.  There she found an undersized snook. The officer issued the subject two citations for undersized snook and snook out of season. 
• While patrolling the Manatee Pocket, Officer Reinhardt observed a vessel that appeared to be overloaded with occupants.  He conducted a safety inspection that revealed the vessel only had 12 life jackets for the 15 people onboard. During the inspection, Officer Reinhardt observed a bucket and bag with what appeared to be live organisms inside.  Officer Landers arrived on the scene to assist with the inspection. The operator handed over a bag that included several fighting Conch and a giant hermit crab, which is a species that falls under the marine life category and can only be harvested alive with special licensing. This giant hermit crab was dead outside of the water in a dry bag. In addition, the operator did not possess the special activity license required to harvest marine species.  It was also determined that vessel was exceeding the U.S. Coast Guard occupant rating by five people. The operator, who had been stopped multiple times for similar marine life violations, was issued a citation for the hermit crab. In addition, he received an infraction for insufficient number of life jackets as well as three warnings for no valid registration on board, no registration numbers displayed and for being over the U.S. Coast Guard occupancy rating for his vessel. 

Okeechobee County 

• Officer Allen was patrolling the Kissimmee River Public Use Area’s Paradise Run Unit during archery season when he observed a subject enter the S-84 Structure at the C-41-A canal. The structure is posted with numerous no trespassing signs. The subject was issued a notice to appear in court for the violation. 
• Officer Padgett was patrolling Lock 7 boat ramp when he observed an individual cast netting from the pier. Officer Padgett conducted a resource inspection and found the individual was in possession of two undersized black crappie and one largemouth bass.  Further investigation found the individual had caught the game fish with a cast net.  Officer Padgett issued a notice to appear to the subject for the possession of black crappie under ten inches and a warning for illegal method of taking game fish. 

Palm Beach County

• Officer Spirito along with Officer Pullano were at Phil Foster Boat Ramp investigating a boating accident when they observed a vessel enter the docks near full plane.  Officer Spirito encountered the operator and noticed signs of impairment. The subject performed poorly on the standardized field sobriety tasks and was placed under arrest for boating under the influence. The subject was charged with BUI, failure to submit to breath test and manatee zone violation. 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Broward County

• K-9 Officers Tarr and Delatorre, their K-9s along with Lieutenant Laubenberger attended the annual National Night Out event in Parkland. It was hosted by the Broward Sheriff’s Office and attended by numerous law enforcement and public safety agencies. The FWC officers interacted with numerous members of the public at the event and provided information about FWC’s use of various types of K-9s. Lieutenant Laubenberger also brought a 21’ patrol vessel for the public to see and answered questions on a variety of topics.
• Lieutenant McDonald and Officers Perez, Olivera, and Walcott attended the Town of Davie’s Take a Kid Fishin’ event. They assisted the children and their families with identifying the species of fish caught and measured their catch. The kids competed in age groups for most fish caught, longest fish caught, most unusual catch, and a sportsmanship award. There were approximately 80 kids registered to fish along a golf course lake in the Town of Davie.

CASES

Collier County

• Officer Matt Rubenstein organized a targeted enforcement action detail to enhance public safety during the 2023 Python Challenge in Collier County. The proactive patrols helped ensure public safety and respect for rules and regulations during this heightened activity. Park rangers from Big Cypress National Preserve were involved and FWC Officers Rubenstein, Reams, Wagner and Lieutenant Lyne participated in day and night patrols during the Challenge, which concluded without any law enforcement events. 
• Officer Araujo and Yurewitch worked a night hunting detail in Collier and Hendry counties. The officers responded to a private farm where three subjects had reportedly shot an alligator in a canal. Officers Araujo and Yurewitch arrived on scene to assist Officers Polly and Lieutenant Kleis. They located and retrieved the alligator, which had been shot with a rifle, from the canal. After questioning, a hunting rifle was seized as evidence and the three individuals were trespassed and cited for illegally killing an American alligator. 
• Officer Chris Araujo was assigned a derelict vessel case in April 2023.  It was suspected to be a result of Hurricane Ian. Through Officer Araujo’s diligent investigation, he was able to identify and locate the owner and began notifications and working through the derelict vessel process. The owner was able to remove the vessel himself once he received his notice of rights package from the FWC. The vessel is no longer derelict on the water of the state and no criminal charges are pending.  
• Officer Goff and Officer Conroy were on patrol at the beach near the Naples Pier where they observed a group of eFoils (electric powered surfboards) on the water that did not have any Florida numbers displayed.  They conducted a safety inspection and their investigation revealed the eFoils were rented. A subsequent livery inspection revealed numerous violations resulting in the livery operator being issued six boating safety violations and six boating infractions. The livery operator was taken into custody and incarcerated at the Naples Jail Center. 

Miami-Dade County

• Captive Wildlife Investigator Landa investigated a complaint regarding the unsafe exhibition of wildlife. The investigation revealed an individual licensed to exhibit wildlife brought a 4’ alligator to a preschool to exhibit it and in doing so allowed children to hold the alligator without the alligator’s mouth secured. The license holder of the company was cited for allowing conditions that created a threat to public safety. 

RESCUE

• Officer Mike Stearns was traveling on I-75 in his patrol truck in Lee County when he observed a vehicle on fire on the shoulder. He notified dispatch to roll Fire Rescue and EMS and turned around to respond.  When he arrived, the two people associated with the vehicle were safely outside of it but the car was still on fire. Officer Stearns used his fire extinguisher to put out the remaining fire. Fire Rescue, Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol arrived and took over the scene.

FWC Division of Law Enforcement Regions