FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Reports: Nov. 10-16

November 10 through November 16, 2023

This report represents some events the FWC handled over specified weeks; 
however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.

View this as a web page.

View previous editions.

CASES

Escambia County

• Senior Officer Lewis concluded the investigation of a derelict vessel. The derelict vessel’s owner/responsible party resided out of state so a warrant for their arrest was issued for the violation. 

Franklin County

• Officers Hartzog and Forbes were on patrol at Little St. Marks River and observed a vessel anchored with two individuals on board fishing. The officers stopped the vessel to conduct a resource and boating safety inspection. During the inspection, the individuals were observed to be in possession of five undersized black drum and one individual’s fishing license was suspended. The officers addressed the violation appropriately. 

Gulf County

• Master Officer M. Webb was conducting resource inspections at a local boat ramp. Two subjects were returning from fishing. An inspection revealed they were in possession of two undersized redfish and four undersized spotted sea trout. Appropriate citations were issued.
• Officer Gerber and Officer Gore were on patrol checking dove fields when they observed several individuals who were hunting. During the resource inspection, it was discovered the field was baited. Two individuals were cited for the violation. 
• Officer Gerber was on patrol when he observed a vehicle displaying a light from inside the vehicle into open fields. A traffic stop was conducted and several rifles were found in the vehicle. The driver did not have a valid driver's license. The individual was cited for the violations. 

Jefferson County

• Officers L. Glover and K. Matthews received an anonymous tip about an antlered deer harvested in the Aucilla Wildlife Management Area not meeting antler point regulations. Officers Glover and Matthews responded to the area and discovered a vehicle matching the description. Upon conducting a resource inspection, an antlered deer not meeting antler point regulations was found field dressed and the antlers were placed behind a dog box. A citation for not meeting Aucilla WMA antler point regulations was issued. 

Leon County

• Officer L. Glover received a complaint regarding a subject shooting multiple antlerless deer. Officer Glover arrived on scene and the subject had already left the area. Officer Glover located a treestand and collected evidence including spent shell casings. Five days later Officer Glover received an anonymous tip that a subject shot another antlerless deer in the same area. Officer Glover, Senior Officer B. Johnson, and Officer Specialist W. Brookes responded and talked with several neighbors who directed them to a subject who hunts the area. The officers interviewed the subject at his residence and the suspect admitted to harvesting two antlered and three antlerless deer. More evidence was collected at the subject’s residence and charges will be direct filed with the state attorney’s office for taking antlerless deer during closed season and not complying with regulations to log and report harvested deer.  
• Officer L. Glover received an anonymous tip referencing a convicted felon harvesting an antlerless deer with a .22 rifle. Officer L. Glover and Senior Officer B. Johnson drove to the subject’s residence to conduct an interview. The subject was interviewed and admitted to harvesting an antlerless deer with a .22 rifle. Charges will be direct filed with the state attorney’s office.  
• Officer L. Glover received an anonymous complaint regarding a subject night hunting and shooting several deer. After a month-long investigation, Officers L. Glover, D. Travis and Lieutenant Louque conducted interviews at the subject’s residence. The subject admitted to killing three antlered and three antlerless deer at night. Evidence was collected at the subject’s residence and charges will be filled with the state attorney’s office.  

Santa Rosa County

• Officer Hahr located a baited site in Blackwater Wildlife Management Area. He observed a truck arrive at the site and drop off a hunter and leave. Officer Hahr found the subject hunting the baited area a short time later. He was charged with hunting over bait in a WMA. 
• Senior Officer Lewis received a complaint about a deer that was dumped on a roadway. The officer was able to locate a subject who admitted to harvesting and dumping the deer. The officer cited the individual for the violation.

CASES

Alachua County

• Master Officer Stanley was on land patrol when he responded to information about someone shooting an antlerless deer with a firearm during archery season. Master Officer Stanley located a kill site and identified a subject. During an interview, the subject admitted he was hunting in a ground blind and shot the antlerless deer with a .410 shotgun. Charges were filed with the state attorney’s office for illegal method of take. 
• Officer Specialist Reith was conducting surveillance at San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park and observed individuals hunting wild hog with dogs. He was unable to contact them before they left the area. Using photos and information from park staff and surrounding landowners, three subjects were identified. The following week, one of the subjects who had been hunting in the state park contacted another officer and admitted to hunting in the park. Officer Specialist Reith and Officer Dean conducted interviews with the three subjects who all admitted to hunting in the state park. All three subjects were issued citations for hunting in the state park, entering through a nondesignated entrance, evasion of park fees, and remaining in a state park after hours.
• Officer Specialist Drew was on land patrol when he observed a vehicle parked in an undesignated parking area in Watermelon Pond Wildlife and Environmental Area. Officer Specialist Drew contacted the driver, who was returning from hunting. Shortly after, another subject came walking up to the truck wearing camouflage and carrying a crossbow. Hunting with a crossbow at Watermelon Pond WEA is prohibited. During a hunting license check, it was found the subject had an active warrant in Levy County for failure to appear on a previous FWC case. The subject was arrested and booked into the Alachua County Jail for the warrant and charged with illegal method of take. 
• While on patrol, Lieutenant Hayes and Master Officer Stanley observed a motor vehicle operating in the middle of a bicycle trail closed to motor vehicles in Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. The officers conducted a stop and discovered a clear crystal-like substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The driver was arrested and booked into the Alachua County Jail for possession of methamphetamine (trafficking amount), drug paraphernalia, felony driving while license suspended or revoked, and affixing a tag not assigned. 

Citrus County

• Officer Cassidy was patrolling Citrus Wildlife Management Area when he was advised of a deer that had been harvested in the WMA but not checked through the check station. Officer Cassidy investigated the incident, interviewing the subject who admitted to harvesting the deer within the WMA. The hunter had not checked the deer at the check station before fully processing it. Officer Cassidy issued proper citations and warnings for the violations. 
• Officer Specialist Reid and Officer Gilbert were conducting joint enforcement agreement patrol when they discovered multiple stone crab traps in a closed area. The officers pulled each individual trap and none of the seven traps were properly marked with the harvester’s name, address, or a valid recreational stone crab trap identification number. The officers discovered who owned the traps and conducted field interviews. The owners of the traps were informed of the violations and appropriate citations and warnings were issued. 
• Officer Specialist Reid and Officer Gilbert were patrolling the coastline checking commercial and recreational vessels. They conducted a vessel safety and resource check on a recreational vessel displaying equipment commonly used for reef fishing. Officer Gilbert boarded the vessel while conducting the stop and identified an undersized hogfish and an undersized gray triggerfish. Appropriate citations and warnings were issued for the violations. 
• Officer Specialist Sarmiento conducted a vessel stop where he observed a blue crab trap on board. During a resource inspection, Officer Specialist Sarmiento discovered the blue crab trap belonged to a commercial angler and not the person who was in possession of it. Its lawful owner confirmed he had not given this person permission to remove or possess any of his commercial blue crab traps. The possessor was charged with theft of another’s blue crab trap gear and the trap was returned to its owner. 
• Officer Jovanov was patrolling the Citrus Wildlife Management Area at night when he observed two people walking and displaying a light in open areas where deer are commonly found. Upon contacting the two individuals, Officer Jovanov discovered they were also in possession of a .22 caliber rimfire rifle. The two individuals were charged with attempting to take deer at night by the use of gun and light.
• Officer Specialist Sarmiento conducted a resource inspection of three individuals who were fishing from shore. The three anglers were in possession of 21 mangrove snapper, which was over their 15 combined bag limit, and 20 were undersized. The individuals were cited for the violations.
• Officer Pietroburgo concluded an investigation involving the taking of an antlerless deer during closed season. The subject was identified and ultimately provided a confession. The subject was charged with taking an antlerless deer during closed season. 
• Officer Jovanov was patrolling the Citrus Wildlife Management Area when he observed a vehicle driving erratically. Officer Jovanov conducted a vehicle stop and observed several signs of impairment from the driver who admitted to having taken a combination of prescription narcotics. After performing poorly during the standardized field sobriety tasks, the driver was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of intoxicating substances. During the arrest, Officer Jovanov learned this vehicle was reported via a 911 call to the Citrus County Sheriff's Office for erratic driving just minutes prior to the stop. 

Dixie County

• Officer Specialist Hilliard observed three subjects fishing with rods and reels from the Shired Creek bridge. Upon conducting a marine fisheries inspection, Officer Hilliard found the subjects in possession of three undersized spotted seatrout. The legal slot size for spotted seatrout is 15” to 19” in length. The fish measured 8.5”, 9”, and 11”. Officer Hilliard also determined one of the subjects did not have the required saltwater fishing license. The appropriate citations and warnings were issued. 
• Officer Specialist Hilliard was notified by the Dixie County Sheriff's Office that a deputy had performed a traffic stop and subsequently located an American alligator in the back of the subject’s vehicle. Officer Hilliard arrived on the scene of the traffic stop and determined the subject was unlawfully in possession of an American alligator. The appropriate citation was issued.

Hamilton County

• Senior Officer Johnston and Officer Williamson were on patrol within the Swift Creek Tract, which is owned/managed by the Suwannee River Water Management District, when they observed a vehicle parked near the Suwannee River. The vehicle’s tag was expired and the registered owner had an active warrant for her arrest. Upon closer inspection, the officers noticed the registration decal didn’t belong to the vehicle on which it was attached. The officers followed the foot sign toward the Suwannee River to contact the registered owner and discovered a subject who was fishing and in possession of an alcoholic beverage. The subject was unable to provide a valid freshwater fishing license. A check of the subject revealed two active warrants for his arrest, one of which was a felony.  After being detained, the subject stated the vehicle belonged to his girlfriend (the registered owner of the vehicle). The officers informed the subject to call his girlfriend and have her come to the scene and both complied. Once the registered owner arrived on the scene, she was also placed under arrest for her active warrant. Both subjects were transported to the Hamilton County Jail. The male subject also received a citation for fishing without a valid freshwater fishing license and a written warning for possession of an alcoholic beverage on water management district land. 
• Senior Officer Nichols was following up on a report by a landowner of a camper set up on private property. He discovered the owner of the camper was a guest of a subject who had obtained permission to hunt the property. Upon further investigation, Officer Nichols located a recently harvested and dumped deer carcass. Officer Nichols continued to investigate and found the subject who harvested the deer failed to log and report it.  After meeting with and interviewing the subject, Officer Nichols found the deer had been taken with a modern firearm during the muzzleloader season. The subject was issued the appropriate citation for failure to log and report the deer harvest as well as taking deer by illegal method. 
• Senior Officer Nichols observed a subject he was monitoring trespass onto private property. Officer Mobley, K-9 Officer Gill, and Lieutenant Douglas also responded to the property to assist in apprehending the subject. The officers were able to locate and apprehend the subject on private property. The subject was booked into the Hamilton County Jail and charged with armed trespass, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.  
• Senior Officer Nichols received a call from Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Creech in reference to a trespass complaint.  After contacting the subject, they found the subject had been hunting. They discovered the subject had taken a wild turkey hen while hunting over an area baited with corn. The subject was issued the appropriate citation for taking a wild turkey hen during closed season, taking wild turkey over bait, and trespassing.  

Levy County

• Officers Dykstra and Hughes were on patrol around Waccasassa boat ramp when they observed a subject fishing. When asked if he caught any fish, the subject said he caught catfish and mangrove snapper. When the officers inspected his cooler, they found an undersized redfish and four undersized mangrove snapper in the cooler. The subject also did not had a valid fishing license. Officer Dykstra issued the appropriate citations and warnings. 
• Officer Bell was on patrol in Cedar Key when he checked a vessel coming in from fishing for the day. The inspection revealed four undersized spotted seatrout on board. There were also multiple boating safety and registration violations. Officer Bell cited the captain of the vessel for possession of an undersized spotted seatrout. Officer Bell also warned the captain about the other violations. 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Alachua County

• Master Officer Stanley and Officer Specialist Reith attended a Fall Festival at the Sidney Lanier School. The two officers spoke with over 140 students and attendees about the job duties of a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission law enforcement officer.

Citrus County

• Officer Specialist Sarmiento and Officer Gilbert attended Estuaries Day and interacted with the over 150 members of the public at the Crystal River Preserve State Park. The two officers answered questions on the diverse ecosystem in Citrus County and how FWC law enforcement officers work to conserve and protect wildlife and their habitats.
• Officer Cassidy attended Inverness Middle School for career day and interacted with over 100 students in five different classes. Officer Cassidy answered questions and provided an overview of conservation law enforcement. Students were engaged during the presentation and asked lots of questions and shared stories of their trips afield.

CASES

Brevard County

• While on land patrol, Officer Specialist Rasey responded to a Wildlife Alert report associated with subjects taking illegal fish in a nearby federal refuge. Once on scene, he spoke to two individuals and found they had taken seven undersized gray snapper. When asked about the fish, the subjects said weren’t sure what kind of species they had. Both subjects were issued citations and given a saltwater regulation guide for future reference. The anonymous complainant was documented and is now eligible for reward through the Wildlife Alert program.

Indian River County

• While patrolling a closed area of St. Johns Water Management District, Lieutenant Lightsey observed a vehicle enter the area and drive around. Lieutenant Lightsey approached the vehicle on foot to address the violation. During the interaction, the operator of the vehicle quickly fled the area. Using Lieutenant Lightsey’s body camera, the tag and operator were identified and local authorities were able to assist in locating the individual. A notice to appear was issued for entering district lands while closed, failure to allow inspection/interference with an FWC officer and no driver’s license.

Marion County

• Officer Specialist L. Dickson and Officers Roberts and Lambert received information that individuals were potentially hunting in a local wildlife management area during a closed season. While searching the area, the officers found two individuals in blinds, dressed in camouflage and hunter orange, and carrying rifles. The individuals admitted to hunting but stated they were not aware the season was closed. Both subjects were cited accordingly.
• Officer Specialist L. Dickson and Officer Roberts contacted a subject in the Hopkins Prairie Unit of Ocala Wildlife Management Area that mentioned his son had killed an antlered deer earlier in the day. During the conversation, it was learned the son was 18 years old and the deer he harvested was possibly in violation of Zone C-4 antler point regulations. Officer Specialist D. Dickson located the subject who initially claimed his 16-year-old girlfriend shot the deer as a youth hunter. However, after further investigation and questioning, it was revealed the 18-year-old subject shot the antlered deer that did not meet antler point regulations for the Zone C-4. Appropriate citations were issued.

Orange County

• Officer McConnell received information about a vehicle at local wildlife management area near an area that did not provide legal parking and was posted “closed to hunting.” Officer McConnell contacted the subject and conducted a resource and license inspection. The subject was found to be hunting in an area closed to hunting and was issued a notice to appear for the violation. The designated parking area violation was also addressed. In addition, Officer McConnell observed deer antlers and coolers inside the bed of the truck. Concluding the investigation, the subject admitted to harvesting a deer in Georgia and importing deer meat containing high-risk parts such as bone into Florida. Officer McConnell seized the bone-in deer meat for proper carcass disposal related to reducing the risk of spreading chronic wasting disease. The subject was issued a citation for possessing or importing deer, elk, moose or caribou carcasses or high-risk parts from anywhere outside of Florida. 
• Officer Specialist Fahnestock received a call about a deer illegally harvested at a local wildlife management area. He responded to the area to investigate and located a deer not meeting antler point regulations for the WMA. The hunter also failed to log the harvested deer. Officer Fahnestock issued the subject a notice to appear for the antlered deer not meeting antler point regulations and the violation of not meeting deer harvest reporting requirements.
• Officer Specialist Fahnestock received a call about individuals illegally camping at a local state park. He responded to the area to investigate and located several individuals illegally camping. The investigation led to multiple individuals being cited for illegal camping as well as violations including evasion of park fees and illegal entry onto the state park. Officer Fahnestock worked with park staff to identify and ultimately catch the subjects.

Osceola County

• Officers Armstrong and Nall were patrolling a local wildlife management area for night hunting violations when Officer Nall observed and followed a vehicle being operated off trail. A vehicle stop was initiated and the vehicle occupants were found to have two rifles and a spotlight in the vehicle. The occupants later admitted to coming to the WMA to night hunt. The occupants were cited accordingly.  

Putnam County

• Officer Carroll conducted a vehicle stop in Etoniah Creek Wildlife Management Area for an expired decal. The operator did not have a valid license and was on felony probation. After confirming through FWC dispatch, the driver was found to be a habitual traffic violator, had a revoked driver’s license, and was on felony probation in Clay County. The defendant was taken to jail for the violations and charged accordingly.

St. Johns County

• Officer Dodd was on land patrol in Matanzas State Forest and stopped a vehicle that was in the forest after hours. A subsequent resource inspection revealed a recently killed deer in the bed of the truck. Senior Officer Thomas and Officer Specialist Lawrence arrived and assisted with the stop. During the inspection, five firearms and a spotlight were found in the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle admitted to taking the deer with a gun and light and was arrested and transported to the St. Johns County Jail and charged accordingly.

CASES

Charlotte County

• While patrolling, Officer Russell observed two individuals fishing at a local boat ramp. A resource inspection revealed they had caught several undersized snook and mangrove snapper. Several citations and warnings were issued for the resource violations. 

Hillsborough County

• While on land patrol, Officer Sutton observed two individuals fishing from a pier. Officer Sutton contacted the individuals and conducted a fisheries inspection. At the conclusion of the inspection, she found the individuals were in possession of one undersized black seabass and one undersized and out-of-season gag grouper. One of the individuals admitted to catching both fish and was issued two citations and a warning for the fisheries violations.  

CASES

Glades County

• Officer Naules was on patrol when he observed an individual throwing a cast net into a freshwater canal. Upon inspection, he found the subject to be in possession of multiple freshwater gamefish species including largemouth bass and panfish. It is illegal to harvest freshwater gamefish with a cast net. The subject was issued a notice to appear for the violation. 

Martin County

• Officers Pullano, Spirito and Landers were on water patrol near Stuart Causeway. They observed a vessel on plane inside a slow speed manatee zone. Officers initiated a stop to address the violation and conduct a fisheries and vessel inspection. The officers found several violations including out-of-season flounder, speeding in a manatee zone, no registration on board, and no boater safety education identification card. The subject was cited accordingly for the violations. 
• Officer Pullano and Officer Spirito were on foot patrol at Hobe Sound Public Beach conducting fisheries and license checks. They observed a subject drop her fishing rod in the sand, run to her beach cart and bury something. The officers approached the individual and found a variety of fish including an undersized pompano buried in the sand. The subject was cited accordingly for the violation.

Palm Beach County

• Officer Rea received a Wildlife Alert from an angler at the Boynton Inlet about a subject keeping undersized mutton snapper. Thanks to this tip, Officer Rea was able to locate the subject and cited him for four undersized mutton snapper. 
• Officer Rea and Lieutenant Hankinson responded to a report of a vehicle crash at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. The vehicle struck the Hobe Sound observation tower information kiosk causing significant damage to it as well as the vehicle. Further investigation revealed the driver was unlicensed. He was cited for driving without a driver license and for damaging state property. 
• Officer Pullano and Officer Rea were on foot patrol at Lantana boat ramp conducting fisheries inspections. They found two individuals in possession of undersized permit and undersized pompano. The subjects were cited accordingly for the violations. 
• Officers Rea and Morgan responded to an attempted theft in progress on the Loxahatchee River. The caller reported three subjects had come onto his dock and attempted to steal three wake boards. They fled on their vessel and the homeowner pursued them on his vessel. Officers Rea and Morgan arrived shortly after the subjects fled. The homeowner provided the officers with photos of the vessel and the subjects on board. Even though the subjects put black tape over the vessels registration numbers, the boat had enough distinct features to be identified. They located the vessel at the back of the canal where the operator attempted to hide it in the mangroves. The operator of the vessel was still on board and was detained. The two other subjects had left the area but have been identified. Multiple charges are pending from the state attorney's office. 

RESCUES

Okeechobee County

• Officer Specialist Crosby and K-9 Officer Madsen responded to a vessel on Lake Okeechobee that had a disabled engine. The vessel operator was not from the area and was unfamiliar with the lake, it had gotten dark and his cellphone battery was running low. The officers located the individual, assisted him with getting his vessel’s engine running, and escorted him safely back to the boat ramp.

CASES

Collier County

• Officer Keon Pierre-Louis and Officer Specialist Clay Wagner were on patrol when they received a call about possible net violations at Ten Thousand Islands. The caller reported seeing a gill net stretched across a creek east of Faka Union Canal and described the boat and subjects. The officers responded to the area by patrol vessel and located a vessel matching the description with two individuals onboard. The vessel was not displaying a valid registration decal. The officers conducted a vessel stop and discovered an illegal monofilament entangling net hidden onboard that measured over the 500 square foot maximum. The two individuals were arrested and taken to the Naples Jail for the net violations and possession of five undersized mangrove snapper. 
• Officer Jackson was on land patrol and noticed a vehicle after hours behind the locked gates inside Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park. Officer Jackson made contact with the individuals and learned they were fishing and did not make it back in time before the park closed. Officer Jackson conducted a resource inspection and found the subjects to be in possession of three undersized redfish and a snook. Two of the individuals were cited and issued resource notice to appear citations and the other individual was cited for being in the park after hours.  
• Officer Keon Pierre-Louis conducted a livery inspection at Bayview Boat Ramp in Naples and issued multiple warnings to the livery operator/owner for violations. The owner was provided with educational materials and guidance to ensure future compliance with Florida statutes regulating livery operations. Officer Thurkettle and Officer Creel were on water patrol and stopped a vessel with insufficient life jackets on board and discovered it was the same livery. The following day Officer Pierre-Louis and Officer Specialist Thurkettle met with the owner and issued one notice to appear citation and two written warnings for the violations as part of a targeted enforcement operational plan in Collier County. 

Miami-Dade County

•  Officer Oravec and Officer Rodriguez responded to a coyote under a vehicle at a private residence in Miami Gardens.  Upon the officer’s arrival on scene, they observed a healthy coyote in the same location. Officer Oravec and Officer Rodriguez safely secured the coyote and turned it over to an FWC Miami unit for release at an appropriate location.

Monroe County

• Officers Piekenbrock and Sturgeon were on water patrol and responded to a report of a subject spearfishing in the canals of Port Pine Heights and not displaying a divers-down flag. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Officers Brierley and Soos assisted. The subject was  located near the mouth of one of the canals and had a kayak with multiple spearguns on board. Officers Piekenbrock and Sturgeon located a goliath grouper that had been speared hidden in the mangrove roots where the subject was first contacted. The subject also was in possession of an undersized mangrove snapper. The fish on his stringer were also speared. The subject was placed under arrest and transported to the Stock Island Jail.
• Lieutenant Garrison and Officer Daniel Marshall observed an individual fishing from a bridge who was keeping multiple small sized fish without measuring them. Officer Daniel Edge contacted the individual and found them to be in violation of over the bag limit for mangrove snapper, undersized mangrove snapper, and one undersized mutton snapper. Officer Edge issued three citations to the individual.
• Lieutenant Garrison and Officers Daniel Marshall and Kyle Poley were in plain clothes at Channel 2 bridge when they observed a subject transport a cooler to his vehicle and then return to the bridge to fish. Lieutenanant Garrison and Officer Poley contacted the subject when he returned to his vehicle and conducted a resource inspection. The subject showed the officers the inside the cooler where there was a tarpon. The subject and his wife explained they did not know what kind of fish it was and were unaware of regulations associated with tarpon. Both subjects received a notice to appear for possession of the tarpon and citations for the destruction of the tarpon.
• Officers Oravec and Rodriguez responded to a boating accident with no injuries at Hammer Point community in Key Largo. Due to the prior night’s storm, a vessel broke loose from the dock and struck a nearby lift, causing the personal watercraft on the lift to fall in the water. The officers identified the registered owners of both vessels and witnesses. Officer Oravec gathered all pertinent information and statements.  A boating accident report is pending.
• Lieutenant Garrison and Officer Rhoda were on uniformed water patrol at Tavernier Creek when they observed an anchored vessel with a subject on board fishing. The officers conducted a resource and safety inspection. The subject indicated the vessel was from a boat rental facility. The vessel inspection revealed the fire extinguisher was not in serviceable condition and the registration expired in June 2023. Officer Rhoda wrote the owner of the boat rental facility infractions for the vessel and explained the importance for a livery to have all proper safety equipment and in serviceable condition.
• Officers Rhoda and Diaz were on uniformed water patrol around Grecian Rocks Sanctuary Preservation Area when they observed two subjects fishing from a vessel anchored inside the sanctuary preservation area. The officers conducted a resource and safety inspection. The subject invited the officers to look in his live well where they observed multiple fish including yellowtail snapper. Further investigation revealed six of the yellowtail snapper were undersized. The subject was given a notice to appear for the undersized yellowtail snapper and a federal citation for fishing in the sanctuary preservation area.
• Officer Ross responded to a report of a subject harvesting and cooking queen conch on Wisteria Island. When Officers Ross and Allen arrived on scene, three people directed them to the subject. During the interaction with the officers, the subject was argumentative and used profanity. The subject finally informed the officers the queen conch he harvested and cooked was at the main camp but refused to show the officers the location of the camp. The subject was detained and Officer Ross obtained witness statements and video of a confrontation between the subject and two witnesses and the subject cooking the queen conch. The subject was charged with resisting arrest without violence, intentionally killing a species on the threatened list, and harvesting of queen conch. 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Collier County

• Officer Tajahs Jackson participated in an outreach event at New Horizons of Southwest Florida speaking with over 30 middle and high school students there. Officer Jackson discussed the FWC’s role in protecting and conserving natural resources, educating people about wildlife, promoting safe enjoyment of the outdoors and the many other responsibilities of FWC law enforcement officers.

Miami-Dade County

• Officers Ronald Washington and George Reynaud attended a career fair at a local high school to speak to over 300 students about the career opportunities with the FWC.
• Officer Reynaud also attended a veteran appreciation outreach event at the nature center park with John Cimbaro from the FWC’s Division of Freshwater Fisheries. They provided resources and information for veterans and members of the community.