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September 15 through September 21, 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
Escambia County
- Officer Ramos received a tip that someone distributed corn on the Escambia River Wildlife Management Area. In accordance with law, no person shall place, expose, or distribute any grain or other food for wildlife on any wildlife management area. Officer Ramos investigated and determined a subject from out-of-state was responsible. Officer Pettey assisted with obtaining evidence regarding the violation. Officer Ramos contacted the individual and both officers met with the subject, who admitted he placed corn in the wildlife management area to attract wildlife. Officer Ramos issued him a notice to appear for the violation.
- Officer Ramos was on patrol conducting a boating safety and resource inspection on a vessel returning from offshore fishing. During the inspection, Officer Ramos discovered an undersized scamp (grouper). The responsible individual was issued the appropriate citation for the offense.
- Lieutenant Corbin and Officer Wilkenson were on patrol when they observed a vessel returning to Bayou Grande with fishing equipment. A vessel stop was conducted for a resource inspection. During the inspection, three undersized red snapper, three undersized gray triggerfish, an undersized cobia, and an undersized greater amberjack were located on the vessel. The responsible party was issued multiple notices to appear for the violations.
- Lieutenant Corbin and Officer Wilkenson were on patrol in Bayou Chico when they observed multiple vessels tied off to a floating structure. One was determined to be a derelict vessel and is being used to store items such as rims, tires, and other car and boat parts. The owner was unable to show the vessel was operational. Another vessel tied off to the floating structure, which the subject lives on, was found to not have an adequate means of propulsion, no permanently installed marine sanitation device, and no log for his MSD pump out records. The vessel has been on state waters for well over 90 days and the subject has failed to register the vessel with the State of Florida. The owner of the vessels was issued notice to appear citations for storing a derelict vessel on state waters and failure to register a vessel in the State of Florida that has been stored on state waters for more than 90 days. The owner of the vessels was also issued several uniform boating citations for the other violations.
- Officers Wilkenson and Burkhead were on patrol in the Pensacola Pass when they observed a fishing vessel return from the Gulf of Mexico. A vessel stop was conducted for a resource and boating safety inspection. During the inspection, an undersized gray triggerfish was located on the vessel. A subject on the vessel claimed responsibility for keeping the undersized gray triggerfish and was issued a resource citation for the violation.
Okaloosa County
- Lieutenant Bartlett, Officer Oliver, and Officer Ates were on patrol when they observed an occupant on a moving vessel jump into the water from the back of the vessel, near the propeller. As the officers approached the vessel to make sure the subject was not injured, there was another occupant attempting to enter the water from the back of the vessel. A vessel stop was conducted for a boating safety inspection and as the officers were securing mooring lines to the vessel, the operator looked to be in a daze. There were multiple alcohol containers littered throughout the vessel. Multiple occupants on the vessel were exhibiting high levels of impairment. The subject operating the vessel showed impairment throughout the inspection and struggled to provide the correct equipment. The operator admitted to drinking and while speaking with the operator, Officer Oliver noticed slurred speech and a strong odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. The operator agreed to conduct standard field sobriety tasks and performed poorly. The operator was placed under arrest for boating under the influence and agreed to provide a breath sample. The operator provided a sample that was over the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration. The operator was charged with operating with a breath alcohol content of .08 or higher and transported to jail.
- Lt. Corbin was on patrol at Navarre Beach boat ramp when he observed a subject renting personal watercraft near the boat ramp. A livery inspection was conducted and it was determined the subject had not taken a boating safety course, did not have any signage related to boating safety, did not have the correct pre-ride/rental paperwork, and did not have any records available for inspection. The owner/operator of the livery was issued a notice to appear and multiple warnings for the violations.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Walton County
- Lieutenant Bartlett, Officers Graves, Yates, and R. Brooks, and Public Information Director Faith Flawn assisted the DeFuniak Springs Police Department with a “Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs” event at Lake DeFuniak. This outreach event was attended by 137 participants aged 5 to 15 and their family members. Free lunch, fishing rods, tackle, and bait were provided by various sponsors including the FWC Officers Association. Prizes such as fishing tackle, bikes and more were awarded for the most fish and largest fish caught. The event was a success and the DeFuniak Springs Police Department has planned to host it annually in the future.
 CASES
Alachua County
- Officer Specialist Drew received information from Master Officer Stanley about a subject digging artifacts in Lochloosa Wildlife Management Area. Lieutenant Hayes, Officer Specialist Drew, and Officer Specialist Guirate responded to the area and observed a pickup truck parked nearby with a homemade artifact probe in the bed. Lieutenant Hayes and Officer Specialist Drew approached the artifact site on foot and observed a subject digging with a shovel. The subject was covered in dirt and mud and had several other probes and shovels sitting next to him. After contact was made, it was determined the subject was digging for artifacts. Two arrowheads and several pieces of chert were found in the subject’s pockets. Officer Specialist Drew conducted a search of the subject’s vehicle and located a controlled substance for which the subject did not have a prescription. The subject was placed under arrest for excavating artifacts on state lands, removing artifacts from a wildlife management area, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. He was transported to the Alachua County jail.
Citrus County
- Officer Specialist Ulrich and Lieutenant Browning were on state land patrol when they observed a vehicle parked in the Crystal River Preserve State Park. Officer Specialist Ulrich and Lieutenant Browning began to track the suspects through the woods when they saw headlights approaching back toward the vehicle. Ulrich and Browning contacted the group of four individuals, who had harvested a wild hog, had one dog with an active global positioning system tracking collar and two dogs still hunting in the state park. Appropriate citations and warnings were issued and the other two dogs were removed from the park.
- Officer Specialist Ulrich and Officer Pietroburgo were patrolling the Withlacoochee River when they conducted a vessel stop to perform a safety and registration inspection. During the inspection, Officer Pietroburgo observed there was another set of registration numbers underneath the clearly visible registration numbers. The operator of the vessel admitted he placed the unauthorized registration numbers on the vessel, knowing they belonged to a different vessel. Vessel ownership was confirmed via the hull identification number and the operator was cited accordingly.
- Senior Officer VanNess and Lieutenant Browning were conducting patrol in Crystal River when they initiated a vessel stop to conduct a resource inspection on a fishing vessel. During the inspection, multiple undersized fish including mangrove snapper and spotted seatrout were located. The responsible subject was cited accordingly.
- Officer Jovanov and Officer Pietroburgo were conducting patrol within the Withlacoochee State Forest (Citrus Wildlife Management Area), when they observed a subject illegally camping. The subject also was burning trees he had cut down from the forest and the fire was in an undesignated area. While addressing the violations, drug paraphernalia and drugs were located on the ground within the illegal campsite, which the subject admitted were his. The drugs were field-tested and confirmed positive for the presence of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The subject also had an active warrant and was transported to the county jail for multiple drug charges and received multiple citations for forest violations.
Columbia County
- Baker and Columbia County officers participated in an annual detail involving a flight by their local FWC Air Asset in the Osceola National Forest/Wildlife Management Area. The local units were targeting individuals hunting during the closed season of the WMA. During the morning patrols, Senior Officer Yates discovered fresh vehicle tracks in the northwestern portion of the forest, entering the Sandlin Bay Tract. Officer Yates continued his investigation by tracking the tire sign while notifying Pilot Garret Fields for assistance. Moments later an individual dressed in camouflage was located near his parked vehicle hunting with a crossbow. After a brief interview with the subject, the appropriate citation for hunting during closed season was issued.
- Senior Officer Yates was conducting patrols working the opening of early teal season at Alligator Lake Public Small Game Hunting Area. Officer Yates concentrated his efforts on the north marsh of the lake and conducted resource inspections of hunters returning to the ramp. During the inspections, several violations were encountered including unplugged shotguns, no valid federal duck stamps, and a wide variety of boating safety violations.
- Senior Officers Davenport and Yates concluded a three-month investigation on an antlerless deer that had been discarded. During the investigation, multiple interviews were conducted with three suspects. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was collected at the dump site and from a vehicle and cleaning site. Fresh deer meat was found in a subject’s chest freezer. The DNA was sent to the University of Florida’s Forensics Lab for comparison and the results showed all samples belonged to the deer that had been dumped. Several more interviews were conducted with one of the subjects admitting to cleaning the deer and dumping it. Charges for possession of deer out of season and dumping will be directly filled with the Columbia County State Attorney's Office.
Gilchrist County
- Senior Officers Cooper and Wiggins were on patrol in the Log Landing Wildlife Management Area. The officers located a subject attempting to take deer with a bow and arrow from a ladder stand in the wildlife management area. The subject was hunting approximately 20 yards from three piles of bait (corn). During their interaction, the subject admitted he had placed the corn a few days prior. It is unlawful to place bait in a wildlife management area and to take or attempt to take wildlife on a wildlife management area where bait has been placed. The subject was issued a citation for both violations.
Hamilton County
- Senior Officer Nichols and K-9 Officer Gill were working the Big Shoals Wildlife Management Area. Officer Gill used his K-9 to track suspected saw palmetto berry pickers in the area. The K-9 tracked and located buckets of freshly harvested saw palmetto berries. The officers continued to track with the aid of the K-9 until they located two subjects hiding in the woods. Both subjects were issued citations for the illegal harvest of saw palmetto berries on the wildlife management area. One of the subjects was taken into custody by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office for an active arrest warrant.
- Senior Officer Nichols responded to a report of an elderly subject who drove down the canoe launch at Stephen C. Foster State Park and got stuck on the handrails. Officer Nichols responded and coordinated with Hamilton County Sheriff's Office on the removal of the vehicle. The subject was observed to be visibly ill, so emergency medical services were called and determined he was suffering from the effects of the heat. The man was transported to a local hospital for treatment and the vehicle was removed.
- Lieutenant Kiss along with Officers Johnston, Cline, and Bryan worked the opening weekend of the early teal and wood duck season at the Nutrien-White Springs Wildlife Management Area/Beehaven Bay and the Alligator Lake Public Small Game Hunting Area. The officers checked approximately 12 hunters and conducted several boating safety inspections. During the resource and boating safety/registration inspections, the officers documented several violations with citations and written warnings. The violations included the following: failure to transfer vessel title within 30 days, expired vessel registration, no wildlife management area permit, insufficient number of personal flotation devices, failure to comply with boater education requirements, no sound-producing device, improper display of vessel registration, violation of Beehaven Bay’s idle speed restriction, and a wildlife management area access violation.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Citrus County
- Officers Brown and Jacobs took part in the Citrus County Outdoor Expo in Citrus Springs. The officers answered attendees’ questions, provided tips and techniques about different recreational activities and presented information about hunting and fishing regulations.
 CASES
Brevard County
- Officer St. Martin was working in Sebastian Inlet State Park at night and was observing anglers as they returned to their vehicles with their catch. Officer St. Martin conducted a resource inspection on one of the subjects who stated all he had was a “slot snook.” Further inspection revealed the snook was significantly over the slot limit of 28-32 inches. The subject was cited accordingly.
- Officer Specialist Marroquin and Officer Rivard were on patrol in the late hours of the night when they noticed a vehicle swerve and nearly hit a guard rail. The vehicle continued down the roadway but was having trouble maintaining its lane and was driving carelessly. Fearing the driver was impaired, the officers conducted a traffic stop. Their fears were realized upon contacting the operator who displayed signs of severe impairment. The operator performed poorly during standardized field sobriety tasks and was arrested. This driving under the influence charge resulted in a felony because it was the operator’s third within 10 years.
Indian River County
- While on early morning patrol at a local wildlife management area, Lieutenant Lightsey observed a man launch a vessel into a lake. After watching the subject, a stop was initiated to conduct a resource inspection. The inspection revealed the subject was hunting migratory birds during a closed season at the WMA. A notice to appear was issued for the offense.
Orange County
- Officer Navarino observed a subject with a bucket in her hand standing at the trunk of a vehicle on Taylor Creek Road. In addition, the officer observed numerous canvas sacks in the trunk of the vehicle, which are commonly used to transport saw palmetto berries. The individual did not possess a permit to possess or pick the saw palmetto berries and was cited accordingly. Officer Navarino also observed male clothing and two separate phones in the vehicle. An area search was conducted by Lieutenant Riley and Officer Navarino but the other individuals were not located.
Osceola County
- Officer Nall was patrolling for night hunting when he observed a vehicle slowly rolling down a public roadway with private lands on both sides. Officer Nall was able to get behind the vehicle and follow it. The vehicle was observed continuously stopping and starting around 5-10 miles per hour, while the operator shined a spotlight out of the windows. The operator was observed shining private ranches, ditches, and front yards of residences. FWC Pilot Pereles and Lieutenant Eller were able to assist in keeping eyes on the subject from the agency aircraft. A stop was conducted on the vehicle and the operator was found to be in possession of multiple loaded rifles (with spotlights attached) and hunting equipment. This subject had been previously cited for night hunting. The subject was arrested and charged with multiple violations.
- Lieutenant Lightsey conducted surveillance near a local lake after receiving complaints of illegal hunting. An airboat was seen hunting alligators and a resource inspection revealed the operator was in possession of an alligator that did not have the CITES tag secured and the operator did not have an alligator harvest permit. Lieutenant Lightsey discovered the eight-foot alligator was still alive and returned it to the resource. A notice to appear was issued for illegal possession of an alligator, not securing the CITES tag to a harvested alligator, and for not immediately killing or releasing an alligator upon capture.
St. Johns County
- During a fisheries inspection at the Guana River Dam, Officer Lemaster discovered a subject with three undersized spotted sea trout on a string line. The defendant claimed he hadn't measured them yet and did not want to stop fishing because the bite was on. The defendant was cited for possessing the undersized spotted sea trout.
- During a fisheries inspection at the Guana River Dam, Officer Lemaster found a subject in possession of two undersized black drum in a bucket. The defendant was issued citations accordingly for the undersized black drum.
- While on patrol, Officer Specialist Lawrence received an anonymous complaint that someone was keeping an undersized pompano at Vilano Beach. Officer Lawrence arrived on scene and found a person matching the description. Upon inspection, he found an undersized red drum and an undersized black drum in the person’s possession. The subject was subsequently cited for the violation.
- Officer Self was conducting resource inspections on duck hunters at Six Mile Landing Public Boat Ramp at Lake Ponte Vedra during early teal season. He observed a vessel being loaded into the water that had all its registration letters/numbers spray painted over. Through investigation, it was found the owner of the vessel had committed felony title fraud by purchasing the vessel without its title and re-registered it under the guise of it being homemade. The charges were subsequently filed with the State Attorney’s Office.
Flagler County
- In response to an at-risk vessel, Senior Officer Thomas and Officer Specialist Lawrence spoke with a subject on a grounded boat just north of Hammock Dunes Bridge. FWC Dispatch advised that the subject had a warrant for failure to appear on controlled schedule II felony charges. Officer Thomas arrested the subject on the warrant, and he was booked into the Flagler County Jail. He was also issued infractions for the at-risk violations.
Marion County
- During a proactive air patrol at a local wildlife management area, FWC Pilot/Officer Derse noticed a vehicle parked inside a closed area. He contacted Officer Specialist L. Dickson and Officer Lambert and provided them with the location and description of the vehicle. When Officer Dickson arrived, she found two individuals with equipment commonly used to cut and remove saw palmetto berries. While the investigation was ongoing, Officer Derse continued to observe from the air and spotted what appeared to be a large bag hidden in vegetation a short distance away. Upon closer inspection, the bag was found to contain roughly 70 pounds of saw palmetto berries. The appropriate citations were issued.
 CASES
Charlotte County
- Lieutenant Ruggiero was conducting resource inspections on a large tract of land enrolled in the Antlerless Deer Permit Program when he learned that hunters had killed two deer earlier that morning. After locating one of the deer, he determined it was an antlered deer and a legal harvest. While speaking with some of the hunters regarding the second deer harvested, they told Lieutenant Ruggiero they had logged and reported the deer as required and had used an antlerless deer tag on it. After locating the carcass, Lieutenant Ruggiero measured the antlers and determined one of the antlers was over five inches long. By definition, a deer with an antler over five inches is an antlered deer and the antlerless deer tag would be ineligible. The lieutenant issued a warning for taking an antlered deer with less than 3 points on a side or a main beam less than 10 inches. The hunters were educated about the law pertaining to antlered and antlerless deer and the laws pertaining to the antlerless deer tags.
Lee County
- Officer Adkins and Lieutenant Ruggiero responded to a call about a sailboat that had broken free from anchor and drifted near a seawall and dock. The officers located the boat and the owner and determined he had purchased the vessel over two years prior without transferring the title. The vessel also didn’t have a working anchor light, did not have a hull identification number attached as required and did not have current registration. The owner was issued citations for failing to transfer the title and for the vessel being at-risk of becoming derelict since it had broken free from anchor. The owner was also issued warnings for the anchor light, the hull identification number and registration.
Pinellas County
- While on patrol, Officer Specialist Litherland observed a fishing vessel return to a boat ramp. He contacted the individuals onboard and conducted a fisheries inspection. At the conclusion of the inspection, Officer Specialist Litherland located a 10-inch, out of season red grouper. Officer Specialist Litherland issued the operator of the vessel a citation and a warning for the fisheries violations.
- While on patrol, Officer Specialist Litherland observed a fishing vessel return to a boat ramp. He contacted the individuals onboard and conducted a fisheries inspection. At the conclusion of the inspection, Officer Specialist Litherland located an 11-inch red snapper. Officer Specialist Litherland issued a citation to the vessel operator for possession of an undersized red snapper.
 CASES
Broward County
- Officer Beppel was on water patrol near Port Everglades and conducted a fisheries inspection that revealed several violations. The subject was cited for possession of undersized red grouper and improper registration display. They were warned for undersized mangrove snapper and not having a Type IV flotation device.
- Officer Constance was on vessel patrol offshore of Hillsboro Inlet. He conducted a marine fisheries inspection on a vessel he observed to have two people onboard fishing. Pursuant to the inspection one individual was issued a citation for possession of undersize vermillion snapper.
- Officer Constance was on patrol in a public small game hunting area. He observed two individuals coming out of the marsh with shotguns and other hunting gear. He conducted a hunting inspection on the individuals. Pursuant to the inspection, he issued one individual a notice to appear for possession of out-of-season mottled ducks during the early teal/wood duck season.
- Officer Constance was on patrol at a public small game hunting area. He observed an individual coming out of the marsh with a shotgun and other hunting gear. He conducted a hunting inspection on the individual. Pursuant to the inspection, he issued the individual a criminal notice to appear for possession of out-of-season fulvous whistling-duck during the early teal/wood duck season. He also issued the individual a notice to appear for use of an unplugged shotgun.
Hendry County
- Senior Officer Polly was patrolling in Okaloacoochee Slough Wildlife Management Area, and responded to a call from dispatch regarding two subjects attempting to check in two deer at the WMA check station. It was discovered a quota holder and his guest each harvested a deer. The bag limit for a quota permit is one deer. Officer Naules also responded to assist. The quota permit holder was charged with a bag limit violation. Both subjects were also issued citations for not filling out their harvest report log.
- Officer Ciprich was patrolling a rural roadway for illegal hunting activities and observed a vehicle on the side of the road with people using flashlights in a manner capable of disclosing the presence of game. He stopped the vehicle and noticed a subject outside the vehicle with a cross bow and two other subjects were also present. The group admitted they were riding around in the bed of the pickup truck trying to shoot wild hogs. They claimed to have shot at a wild hog on the side of the road and it ran onto the adjacent private property. All subjects were issued a notice to appear for hunting from a roadway.
- Officer Naules was on patrol when he received a tip regarding several subjects in Okaloacoochee Slough Wildlife Management Area illegally harvesting saw palmetto berries. Upon arrival, Officer Naules located several subjects fitting the description given. The group fled on foot upon seeing the officer. Officer Naules relocated towards the entrance and waited for the subjects to exit the WMA. Officer Naules saw two of the subjects walking down one of the trails and apprehended them after they attempted to flee again. One subject had a warrant out of Hendry County for failing to appear in court on a prior driving under the influence charge. The subject was arrested on the warrant and given an additional charge of resisting arrest and issued a citation for not paying the forest entry fee.
Martin County
- Officer Peters was conducting freshwater fisheries inspections at the Bessie Creek Boat Ramp when she observed subjects illegally trespassing on a South Florida Water Management District spillway structure. These subjects were fishing with a cast net and were in possession of a cooler that was in the back of their vehicle. Upon inspection of the cooler, Officer Peters observed a white grocery bag containing 29 bluegill, one redear sunfish, and one bass. All species are freshwater game fish and cannot be harvested with a cast net. The subjects were issued citations for the illegal method of harvesting freshwater game fish.
Okeechobee County
- Officer Dziewiatkowski and Officer Hudson were on patrol when they observed a vehicle displaying a light while traveling on the road. The officers conducted a traffic stop and found the vehicle operator was in possession of a scoped rifle, spotlight, fillet knife and saw palmetto berries. The officers discovered the subject did not have a permit to harvest the saw palmetto berries and he had been hunting wild hogs along the roadway. The subject was cited for attempting to take wildlife from a road right-of-way and harvesting saw palmetto berries without a permit.
Palm Beach County
- Officer Sellers was patrolling the Hungryland Wildlife Environmental Area when she observed an individual walk out of the woods and place items in the back of a pickup truck. Upon contact with the subject, she found the individual to be illegally harvesting saw palmetto berries inside the WEA. The subject was charged with removing plant life from the WEA and possessing/removing saw palmetto berries from the WEA.
 CASES
Collier County
Monroe County
- Investigator Chris Mattson was participating in unmarked federal water patrol near the area of Key Largo known as French Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA). Investigator Mattson observed a subject fishing from a vessel anchored on the reef next to a no fishing mooring buoy. He was in possession of two legal size snapper. The subject was issued a federal citation for fishing in French Reef SPA.
- Investigator Chris Mattson did a month-long targeted enforcement action called Operation Sanctuary Spy. This detail focused on spearfishing violations related to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Investigator Mattson was assisted by Officer Daniel Marshall on the detail, which resulted in 14 FWC resource citations, one uniform boating citation and 12 written warnings relating to boating and resource violations.
- Officer Allen responded to information from Investigator Mattson regarding a personal watercraft in the area bayside of Duck Key. Officer Allen, who was patrolling in plain clothes and an unmarked patrol, observed individual in the water pulling lobster out of a commercial lobster trap. Officer Esilva was also in the area and observed the same violation from land. Officer Allen initiated a vessel stop and discovered four wrung lobster tails. The subject admitted to harvesting lobster from a derelict trap and arrested and transported to Stock Island Jail.
- Officers Turner and Allen responded to a call regarding an overdue boater who had departed from Key West and was planning to fish and/or lobster around Kingfish Shoals. Last known contact with the boater was about 5:30 p.m. Search and rescue efforts included FWC patrol vessels, U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and vessels, and a U.S. Navy helicopter. A Good Samaritan vessel spotted the missing person about half a mile from White Street Pier off Key West, brought the subject onboard and notified the FWC and USCG. Officers Turner and Allen responded. The victim, who suffered jellyfish stings and dehydration, was met by EMS after being transported to Stock Island. The missing boater indicated that while spearfishing near Pelican Shoal, he sat on the gunwale while the vessel was in gear. A wave hit the vessel, ejecting the subject into the water. He was found 10 miles from where he was ejected and 17 hours later.
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