September 1 through September 7, 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 on patrol at St. Andrews State Park and noticed individuals taking fish to their vehicle parked at the boat ramp. This activity continued throughout the day. Officer Gore conducted a resource inspection on the individuals. Officers Z. Rice and T. Basford arrived to assist. Inside several coolers located in the vehicle, officers found an undersized gray snapper, two undersized red groupers, and a whole stone crab. Officer Gore issued citations for possession of the whole stone crab and possession of stone crab during closed season. Officer Rice issued written warnings for possession of undersized gray snapper and red grouper. 
• Senior Officer Specialist T. Basford, Officer C. Jarrell and Senior Officer Specialist N. Basford observed a small vessel coming into Grand Lagoon with six adults. Officers conducted a boating safety inspection and observed alcohol on board and could detect a strong smell of an unknown alcoholic beverage. The officers conducted standardized field sobriety tasks to ensure the subject could operate the vessel safely. Based on training and experience, the boating safety inspection and the standardized field sobriety tasks, the operator was arrested for boating under the influence. The operator refused to provide a breath sample and was consequently charged with refusal to submit to a lawful test of breath. 

Escambia County

• Officers Waters and Hahr were patrolling at the Yellow River Wildlife Management Area when they observed a truck parked sideways just across the shoulder of a forest road. Upon approaching the truck, they saw it was stuck on the berm of the shoulder. The fresh tracks leading up to the truck showed the vehicle had been driven in a careless manner with the tires fishtailing and damaging the road. The driver admitted to damaging the road and was issued a notice to appear for damaging state lands with a motor vehicle.  
• Officers Waters and Hahr were patrolling at the Perdido River Wildlife Management Area when they observed a subject conceal himself behind the sandbar and begin to roll a cannabis blunt. The officers interrupted him and informed him that illegal drugs are a violation within the recreation area. He was issued a notice to appear for the violation.  
• Officers Waters and Hahr were patrolling at Heron Bayou when they observed a vessel return to the ramp without navigation lights. A resource inspection revealed he had an oversized redfish in the cooler. The man was charged with harvesting an oversized redfish.  
• Officers Waters, Hahr, and Allgood were on patrol and checking boats in Pensacola Bay when they observed a subject fishing alone on a vessel. Upon conducting a fisheries inspection, the subject stated he had some lane snapper. He opened his fish box to show the officers and they observed four juvenile red snappers. He was charged with undersized and over the bag limit of red snapper. Another man was found in possession of an undersized flounder and was charged accordingly.  

Gulf County

• Officers Gerber and Lipford were on patrol conducting boating safety and resource inspections. During an inspection, a device capable of producing an electrical current sufficient to stun or shock freshwater fish was discovered on board a vessel. Other components were located and the two individuals on board were issued a notice to appear citation for the violation. 

Jackson County

• Officer J. Carr was conducting boating safety inspections at Magnolia Landing along the Chipola River. A vessel came to the ramp with an improperly displayed registration. As Officer Carr approached the vessel, the operator began hiding numerous empty beer bottles in a cooler. As Officer Carr spoke to the operator, he noticed his speech was slow and slurred. Officer Carr also smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. He requested the operator complete standardized field sobriety tasks. The operator refused. The subject was arrested for boating under the influence. 

Okaloosa County

• Officers Bragg and Oliver were on patrol conducting resource inspections within the Destin Pass when they observed a vessel with five occupants and fishing equipment returning from the Gulf of Mexico. During a resource inspection, four undersized gray triggerfish were located on board the vessel. The operator was issued a notice to appear citation for the violation. 
• Officers Bragg and Oliver were on patrol conducting resource inspections within the Destin Pass when they observed a vessel with fishing equipment returning from the Gulf of Mexico. A vessel stop was conducted and during a resource inspection, Officers Oliver and Bragg located two undersized gray triggerfish and one undersized king mackerel. One of the occupants on board admitted he had caught and retained the fish. The subject was issued a notice to appear citation for possession of undersized gray triggerfish and a written warning for possession of the undersized king mackerel.
• Officers Bragg and Oliver were on patrol conducting boating safety inspections when Officer Oliver noticed a subject violating a slow speed minimum wake zone on a personal watercraft. A vessel stop was conducted to address the violation and a boating safety inspection was performed. Both occupants on board the PWC stated they were lost. Officer Oliver noticed the operator, who was under the legal drinking age, was exhibiting signs of impairment. The operator agreed to perform standardized field sobriety tasks and stated he had not been drinking. The subject performed poorly on the tasks and was arrested for boating under the influence by Officer Oliver. The subject later provided a breath sample well over the legal limit of .08. The subject was booked into jail and issued citations for violating the slow speed zone and issued a warning for not having a boating safety ID card while operating a vessel. 
• Officers Mursch and Senst were on patrol around the Destin Bridge when they observed a vessel on plane in violation of the idle speed, no wake zone. A vessel stop was initiated to address the violation. During the stop, the operator showed signs of impairment and performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tasks. The operator was placed under arrest for boating under the influence and refused to provide a breath sample. The operator was charged accordingly.  

Santa Rosa County

• Officers Valdez and Mullins were on patrol conducting resource inspections at boat landings on Escambia River. They located two subjects recovering their vessel at Williams Landing. After contacting the subjects, the officers conducted a boating safety and resource inspection and discovered 16 largemouth bass in a cooler on the boat. The daily bag limit is five bass per person. Both subjects were charged with taking over the bag limit.

Washington County

• Officer R. Hicks was on patrol around Culpepper Landing on Holmes Creek, when he observed a vessel approaching the ramp. He contacted the operator to conduct a boating safety Inspection. During the inspection the operator appeared to have a hard time following directions and navigating the vessel to dock and seemed distracted. He was asked to perform standardized field sobriety tasks and was confirmed to be impaired. He was arrested and transported to Washington County Jail. 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

• Officers Yates and Hollinhead and Reserve Officer White taught the hunting laws portion of a hunter safety course to the approximately 28 students.
• Officers Bower, Wilkenson and Phillips attended an outreach event called the Wildlife Bash to help raise awareness about Florida wildlife. The event provided the officers an opportunity to interact with approximately 500 people.

CASES

Citrus County

• Officer Hughes and Lieutenant Browning were on state water patrol when they observed an airboat with three individuals and multiple dogs on board operating in a manner consistent with hunting. When the airboat came to a stop near a peninsula, the occupants had tracking devices and all three dogs on board had global positioning system tracking collars on and active. The individuals were questioned and admitted to hunting wild hogs with the dogs in the state park. Appropriate citations were issued.
• Officer Specialist Ulrich and Lieutenant Browning were on state water patrol when they observed two individuals on a jon boat. The officers stopped the vessel to conduct a vessel safety and resource check. When asked, the occupants admitted to having one spotted sea trout on the vessel. Officer Specialist Ulrich asked to observe the trout and upon inspection found five more undersized sea trout in the cooler.  

Duval County

• Officer Goodfellow, Lieutenant Gilmore, and Captain Haney were on water patrol over Labor Day Weekend on the St. Johns River. They observed a personal watercraft being operated by a subject wearing a life jacket incorrectly. They conducted a vessel stop and during a safety inspection, Officer Goodfellow observed signs of impairment from the operator. Upon completing a boating under the influence investigation, the operator was placed under arrest for operating a vessel while normal faculties were impaired. He was issued three infractions and one warning for safety violations, transported and booked into Duval County Correctional Facility. 
• Officer Goodfellow, Lieutenant Gilmore and Captain Haney were on nighttime water patrol on the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville. They observed a vessel without proper navigation lights displayed and conducted a vessel stop. During the stop, signs of impairment were observed. The operator stated he had a few drinks and consented to performing seated standardized field sobriety tasks. The operator was placed under arrest for operating a vessel while normal faculties are impaired. He was transported and booked into Duval County Correctional Facility.
• Officer Gale and Captain Haney were on water patrol over Labor Day Weekend and stopped a vessel with four adults and one child on board. During the boating safety inspection, signs of impairment were observed in the operator and a boating under the influence investigation was conducted.  At the conclusion of the stop, the operator was arrested for boating under the influence and transported to Duval County Jail where he refused to provide a breath sample.

CASES

Brevard County

• Officer Specialist Balgo and Lieutenant Cybula were conducting surveillance on several individuals fishing near a culvert on Merritt Island. The officers located one out-of-season red drum. The officers were able to identify the individual who harvested the red drum and the subject was cited accordingly. 
• Officer Specialist Balgo conducted a resource inspection on several individuals fishing near State Road 528 and the Indian River. The individuals stated they had not caught any fish. Officer Balgo located a bait bucket containing several undersized mangrove snapper. The individuals did not possess a valid fishing license and were cited accordingly. 
• Officer Specialist Balgo conducted a resource inspection at Patillo Creek on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge when he found an individual in possession of undersized and out-of-season stone crab claws. The individual did not possess a valid fishing license. Citations were issued accordingly. 
• Officer Specialist Balgo conducted a resource inspection at Haulover Canal. The individual stated he did not have any fish. Officer Balgo observed a white stringer tied to a rock in the water and located several undersized mangrove snapper. The individual was cited accordingly. 
• Officer Specialist Stelzer and Lieutenant Lightsey observed two vehicles parked outside of a wildlife management area. The officers observed a light shining in the area and believed the vehicles occupants were hunting. Officers Hopkins and Pereles were contacted to assist. The officers contacted the group and found they were hunting wild hogs during the closed season and they had hunting dogs off leash. A notice to appear was issued for the violations and one repeat offender was placed under arrest and delivered to the Brevard County Jail. 

Flagler County

• Officer Specialist Christmas and Officer Aultman were on patrol when they received information from dispatch about a group of anglers catching undersized fish at a local park. The officers located the subjects and conducted a saltwater fisheries inspection. During the inspection, they found undersized gray snapper in a cooler. The subject who harvested the undersized snapper received a citation for the violation. 
• Officer Self conducted a boating safety inspection on a vessel in the Hammock Dunes slow-speed zone. During the inspection, Officer Self noticed signs of impairment from the operator. After the operator performed standardized field sobriety tasks, it was determined the operator's normal faculties were impaired. The subject was arrested and booked into the Flagler County Jail for boating under the influence. 

Indian River County

• While on night patrol at a public small game hunting area, Lieutenant Lightsey observed a truck and trailer parked in a closed area. After he observed a vessel in the closed area, he contacted the operator. A notice to appear was issued for entering or remaining in a closed area. 

Lake County

• Senior Officer Shaw was patrolling on Lake Harris when he observed a personal watercraft being operated with an expired registration. Upon conducting a vessel stop, Officer Shaw confirmed the registration had expired. While performing a vessel safety inspection, the operator did not have a sound-producing device or serviceable fire extinguisher. Officer Shaw identified the vessel belonged to a local livery. Officer Stamp went to the livery to address the violations. Upon contacting the manager, Officer Stamp confirmed the vessel was rented by the livery. Officer Stamp issued a notice to appear citation to the livery for knowingly leasing or renting a vessel that did not contain the required safety equipment.

Orange County

• Officer McConnell received a call about individuals fishing in a closed area on St. Johns Water Management District property. Officer Wild was close to the location and responded to the area. Officer Wild observed three subjects fishing in the closed area, which was posted with signage. The subjects did not have valid freshwater fishing licenses and admitted to frequently fishing in the closed area. Officer McConnell arrived at the location a short time later to assist. The subjects were issued a notice to appear for the closed area violations. The other violations encountered were addressed accordingly. 

St. Johns County

• While patrolling the Matanzas Inlet Bridge, Officer Specialist Thomas checked two anglers, who were each in possession of an oversized red drum. Officer Thomas issued each subject a citation for harvesting an oversized red drum. 
• Officer Lemaster conducted a fisheries inspection at the Vilano Boat Ramp. During the inspection, the vessel's operator was found to have three undersized mangrove snapper. A citation for the undersized fish was issued accordingly. 
• Officer Lemaster conducted a fisheries inspection on Matanzas Bridge. During the inspection, the subject was found to have an oversized red drum. A citation for the oversized fish was issued accordingly. 
• Officer Specialists Lawrence and Thomas were on water patrol in Matanzas Inlet when they stopped a boat in the idle speed zone for a safety inspection. During the inspection, Officer Lawrence noticed empty alcoholic beverages in the boat and signs of impairment from the operator. Officer Lawrence had the operator perform seated standardized field sobriety tasks. Officer Lawrence placed the operator under arrest for boating under the influence and transported him to the St. John's County Jail.
• Officer Self conducted a fisheries inspection at the Vilano Boat Ramp. The operator was identified, and it was found he was wanted in Mississippi for enticement of a child for sexual purposes. As a result, the subject was arrested without incident. While searching the operator's vessel and vehicle incident to arrest, Officer Self found a live rifle round, grinders with marijuana residue, and 10.20-grams of marijuana. In addition to the outstanding warrant, the operator was subsequently charged with a convicted felon in possession of ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and possession of cannabis under 20-grams. The subject was transported to the St. John's County Jail. 
• Officer Self conducted a fisheries resource inspection and boater's safety inspection on an inbound vessel at Vilano Boat Ramp. The operator displayed signs of impairment and performed standardized field sobriety tasks. As a result, the operator was arrested for boating under the influence. The subject was transported to the St. John's County Jail, where he provided a sample of his breath, which measured over the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration. He was charged with BUI and driving under the influence and issued an infraction regarding his vessel registration. 
• Officer Ramsey was on land patrol when he observed a vehicle that had run off the road into a ditch. As he approached, a subject exited the driver's seat and identified himself as the driver and owner of the vehicle. The driver, who was not seriously injured, exhibited many signs of impairment. Officer Ramsey asked the driver to perform standardized field sobriety tasks. The driver refused and was ultimately arrested for driving under the influence. 

Volusia County

• Officers Stoker, Vanas, and Arroyo were on vessel patrol when they conducted a vessel stop on a recreational fishing vessel. Upon conducting a resource inspection, two out-of-season snook were located in the vessel. Further investigation revealed the subject had an active warrant for his arrest out of Volusia County. The subject was arrested and charged for the violation appropriately. 
• Officers Vanas and Arroyo conducted an inspection of two subjects saltwater fishing. During the inspection, the officers found the subjects to be in possession of five undersized mangrove snapper and one undersized flounder. The subjects were charged appropriately for the violations. 
• Officers Vanas and Arroyo were on vessel patrol when they conducted a resource and boating safety inspection on a subject who was freshwater fishing. Further investigation revealed the subject’s fishing license had been suspended and his rights to fish were revoked. The subject was charged appropriately.
• Officers Vanas and Arroyo were patrolling a wildlife management area when they observed a subject operating a vehicle off the named and numbered roads. The vehicle was stopped, and an investigation revealed the driver was operating the vehicle while his license was suspended and that the subject had knowledge of the suspension. The subject was charged appropriately.

RESCUES

Indian River County

• Officers Hopkins, St. Martin, Rivard, Marroquin and Delano, Captain Gaudion, and Reserve Officer Ricciuti responded to an emergency call from anglers on the Sebestian Inlet North Jetty who observed two individuals fall off their personal watercrafts in rough waters on the ocean side of the state park. The team gathered equipment and spread out covering the area on land and on the water. It was determined ocean conditions were too rough to safely rescue the individuals using a vessel so Captain Gaudion and Officer Delano conducted a swimming rescue from the beach. Both individuals were safely rescued and are expected to make a full recovery. 

Lake County

• Over the Labor Day weekend, Officer Specialist Weber worked with the Lake County Sheriff's Office Marine Units in Silver Glenn Run. A boater approached Officer Weber and advised there was a subject with a medical emergency in the Silver Glenn Anchorage area. Officer Weber and the Lake County Marine Units responded and observed a subject in the water suffering from a severe leg injury. Officer Weber and Lake County deputies entered the water and used a paddleboard as a backboard. Together, they lifted the subject into a patrol vessel and took him safely to shore, where he was transported to the hospital via ambulance for his injuries.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Putnam County

• Officer Specialist Weber, Officer Dodd, and Public Information Coordinator Kristen Turner spoke to over 200 high school agriculture students from area schools in Putnam County. The children and young adults had many career-oriented questions regarding working for FWC.

CASES

Lee County

• Lieutenant Spoede and Officers Price and Adkins were on water patrol near Big Hickory Pass on Labor Day when they observed an individual cast netting near the shore. Lieutenant Spoede dropped Officers Price and Adkins off on the shore to perform a fisheries inspection. A search of the area revealed a plastic bag in the mangroves containing five undersized snook, three undersized sheepshead and an undersized spotted sea trout. The individual admitted to netting the fish and was cited for the undersized and illegal method of taking violations as well as not having a valid fishing license. 

CASES

Broward County

• Officers Comartin and Constance responded to the Bahia Mar Resort in Ft. Lauderdale regarding a call for assistance from the U.S. Customs Air and Marine Operations. After conducting a boating under the influence investigation, the officers placed an individual under arrest for boating under the influence. The individual was transported to the Broward Sheriff’s Office testing facility without incident. 
• Officer Constance was on beach patrol near Commercial Pier and observed a diver with spearing equipment exit the ocean and head toward a vehicle. The officer contacted the individual and conducted a marine fisheries inspection. The individual originally relayed he didn’t really have any fish but was found to be in possession of an undersized red grouper. The individual was issued a citation for undersize red grouper.  
• Officers Bovee and Hammad conducted a vessel inspection at the 14^th Street boat ramp in Pompano Beach. The operator was found to be in possession of undersize yellowtail and mutton snapper. The subject was issued citations for the violations. 
• Officers Comartin and Bouras were conducting resource inspections on Dania Beach Pier. They found a subject in possession of two parrotfish in a cooler on ice. The subject was issued a citation for the marine life violation regarding keeping the fish alive in a circulating live well. 
• Officers Comartin and Bouras were conducting resource inspections on Dania Beach Pier. They found two individuals fishing together in possession of multiple undersize snapper. One subject was in possession of two undersize yellowtail snapper and the other was in possession of an undersized mutton snapper. Both subjects were issued citations for the violations. 

Hendry County

• Officers Naules and Riggs observed a group of people along a canal bank with a bucket of fish and a cast net nearby. When the officers initiated a resource inspection, they noticed the cast net was missing and there was several freshwater game fish in the bucket. There was no other fishing equipment in the group’s possession. Cast nets are an illegal method for taking freshwater game fish. The officers located the cast net hidden nearby, and the group admitted they were all fishing. The subjects were charged with possession of game fish together with any device that is prohibited for taking such game fish. 

Martin County

• Officer Spirito was on patrol in Hobe Sound on U.S. Highway 1 when he observed children in the vehicle in front of him not secured in their seats. After activating his emergency lights and siren, he followed the vehicle for approximately three miles before it pulled over. In the rear of the vehicle was a newborn in a car seat that was unsecure and a toddler who was unbuckled. The license plate on the vehicle was not assigned to the vehicle, and the vehicle was found to be unregistered. After an investigation, it was determined the vehicle was previously totaled by an insurance company and unroadworthy. A safe ride was found for the children, the vehicle was towed, and the operator was cited for the violations. 
• Officers Stiltner, Spirito and Schroer were on patrol in Martin County near the Jupiter Point Marina. The officers stopped a vessel to conduct a vessel safety inspection and Officer Stiltner noticed signs of impairment from the operator. After administering standardized field sobriety tasks, the operator was placed under arrest. He was charged with boating under the influence while normal faculties impaired and received uniform boating citations for no fire extinguisher or sound producing device. 
• Officer Schroer and Officer Spirito were on vessel patrol in Martin County during the Labor Day holiday weekend. Officer Schroer observed a vessel traveling in the Intracoastal Waterway with registration numbers that did not contrast with the background. Officer Schroer initiated a vessel stop to address the violation and to conduct a safety inspection. During the stop, Officer Schroer detected signs of impairment from the operator. The operator was brought on board the patrol vessel to perform standardized field sobriety tasks. The operator failed the tasks and was placed under arrest for operating a vessel with his normal faculties impaired. The operator also received citations for having noncontrasting registration numbers, not having a sound producing device, not having a type IV throwable device and for refusal to submit to a test of his blood, breath or urine. 

Okeechobee County

• Investigator Ervin and Officer Allen received a complaint regarding a subject bowhunting during the closed season in the Starvation Slough Unit of the Kissimmee River Public Use Area. After arriving at the public use area, four subjects dressed in camouflage and equipped with bows and arrows were detained. The subjects admitted they were hunting wild hogs during the closed season in Starvation Slough. The subjects were issued notices to appear in court for the violation. 

Palm Beach County

• Officer Spirito and Officer Pullano were on patrol at Sigsbee Marina in Key West. They initiated a vessel stop to conduct a resource inspection. They located an undersized yellowtail snapper in a cooler on the vessel. The operator was charged accordingly for the violation. 
• Officer Spirito and Officer Pullano were on patrol in Bahia Honda State Park near the boat ramp. They inspected a group that had returned from fishing. The group was found to have three wrung spiny lobster tails and two of the tails were found to be less than the legal length of 5.5”. The subjects were cited accordingly for the violations. 
• Officer Spirito and Officer Pullano were on patrol at the marina in Bahia Honda State Park. They observed a vessel return to the marina with fishing rods and conducted a fisheries inspection. Officers located two undersized mutton snapper and a mutton snapper that was in pieces. Officer Spirito noticed signs of impairment from the operator and administered standardized field sobriety tasks. The subject was subsequently placed under arrest and charged with boating under the influence, refusal to submit to breath test, undersize mutton snapper and mutton snapper not in whole condition. 
• Officers Spirito and Stiltner were on patrol in Palm Beach County near Cato’s Bridge when they stopped a vessel to perform a safety inspection. Officer Spirito noticed signs of impairment from the operator. After administering standardized field sobriety tasks, the operator was placed under arrest. He was charged with boating under the influence/ normal faculties impaired and refusal to submit to a breath test.

CASES

Monroe County

• Officers Garcia and Carpenter were on water patrol in Newfound Harbor Channel and conducted a resource inspection on a vessel with fishing rods. Upon inspection, Officer Garcia observed the vessel had several snappers in the live well with bait fish. Officer Garcia discovered 18 undersized lane snappers, two undersized mutton snapper, and six undersized yellowtail snappers, with the largest snapper being six inches long. The captain of the vessel was charged with two misdemeanors and a warning for the mutton snappers and a warning for one undersized dolphinfish/mahi-mahi.
• Lieutenant Sapp investigated a derelict vessel on the east side of Flemming Key. The vessel was full of trash and when it washed ashore hundreds of pounds of plastic, bottles, cans, and other household debris were scattered across the rocky shoreline. An FWC squad worked together to remove about 500 to 600 pounds of trash from the rocks and water. The derelict vessel investiation is ongoing.

FWC Division of Law Enforcement Regions