August 18 through August 24, 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 J. Allen received a call regarding individuals who were keeping oversized red drum at St. Andrews State Park. Lieutenant Allen located the couple that matched the description he had been given. A saltwater resource inspection revealed two oversized red drum hidden in a soft cooler. Both individuals were cited for possession of oversized red drum.   
• Officers Z. Rice and T. Basford were on patrol in plain clothes at the Panama City Pass. They noticed a diver with no dive flag spearfishing near St. Andrews State Park jetty. The officers identified themselves and stopped the diver. He was issued citations for spearfishing in a closed area and for having no dive flag.

Escambia County

• Officers Waters and Hahr checked a boat leaving Mahogany Mills Boat Ramp and were told by the two subjects they had caught 50 almaco jacks. Upon conducting a resource inspection of their cooler, the officers discovered the subjects had harvested 49 greater amberjack measuring between 10.5 and 14.5 inches. The minimum size limit for greater amberjack is 34” and the bag limit is one fish. Both subjects were charged with taking over the bag limit and undersized greater amberjack. 
• Officers Waters and Hahr were patrolling Perdido River Wildlife Management Aea and found three groups of recreators using marijuana and methamphetamine. Two people were charged with use of medical marijuana in a public place, one was charged with possession of cannabis, and two men were charged with possession of methamphetamine. One of the subjects was also arrested for two felony warrants. 
• Officer Ramos concluded a five-month investigation of a derelict vessel abandoned in Bayou Chico by an individual who resides out of state and indicated he had no intention of removing the vessel from the water. Officer Ramos filed a warrant for the individual’s arrest and proper paperwork to have the vessel removed from local waters. In addition to an arrest, the responsible party of the vessel will also be required to reimburse the state of Florida for the removal costs of the derelict vessel after it has been removed and destroyed. 
• Officer Ramos received a complaint of a hook-and-line fishing vessel operating recklessly near another vessel engaged in scuba diving in the Gulf of Mexico on a natural reef. The scuba diving vessel was properly displaying a divers-down flag and it was apparent the captain of the offending vessel knew divers were in the water. A verbal altercation ensued and then the fishing vessel rapidly accelerated on plane and made a series of sharp turns in the water above the divers before fleeing the scene. Officer Ramos was able to determine the vessel registration and subsequently located and interviewed the operator of the vessel, who was discovered to be a commercial charter boat captain running a charter trip with paying customers during the time of the offense. After compiling additional witness interviews, Officer Ramos obtained an arrest warrant for reckless operation of a vessel. 
• Officer Ramos was on joint enforcement agreement patrol and conducted a resource inspection on a vessel that had been offshore fishing. A large gag grouper was discovered on board; however, the season for this species was closed when the fish was harvested. The harvester of the illegal fish was issued an appropriate citation for the violation.
• Officers Wilkenson and Ramos were on patrol and observed a recreational fishing boat returning from the Gulf of Mexico. The officers conducted a boating safety and resource inspection and discovered an undersized gray triggerfish. The appropriate citation was issued to the individual who harvested the illegal fish.

Gulf County

• While conducting a resource inspection on a vessel at an area boat ramp, Officer Lipford discovered an undersized gag grouper. In addition to being undersized, gag grouper is currently closed. The appropriate action was taken. 

Jackson County

• Officer J. Carr was on patrol at the Chipola River near the mouth of Spring Creek.  While conducting a boating safety inspection, he heard screaming and saw three males chasing another male along the shoreline of Spring Creek. Officer Carr immediately went to the location and the three males stated the other male had struck his girlfriend several times. Officer Carr brought the subject on board his vessel and obtained witness accounts of the events. The subject was booked into jail and the case is being reviewed by the State Attorney’s office for possible additional charges. 

Santa Rosa County

• Officers Ramos and Ates were on night patrol and observed two subjects gigging and attempting to take flounder. The fishing vessel 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 he showed it to 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 that they had gigged, which is an illegal method of take for that species. Officer Ates issued the subject a notice to appear for gigging the red drum and a warning for the navigation lights violation. 

Walton County

• Officers Fowler and Touchton were on patrol at the Choctawhatchee River when they encountered a subject running bush hooks. A boating safety inspection was conducted. It was determined the subject had numerous boating violations and was illegally using bream for bait on the bush hooks. He was issued the appropriate citations. 

Washington County

• Officers Touchton and Fowler were on patrol at Culpepper Landing at Holmes Creek when they observed a vessel being operated after sunset without navigational lights. A boating safety inspection was conducted and the subject was suspected of being impaired due to slurred slow speech, trouble standing, and smell of alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. Standardized field sobriety tasks were performed and the subject was determined to be impaired. He was arrested for boating under the influence and transported to Washington County Jail. He also received an infraction citation for operating a vessel after sunset without navigation lights. 

RESCUES

Bay County

• Officers D. Palmer, Z. Rice, C. Boley, C. Jarrell, and Lieutenant J. Allen received a call about a missing boater on Deer Point Lake. The individual went fishing the evening before and the family had not had any contact with him after dark. The officers searched the lake with their patrol vessels while Aviation Pilot T. Tolbert and Lieutenant Allen searched by air. The boater was located uninjured on the northeast side of the lake by Officers Palmer and Rice. His vessel’s engine had broken down the night before. The officers took him back to the boat ramp to be reunited with his family.

CASES

Alachua County

• While on patrol at Newnans Lake, Officer Harris observed two individuals hunting alligators.  Upon their return to the ramp, a check of the hunter’s alligator harvest permit revealed the subject was permitted for the Alachua County Alligator Management Unit and not the Newnans Lake Alligator Management Unit. Appropriate citation was issued. 
• Master Officer Stanley finished an investigation regarding a subject who killed and cleaned a protected gopher tortoise to consume. The subject was found to be in possession of one gopher tortoise and six eggs. Seven felony charges were directly filed through the Alachua County State Attorney's Office. 
• While on land-based patrol, Master Officer Stanley observed a subject throwing a cast net at Johnson Lake.  The subject was in possession of bream and crappie. Appropriate citations were issued for illegal methods.
• Master Officer Stanley received information and was provided with a photo of a subject holding four largemouth bass that appeared to be over 16 inches. Officer Stanley identified the subject through community contacts and interviewed him. The subject admitted to being in possession of more than one largemouth bass over 16 inches in one day. Appropriate citations were issued.  

Citrus County

• Senior Officer VanNess responded to an illegal dumping call within the Citrus Wildlife Management Area. Upon arrival, Senior Officer VanNess observed 17 garbage bags filled with household trash. With the assistance of Officer Pietroburgo, an address was found in the trash. Officer VanNess spoke with the homeowner of the address who stated she paid someone to haul the garbage to a landfill. Further investigation led to the homeowner’s daughter and her boyfriend. Senior Officer VanNess spoke with the boyfriend who stated a guy he knows hauled the garbage away. Senior Officer VanNess detected inconsistencies in his story, and upon further investigation, the boyfriend admitted he had illegally dumped the garbage. The subject cleaned up the garbage and was charged for the violation.
• Lieutenant Ransom concluded an extensive investigation pertaining to gopher tortoise violations. In April of 2023, it was reported a new residential construction was occurring in an area with several gopher tortoise burrows. Lieutenant Ransom inspected the area and documented 19 gopher tortoise burrows and while doing so, he was approached by the owner of the construction company responsible for the project. The owner stated he was aware of the gopher tortoises, he had previously been cited for gopher tortoise violations, and knew the proper relocation procedures. Lieutenant Ransom was also met by the land clearing contractor who stated he was also aware of the borrows and proper procedures for relocation. Lieutenant Ransom advised them to adhere to the regulations protecting gopher tortoises and their burrows and to work through the relocation and permitting process. In May, the area was rechecked by Lieutenant Ransom and FWC gopher tortoise biologists. Notice warnings regarding the gopher tortoise presence and contact information were posted. In June, Lieutenant Ransom returned to the construction area and observed that multiple burrows he had documented earlier had been impacted/destroyed. Lieutenant Ransom confirmed no permits had been acquired for the project. Multiple attempts were made to speak with the owner of the construction company but were unsuccessful. Lieutenant Ransom was able to speak with the Superintendent of Construction Activities for the company, who advised he was made aware of the burrows by the owner but did not attempt to obtain any permits. After multiple visits and attempts to contact the Construction Company owner and superintendent, Lieutenant Ransom identified more gopher tortoise violations but was not able to meet or speak with either subject. Lieutenant Ransom filed multiple charges through the State Attorney’s Office for the construction company owner and superintendent for the violations.
• Officer Specialist Sarmiento conducted a fisheries inspection on a vessel returning from a fishing trip in Ozello with multiple fishing rods/equipment and two people on board. Officer Specialist Sarmiento located three redfish in a cooler onboard the vessel and informed the operator the bag limit for redfish was one per person. The operator was cited accordingly.
• Officers Jovanov and Pietroburgo were patrolling in Citrus Wildlife Management Area where they observed a subject intentionally operating his vehicle in a manner that damaged public lands and the forest road. Officer Pietroburgo conducted a stop on the vehicle to address the violation. At that time, Officers Jovanov and Pietroburgo could smell a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. As Officer Jovanov was speaking with the driver, he observed multiple clues the driver was impaired. The driver consented to performing standardized field sobriety tasks. Based on his performance and the totality of the circumstances, Officer Jovanov placed the driver under arrest for driving under the influence. Officer Pietroburgo cited the driver for the destruction of public land with a motor vehicle and Officer Jovanov booked him into jail for driving under the influence, drug possession, and drug paraphernalia charges.

Columbia County

• Senior Officer Bryan was on patrol and encountered a subject on a dirt bike operating on a public roadway near Alligator Lake Fish Management Area. Upon stopping the operator for the violation, it was learned he had an active hit-and-run warrant for striking and injuring a pedestrian with the same dirt bike. The dirt bike was inspected and it was discovered it had no vehicle identification number and is suspected to be stolen. The subject was arrested for his warrant and taken to the Columbia County Jail. 

Duval County

• Officer Sweat was on land patrol near Huguenot Park when he received a complaint from a local Jacksonville Sheriff's Office deputy regarding several individuals fishing for mullet in the area and there was potentially a violation. Officer Sweat located the subjects and conducted a resource inspection and determined they did not have a valid saltwater fishing license, were in possession of 303 mullet, four undersize red drum, one undersize flounder, and one undersize black drum. The individuals were arrested for the violations and transported to Duval County Jail.
• Officer Specialists Culbreth and Waldo received a complaint from a spouse regarding her husband and friends taking an alligator out of season without tags or permits. The complainant was able to send photos of her husband and friends cleaning the alligator on a table in the backyard. They responded and located multiple individuals involved and obtained full confessions as well as the alligator. The subjects were charged with illegal possession of an alligator out of season. 

Hamilton County

• Senior Officer Johnston was on patrol at the entrance to Stephen C. Foster State Park when he observed a subject operating an unregistered off-highway vehicle on an adjacent paved public highway. Officer Johnston conducted a stop to address the violation. A query of the driver’s personal identifying information revealed the subject hadn’t had a valid driver’s license since 2010 due to multiple driving under the influence arrests and other traffic-related charges. The subject was also found to be on felony probation for aggravated assault. Officer Johnston placed the subject under arrest and transported him to the Hamilton County Jail without incident.
• Senior Officer Johnston was patrolling Suwannee River Water Management District property within the Swift Creek Tract when he observed a subject operating an unregistered off-highway vehicle. Officer Johnston conducted a stop and found the subject to be operating the motor vehicle with a juvenile present, without a valid driver’s license (never had one) while in possession of alcoholic beverages.  A query of the subject's personal identifying information via the Florida Crime Information Center/National Crime Information Center revealed multiple warrants for the subject’s arrest. The subject was placed under arrest for the warrants, operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license, possession of alcoholic beverages on water management land, operating an unregistered off-highway vehicle on water management land, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The subject was turned over to jail staff. 
• Senior Officer Bryan was following up on recent information referencing suspected saw palmetto berry picking and trespass on Suwannee River Water Management District lands at the Roline Tract - Suwannee River. Officer Bryan located three suspects and matched vehicle tire sign going in and out around rock barricades at the same location. After a brief investigation, Officer Bryan issued all three individuals numerous citations in regard to the saw palmetto berry violations, no permits, and trespass.  Approximately 200 pounds of saw palmetto berries were seized and returned to the resource on water management district land.
• Senior Officers Nichols, Bryan, and Johnston assisted the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, and Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services with locating two groups illegally harvesting saw palmetto berries and threatening each other in Big Shoals State Park. Allegedly, the two groups got into a verbal argument and threatened each other with bodily harm using machetes. After the investigation was concluded, two all-terrain vehicles and one dirt bike were seized by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office due to them being suspected as stolen. One group was not located, and the other group was trespassed out of the park. 

Taylor County

• Officer Williamson and Edwards were patrolling the Econfina River State Park when they saw a vessel return from a day of fishing. The officers observed a registration violation and conducted a fisheries inspection. During the inspection, Officer Williamson located a plastic bag containing two redfish fillets. The occupants of the vessel received citations for the illegal filets and warnings for boating safety violations. 
• Officers Clark and Rowe were on water patrol in the Steinhatchee River when they stopped a vessel returning to the boat ramp. The officers conducted an inspection of the vessel and found the occupants to be in possession of six undersized spotted sea trout and nine undersized sea bass. The captain was issued citations for multiple violations.

CASES

St. Johns County

• While conducting fisheries inspections at the Matanzas Inlet Bridge, Officer Specialists Thomas and Lawrence checked a subject who stated they had only caught whiting. Upon inspection of the subject’s cooler, an oversized red drum was concealed inside. Officer Thomas issued the subject a citation for possessing an oversized red drum. 

Putnam County

• Officer Specialist D. Dickson and Officer Galvan were patrolling the Palatka City docks when they encountered several subjects catching shrimp with cast nets. During inspection, it was determined the subjects also possessed gamefish caught by illegal methods (cast net) and were charged with two counts of taking gamefish by illegal method. 
• Officer Specialist D. Dickson and Officer Galvan were patrolling Pico Road Boat Ramp when they encountered a subject catching shrimp with a cast net. During inspection, it was determined the subject was also in possession of gamefish. The subject did not have any fishing rods and had caught the gamefish by illegal method (cast net). The subject was charged with one count of taking gamefish by illegal method. 
• While patrolling the area of the Memorial Bridge, Officer Carroll observed a subject shrimping. While inspecting the subject's catch, Officer Carroll located five bream and two black crappie hidden inside a bag. The subject was charged with catching gamefish by illegal method. 

Marion County

• While patrolling a local wildlife management area, Officer Specialist L. Dickson along with Officers Aultman and Lambert located two subjects cutting and removing saw palmetto berries without a permit. Appropriate citations were issued.

CASES

Pinellas County

• While on land patrol, Lieutenant Bibeau received a report about an individual was cast netting and keeping undersized fish. Lieutenant Bibeau arrived on scene and observed an individual who matched the provided description begin to leave the area. Lieutenant Bibeau contacted the individual and conducted a fisheries inspection. At the conclusion of the inspection, Lieutenant Bibeau found the individual to be in possession of one undersized and out-of-season snook, two undersized sheepshead and one undersized and out-of-season stone crab claw. Lieutenant Bibeau issued the individual two citations and five warnings for the fisheries violations. 

RESCUES

Hillsborough County

• While on water patrol in Hillsborough Bay, Officer McCormack observed a capsized 14-foot sailboat with three people in the water. The operator of the sailboat was struggling to re-right the sailboat without success. Officer McCormack positioned his patrol vessel at the top of the mast, which was submerged, while the operator of the sailboat climbed onto the keel. Officer McCormack reached into the water and lifted the mast, allowing the vessel to become upright. All three people were able to reboard the vessel. Seeing the sailboat crew was safe, Officer McCormack recovered their gear that had drifted away. 
• While on water patrol in Old Tampa Bay near the Courtney Campbell Causeway, Officer McCormack was contacted by a Tampa Police Department officer about a capsized kayak with a person in the water. Officer McCormack and TPD Officer Cornelius departed the Courtney Campbell Causeway Boat Ramp and began their search. With storms building in the area, the officers piloted the FWC patrol vessel in heavy rain, gusting winds, low visibility, and lightning to locate and safely return the distressed kayakers to shore where they received medical treatment from Tampa Fire Rescue personnel.

CASES

Broward County

• Officers Bruder and Bovee were patrolling the SE 15^th Street boat ramp in Fort Lauderdale, when they observed a vessel with fishing gear approaching the dock. Upon a resource inspection, the vessel owner was found to be in possession of five dead scrawled filefish and three dead sergeant major fish. Scrawled filefish and sergeant majors are classified as marine life and are required to be kept alive in a circulating live well. The subject was issued four criminal charges relating to the dead marine life species.    
• Officers Comartin and Constance were on land patrol at the Loxahatchee Boat Ramp where they observed a subject fishing with a cooler next to him. Upon a resource inspection, the subject was found to be in possession of five peacock bass. The daily possession limit is two peacock bass per person. The subject was issued a citation for being over the bag limit of peacock bass and a warning for having an expired freshwater fishing license.  
• Officer McCollin Davis was on vessel patrol in the Port Everglades area when he observed a personal watercraft on full plane in a slow speed zone. Officer McCollin Davis conducted a vessel stop on the PWC and found it did not have the required safety equipment onboard. The operator stated he paid the owner to use the PWC. The owner showed up on another PWC and admitted to charging for the use of the vessel and did not have the required permit or other requirements necessary to rent a PWC. The subject who rented the PWC was issued a criminal boating citation for the vessel he rented not having required safety equipment.  He was issued warnings for the other rental violations.  
• Officer Pierre and Lt. Ryan were traveling on U.S. 27 when they observed a vehicle swerving and traveling well below the posted speed limit. They initiated a traffic stop and immediately noticed signs of impairment. The driver provided several false names and another individual's driver license. She also was driving on a suspended license due to a prior driving under the influence charge. Officer Favrot arrived on scene and assisted in seated standardized field sobriety tasks. The vehicle operator was charged with the appropriate criminal violations and booked into Broward County jail.  
• Officers Bovee and Giani were conducting boating safety and resource inspections at Pioneer Park in Deerfield Beach when they observed a personal watercraft on full plane approaching the boat ramp in a posted manatee slow speed zone. The subject struggled for several minutes trying to secure the PWC to the dock and exhibited several other signs of impairment. The officers conducted a boating under the influence investigation, and subsequently placed the subject under arrest. 
• Officers Bovee and Giani responded to 15th St. Boat Ramp in Ft. Lauderdale to conduct a boating under the influence investigation for the U.S. Coast Guard. Using information reported by USCG and seated standardized field sobriety tasks conducted by Officer Bovee, the subject was placed under arrest for BUI. 

Hendry County

• Officer Watson was on patrol when he observed a parked vehicle near private property and a group of five individuals on the property near the canal. Suspecting the group was trespassing, Officer Watson contacted the group and found they were in possession of several fish. It was confirmed the subjects did not have permission to be on the property. Officer Naules and Lieutenant Kleis went to the scene to assist. The group was found to be in possession of four undersized and out of season snook as well as several freshwater gamefish. All the fish were caught by a cast net, which is an illegal method for catching these species. The property owner was contacted and said he did not wish to press trespass charges but wanted the group to be formally issued a trespass warning. The subjects were placed under arrest for the fisheries violations and all were issued trespass warnings.
• Officer Watson and Lieutenant Kleis responded to a complaint within the Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest, regarding ongoing issues state forest rangers were having with a group of about 30 people who refused to move their RVs from the primitive only camping area. The ranger asked officers to have them leave the forest. When the officers arrived, they found the group moved the RVs and confirmed they did not have a reservation for the campsites. The officers issued seven people citations for camping without a reservation and issued them trespass warnings on behalf of the forest ranger. While conducting this investigation, one of the subjects called 911 to complain about the officers. The subject was told that was a misuse of 911 and to stop calling 911 for a nonemergency matter. The subject continued to call 911 and the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office 911 dispatcher asked the officers to arrest the subject for misuse of the 911 emergency system. The subject was placed under arrest and turned over to the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office for transport to the jail.  

Martin County

• While patrolling the St. Lucie Inlet, Officer Whitty and Officer Wences observed a vessel coming in from offshore with three people onboard and multiple fishing rods. They initiated a vessel stop and during the resource inspection, the captain advised they were returning from the Bahamas. The officers found 46 snapper, 25 grouper and one golden tilefish on board. The case was turned over to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and federal citations were issued for the violations.
• While patrolling the St. Lucie Inlet, Officer Godward and Officer Landers observed a vessel with one person onboard coming in from offshore with multiple fishing rods. They initiated a vessel stop and during a resource inspection they observed three golden tilefish. The limit for golden tilefish is one per person. The subject was issued a citation for over the bag limit of golden tilefish.
• While patrolling the Manatee Pocket, Officer Koger and Officer Specialist Cernuto observed a vessel with three occupants operating without navigational lights. A vessel stop was initiated to address the violation. Upon inspection, Officer Cernuto identified two undersized dolphinfish. Dolphinfish are required to be 20 inches long to the fork of the caudal fin by law in state or federal waters. Each individual onboard was issued a citation for possession of undersized dolphinfish. The captain was issued two warnings for the navigational lighting violation and no registration aboard.
• While at the Jensen Beach Causeway, Officer Landers saw an individual keeping multiple snapper without measuring them. Officer Landers approached the subject to conduct a fisheries inspection and found the subject possessed 10 mangrove snapper, with five of them undersized. The subject was educated about the importance of a measuring device while fishing and the fish rules app. He was issued a citation for the undersized snapper and a warning for over the bag limit of snapper.  
• Officer Specialist Cernuto and Officer Godward were at the Ten Cent Bridge when they saw a vessel violate the slow speed zone under the bridge. A vessel stop was initiated to address the violation.  While speaking with the operator, numerous indicators of impairment were detected. After performing poorly on seated standardized field sobriety tasks, the operator was placed under arrest for suspicion of boating under the influence.  The operator refused to provide a breath sample and was transported to the Martin County Jail and charged with boating under the influence and refusal to submit to lawful test of breath.

Palm Beach County

• Officers Michael Rea and Patrick Defeo were on marked vessel patrol when they observed a vessel returning to Lake Worth Inlet with fishing rods. The officers conducted a fisheries inspection. When asked if they had caught anything, the subjects in the vessel said they caught a wahoo and a mahi. During the inspection, a tripletail was observed and found to be undersize. The tripletail was 3 inches under the minimum size limit of 18 inches. The subject who caught it was cited accordingly. 
• Officer Michael Rea was on patrol in a marked unit near Ocean Avenue and Ocean Way in Jupiter, when he observed a vehicle driving at an abnormally slow rate of speed. The vehicle was impeding on traffic, causing traffic to back up behind him. Officer Rea conducted a traffic stop and made contacted the driver. He immediately noticed the driver had blood shot, glassy eyes and pin needle sized pupils. The driver became verbally aggressive while the officer explained the reason for the stop. Upon further conversation with the driver, there was reason to believe the driver was impaired. Officer Rea conducted standardized field sobriety tasks on the driver and observed numerous signs of impairment. The driver was arrested for operating a vehicle while normal faculties impaired (driving under the influence).

CASES

Collier County

• Officer Tajahs Jackson was on night patrol in the Picayune Strand State Forest when he observed a vehicle with its rear taillights out. He conducted a traffic stop and noticed signs of impairment and a half empty bottle of liquor laying on the floorboard in the back seat of the vehicle. At the conclusion of his driving under the influence Investigation, the driver was placed under arrest for operating a vehicle while impaired. This was the second time the operator of the vehicle was arrested for DUI and a second refusal to give a breath sample. Investigator Christina Yanez assisted in the case. 
• Officer specialist Chris Araujo was on patrol in when he observed two subjects carrying a gopher tortoise from a wooded area across four lanes of highway traffic. He turned around to investigate and by the time he got to their vehicle, they were loaded up in the vehicle. Upon inspection of the vehicle, Officer Specialist Araujo found an adult gopher tortoise on the passenger floorboard. The subject claimed she was saving the tortoise from the road and was going to take it elsewhere. The two subjects had conflicting stories about whether the tortoise was in the road and if it was, why they didn’t release it back to its habitat immediately. After reading the subject her rights, the officer discovered she has other exotic tortoises as pets. She was issued a notice to appear for take of a gopher tortoise. 
• FWC was called to respond to Big Cypress National Preserve/Wildlife Management Area, Bear Island Campground where Collier County Sheriff’s Office advised they had a ping for a 911 hang-up. Lieutenant Lyne, Officers Stearns and Jackson, and National Park Service Ranger Herrin responded. Officer Stearns encountered a vehicle leaving the area and conducted a vehicle stop. The subjects fled on foot in the preserve but the driver was detained and later arrested by Officer Stearns and transported to Naples Jail. Officers found 44 bags of saw palmetto berries, eight backpacks, a chain saw, bolt cutters, and an extensive tool kit in the vehicle. The berries, which were estimated at 7,000 pounds and valued at $10,000, were returned to the resource by the NPS and FWC.  The 911 call was closed unfounded. 

Miami-Dade County

• Officers G. Reynaud and C. Smith noticed an individual fishing at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in a prohibited area. After conducting a resource inspection, the individual was in possession of an undersized mutton snapper and a parrotfish. Further investigation revealed a second individual was in the water diving with no dive flag and spearfishing. The subjects were cited for the resource violations as well as multiple park rule violations, including no dive flag, alcohol beverage in a state park and spearfishing in a state park. 
• Officer Presser conducted an inspection on an individual at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. The individual had one undersized mutton snapper in his backpack. Officer presser issued the defendant a citation for the resource violation.
• Officer Romero responded to the area of Krome Ave. and Mack’s Fish Camp due to a report of a person bowfishing for peacock bass. Officer Romero located the individual and issued a citation for the illegal method of taking gamefish.

Monroe County

• Investigator Chris Mattson was on plain clothes federal water patrol in Elbow Reef when he received a complaint of subjects spearfishing in the Key Largo Existing Management Area, which is closed to spearfishing. Further investigation revealed two subjects were spearfishing. Investigator Mattson had a previous encounter with one of the subjects in July 2023, which resulted in the subject being arrested for multiple resource violations. Both subjects were written federal citations for spearfishing in the Key Largo Existing Management Area.

• Investigator Chris Mattson was on unmarked, plain clothes, federal water patrol in the Key Largo Existing Management Area, north of Turtle Reef. Investigator Mattson observed two divers in the water. Their dive flag was not visible. Further investigation revealed the subjects were spearfishing in a prohibited area. Investigator Mattson revealed he was FWC law enforcement and issued the subjects federal citations for the spearfishing violations as well as a dive flag ticket. 
• Investigator Chris Mattson was on unmarked, plain clothes, federal water patrol in the Key Largo Existing Management Area, south of the Carysfort Reef yellow boundary marker. Investigator Mattson observed a subject free diving and spearfishing. A boat had just picked up another diver and was idling towards the diver who was spearfishing. Investigator Mattson identified himself as FWC law enforcement and explained to the subjects they were spearfishing in a prohibited area. The catch was inspected and it was revealed the subjects possessed an undersized mutton snapper.  The subjects were federally cited for the spearfishing violations and written a warning for the mutton snapper. 

Investigator Chris Mattson responded offshore to a 20-foot flats vessel taking on water. Upon arrival, Investigator Mattson observed the vessel was still afloat. Though it was barely making way, the vessel was able to safely make it back to Key Largo.

FWC Division of Law Enforcement Regions