 CASES
Baker County
- Officer Waychoff was patrolling Osceola Wildlife Management Area when he performed a resource inspection of two hunters. The inspection of a cooler revealed a recently harvested deer. One of the hunters claimed the deer and said it was an antlerless deer. Charges of failure to provide sex evidence, failure to comply with harvest reporting requirements, and possession of antlerless deer during closed season will be filed.
- Officer Burnsed was on patrol when he saw a deer on a pickup truck dog box. He stopped the vehicle to conduct a resource inspection. During the inspection, he determined the deer was harvested in Georgia and transported into Florida in whole condition. Possessing or importing deer, elk, moose or caribou carcasses or high-risk parts from anywhere outside of Florida is prohibited to reduce the risk of chronic wasting disease. Charges for bringing whole deer in from out of state will be filed.
Columbia County
- Officers Fanelli and Shope were working at Osceola Wildlife Management Area when they located a pack of hounds pursuing deer in the still hunt-only area. Four hunters were found and charged with allowing dogs to pursue deer in the still hunt-only area.
- Officer Shope was working at Osceola Wildlife Management Area when she found dogs running deer in the still hunt-only area. The dogs also pursued the deer onto private property. The dog owner was charged with appropriate violations.
Dixie County
- Officer Specialist Sheffield and Lieutenant Ward were on water patrol along the Dixie County coastline when they observed a vessel occupied by several subjects fishing with rod and reel. The officers conducted a marine fisheries inspection and found the subjects had harvested multiple spotted sea trout. When measuring the catch, numerous trout were found to be undersized. The captain of the vessel was issued a citation.
- Officer Specialist Sheffield and Lieutenant Ward were on water patrol along the Dixie County coastline when they observed a vessel near the mouth of Harris Creek. The vessel and subjects aboard were recognized as commercial oyster harvesters. The subjects had freshly harvested oysters, which displayed the appropriate harvest tags. The subjects stated they were harvesting oysters for commercial purposes but were unable to provide a saltwater products license and bivalve endorsement as required by law. The vessel registration was also expired. Two citations and one infraction were issued.
- Officer Specialist Sheffield and Lieutenant Ward were on water patrol along the Dixie County coastline when they observed a vessel in Johnson Creek with two subjects fishing. The officers conducted a marine fisheries inspection and found the subjects were over the daily bag limit of trout. The captain of the vessel was issued a citation.
Duval County
- Officer Schirbock was on water patrol watching commercial mullet boats fishing. He conducted a resource inspection on a boat returning to the ramp and found the fish were not adequately iced and kept at proper temperature. The subjects were charged for the violation along with a warning for a boating safety violation.
- While on land patrol, Officers Austin and Martin were conducting resource inspections at a local boat ramp. It was discovered one subject who had been fishing had an active warrant out of St. Johns County for violation of probation related to a felony drug possession charge with statewide pickup. The subject was placed under arrest, transported and booked into the Duval County jail.
- Officer Moran was on land patrol and observed an individual fishing under a bridge. As the subject was leaving the area, Officer Moran made contact and conducted a fisheries inspection, which revealed five undersized red drum and four undersized spotted sea trout. Officer Moran wrote three citations for over the bag limit on red drum, undersized red drum, and undersized spotted sea trout.
- Officers Schirbock and Hauge were conducting a patrol in a wooded area when they observed a vehicle at night on a trail inside a privately owned property. Officers Tyler and Moran were in the area and contacted the subjects. The officers discovered the two vehicles had hunting dogs. The subjects admitted to running wild hogs on the property and that they had trailed one earlier. The subjects had no written permission to pursue wildlife on the property and were issued citations for that violation and for their dogs not having the correct identifying information on their collars.
Hamilton County
Levy County
- Officer Dean and Lieutenant Johnston were on night patrol in a remote area bordering Goethe Wildlife Management Area. They observed a vehicle shining a spotlight from the county-maintained road. The subjects in the vehicle were shining trails and clearcuts of the surrounding hunt clubs in a manner consistent with night hunting for deer. The driver of the vehicle shined his spotlight directly on the marked patrol truck and then fled the area at a high rate of speed. The passenger threw several objects out the passenger side window of the truck. After about two miles, the driver stopped the truck and Lieutenant Johnston and Officer Dean made contact. Inside the vehicle were three loaded guns and a spotlight. Further investigation revealed two suspects had killed an illegal antlerless deer earlier in the day. The investigation also revealed the passenger threw another spotlight out of the window as they were fleeing. The driver was arrested and booked into Levy County jail. Multiple charges are pending with the state attorney’s office including attempting to take deer at night with gun and light, taking antlerless deer in closed season, flee and elude, and tampering/destruction of evidence.
- Officer Bell responded to a complaint of night hunting and road hunting on county road 326. When Officer Bell arrived on scene, he found two subjects in possession of an illegal antlerless deer. The investigation revealed the subjects had illuminated the deer with the vehicle’s headlights and shot it from the road. Charges include taking deer at night with gun and light and taking antlerless deer in closed season.
- Officer Carroll received a complaint of someone dumping a deer carcass on the side of a county-maintained road. Upon arrival Officer Carroll discovered the carcass was an antlerless deer. Officer Smith arrived to assist in the investigation. The officers contacted the person who shot the antlerless deer. While the deer was taken from a property with antlerless tags, the hunter failed to affix the tag to the deer carcass as required. The subject was cited for failure to affix tag and for littering over 15 pounds.
Nassau County
 CASES
Brevard County
- Officer Specialist Balgo observed a vessel return from fishing to a boat ramp in Cocoa Beach. Officer Balgo conducted a resource inspection and located an approximately 40-inch red drum in a cooler underneath the seat. The Indian River Lagoon management zone is currently catch and release only. The operator was cited accordingly.
- Officer St. Martin was working late night patrols at Sebastian Inlet State Park during a prime snook fishing period when he observed two individuals running snook back to their vehicles in the parking lot. Officer St. Martin conducted a resource inspection and both subjects were found to be in possession of undersized snook. They were cited accordingly.
- During a prime snook fishing period, Officer St. Martin was at Sebastian Inlet State Park. From a concealed location, he observed a subject harvest a snook and put it in his cooler. He then watched the same subject harvest another snook and put it in the same cooler. Once the subject was done fishing, Officer St. Martin conducted a resource inspection. The subject claimed his partner caught the other snook. Officer St. Martin revealed he had been watching the entire time. The subject was cited accordingly.
- Office Snyder was on patrol when he observed an individual fishing on the 192 Causeway. Officer Snyder performed a resource inspection and located one undersized redfish (bag limit zero), and two undersized spotted seatrout (season closed). The individual was cited accordingly.
Osceola County
- Local officers conducted a public safety detail focusing on careless and off-road driving violations at Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area. Officers addressed several violations and issued citations and warnings for speed limit, illegal entry, failure to sign in or out of the WMA, and possession of antlerless deer out of season.
Orange County
- Officer Specialist Fahnestock responded to information about an individual possessing a northern cardinal at his residence in Orlando. Officer Fahnestock contacted the individual and investigated. The investigation concluded the subject was in possession of a northern cardinal from the wild and kept it inside a cage at his residence, which is a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The subject was issued a notice to appear for the violation, and the northern cardinal was released into the wild.
- Officer Easterbrook received information about individuals waterfowl hunting during the closed season at Apopka Lake. He relayed the information to Officer Wild and Officer Stamp who located the subjects and conducted interviews after seeing them with equipment and firearms commonly used to harvest waterfowl. The subjects admitted to hunting during the closed season and several boating safety/registration violations were identified. Violations were addressed accordingly.
Seminole County
- Officer Wild conducted patrols on commercial vessels on the St. John’s River and adjoining lakes in eastern Seminole County when he received information about a rise in commercial anglers illegally harvesting freshwater gamefish using cast nets. He conducted a vessel and resource inspection on a commercial angler that revealed illegally harvested freshwater gamefish using a net. The subject was issued a notice to appear for the illegal method of take of freshwater gamefish. Boating safety violations were also addressed.
- Lieutenant Mendelson patrolled a local wildlife management area for a weekend quota hunt. He conducted a resource and license inspection on two individuals who were hunting on the WMA. The individuals illegally exited and then entered the WMA again and were hunting with no quota permits for a quota only, no exemption hunt. The access violations and permit violations were addressed accordingly.
Volusia County
- Officer Stoker responded to a fish camp in Oak Hill regarding a subject allegedly keeping red drum in a closed area. An individual was observed fishing from land at the fish camp. Officer Stoker initiated contact with the subject and conducted a fisheries inspection. The subject admitted to having a red drum in his cooler. Upon further inspection it was discovered that in addition to the red drum, a juvenile goliath grouper was inside the subject’s cooler. The red drum was found to be 35 inches (above slot limit of 27-inches) and the goliath grouper was only 15 inches. It is unlawful to harvest red drum south of State Road 44 within Volusia County. Goliath grouper are prohibited from being harvested statewide. Officer Stoker addressed each of the violations.
St. Johns County
- While checking vessels at the Lighthouse Park Boat Ramp, Senior Officer Thomas observed a vessel returning from harvesting oysters. On board the vessel were six 5-gallon buckets of oysters. A recreational harvester is only allowed to harvest four 5-gallon buckets of oysters. Officer Thomas issued the subject a citation for possession of over the recreational bag limit of oysters.
Putnam County
- Officer Specialist Christmas was on vehicle patrol when he conducted a traffic stop on a driver for failing to dim their bright lights to oncoming traffic. During the stop, Officer Christmas observed signs that the driver was impaired. Standardized field sobriety tasks were conducted, and the driver was arrested for driving under the influence. The driver later agreed to a breath test and provided breath samples that were over twice the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration.
Marion County
- Officer Specialists L. Dickson and D. Dickson and Officer Lambert were patrolling a wildlife management area to target illegal night hunting. After hearing two gunshots, the officers located two subjects on foot within the WMA. After the officers investigated, both subjects admitted to using a gun and light to shoot at an antlerless deer. Appropriate citations were issued.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Brevard County
- Lieutenant Lightsey attended the annual Grant Children’s Christmas Party hosted by a local marina. Over 80 children were in attendance. Donations of toys and food were made to help others in need and Santa stopped by to see the kids.
Marion County
- Lieutenant Rice, Officers Flynn, Lambert, McConnell and Ulrich and Investigators Miller and Sumpter assisted with the annual youth deer hunt at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve. The officers take pride in this hunt. They scout, set up, guide, and teach the youth. During the hunt, multiple youth hunters were able to harvest their first deer. The officers assisted the hunters with processing their harvest, discussed hunting safety and conservation, and showed them how to scout for deer.
 CASES
Hillsborough County
- While patrolling the Courtney Campbell Causeway, Officers Georgevich and McCormack observed an angler at a relief bridge catch fish. The officers conducted an inspection that revealed the subject was in possession of an undersized spotted seatrout. The officers reminded the subject about the slot limits for spotted seatrout. The appropriate law enforcement action was taken.
Pinellas County
- While on land patrol, Lieutenant Bibeau observed three individuals return to the shoreline in a small vessel. Lieutenant Bibeau contacted the individuals and conducted a fisheries inspection. At the conclusion of the inspection, he found the individuals to be in possession of 33 sheepshead. Two of the individuals admitted to catching over their daily bag limit of sheepshead and were issued misdemeanor citations for the fisheries violation. The third individual was issued a noncriminal infraction for not obtaining a valid saltwater fishing license.
Sarasota County
- Officer Wesche was patrolling the area of Hart’s Landing when he observed a subject fishing along the seawall. A resource inspection revealed the subject had caught and kept two undersized seatrout and had them hidden inside a vehicle. The subject was issued a notice to appear in Sarasota County Court for the violation.
 CASES
Broward County
- Officers Bovee and Walcott were patrolling the Intracoastal Waterway near Port Everglades Inlet when they observed a personal watercraft on plane in an idle speed zone. The officers conducted a vessel stop of the PWC. During the boating and safety inspection, the officers determined the operator and sole occupant on the PWC was under the influence of an unknown alcoholic beverage. Standardized field sobriety tasks were conducted. The operator was placed under arrest for boating under the influence and transported to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
- Officer Constance was conducting beach patrol at Sea Ranch Lakes when he observed a subject exit the water with dive equipment. He contacted the subject to conduct a fisheries inspection and discovered a speared French angelfish. Officer Constance issued the subject a notice to appear citation for spearing a French angelfish, a citation for an invalid fishing license, and a warning for not having a dive flag.
- Officer Giani was on patrol at Deerfield Beach Pier and observed a subject fishing. When the subject noticed the officer approaching, he ran to his cooler and threw two fish into the water. The subject stated he did not throw any fish into the water. Giani reviewed security camera footage, which showed the subject throwing undersized mutton snapper into the water. Officer Giani issued the subject a notice to appear citation for interference with an FWC officer.
- Officers Walcott and Bovee were on water patrol at the Port Everglades and observed a personal watercraft without registration numbers displayed. They conducted a vessel stop of the PWC. The operator said he rented the PWC from somebody at the 15th Street boat ramp in Fort Lauderdale. Walcott and Bovee responded to the 15th Street boat ramp and met with the owner/renter of the PWC. The owner provided the required insurance and FWC permit but did not have the required safety information poster displayed. The officers issued the owner a notice to appear citation for no safety poster. The officers also discovered the owner was issued multiple livery citations in the past, one for not having a safety poster.
- Officer Comartin responded to a complaint about a subject polluting the Intracoastal Waterway at Pompano Beach by throwing paint items and debris into the water. Officer Comartin’s investigation led to a subject working on a vessel in the water. Comartin issued the subject a notice to appear citation for causing pollution.
Martin County
- Officer Koger was at the Jensen Beach Causeway’s east side fishing pier performing resource inspections when he observed an individual fishing. Officer Koger initiated a fisheries inspection and when checking the subject’s cooler, he observed four undersized mutton snapper. He also did not have a fishing license. The subject was issued a citation for possession of undersized mutton snapper and a citation for fishing without a valid saltwater shoreline fishing license.
- Officer Landers was working surveillance at the Jensen Beach Causeway when he observed an individual fishing and keeping small snapper. Officer Landers approached the subject and upon inspection, confirmed she had two undersized mutton snapper and one undersized lane snapper in her bucket. Officer Landers issued two notices to appear for the less-than-legal-size snapper and an infraction for fishing without a license.
- Officers Landers, Godward and Cernuto were patrolling the Stuart Causeway when they saw a vessel anchored and individuals fishing. While conducting a fisheries inspection, the officer observed an undersized mutton snapper. Because another officer had recently issued the subject a warning for less- than-legal-sized size mutton snapper, Officer Landers issued him a notice to appear for the violation.
- While on patrol about a mile outside the St. Lucie Inlet, Officer Landers observed a vessel with fishing rods and a Bahamian flag heading in his direction. Officer Landers stopped the vessel and conducted a fisheries inspection. The operator opened the cooler and pulled out five bags of filleted fish and two bags of lobster tails. When brought back from the Bahamas, the skin must be left on fillets for identification purposes and lobsters must remain in whole condition. The captain was issued a notice to appear for the wrung lobster tails and a warning for the fillets.
St. Lucie County
- While on patrol at a local boat ramp, Officer Barghouty was advised by a member of the public that a subject was cleaning undersized fish at a nearby fish cleaning station. Upon his arrival, he contacted a subject leaving the cleaning station with a cooler. As he approached the rear of the subject’s vehicle, Officer Barghouty noticed the head of a small snook being concealed in the trunk. An inspection of the cooler revealed multiple undersized black drum and mutton snapper. A warrants check was conducted, and the subject was found to have an active warrant. A search after the arrest revealed a small plastic bag in his shirt pocket and a test of the substance determined it was cocaine and fentanyl. The subject was booked in jail with multiple charges.
MAJOR WILDLIFE ASSISTANCE
Broward County
- Lieutenant Laubenberger responded to a complaint of an alligator under a vehicle in western Boca Raton. Laubenberger arrived at the scene and captured the four-and-a-half-foot alligator and released it into a lake.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Palm Beach County
- Officers Defeo, Morgan, Eustice, Gilmore, Harris, and Investigator Fowler assisted several other agencies with security for the annual boat parade. Over one hundred vessels participated in the parade and thousands were in attendance. The security contingent consisted of maintaining a security zone around the fireworks barge, vessel traffic control, and to maintain the flow of the parade throughout northern Palm Beach County.
 CASES
Monroe County
- Officers aboard FWC’s offshore patrol vessel Trident conducted inspections on commercial shrimp vessels in state and federal waters surrounding Key West. The officers focused on inspecting turtle excluder devices, a required device used to allow sea turtles to exit nets. An inspection on a commercial fishing vessel from Louisiana revealed violations with their turtle excluder devices. In addition, the vessel's marine sanitation device was plumbed in a manner to discharge overboard while in state waters. An inspection on commercial fishing vessel from Alabama revealed violations with their turtle excluder devices. The officers also located two undersized cobia, which were found underneath sacks of shrimp inside the vessel’s below-deck freezer. The federal fisheries violations were documented and forwarded to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The state violations were addressed accordingly.
 Collier County
- Officer Specialists Knutson and Yurewitch were on patrol at a local marina when they noticed an unlit sailboat dragging anchor from a nearby bay and on a collision course with a headboat at the marina. The officers quickly contacted the owner of the vessel in danger and grabbed large fenders in an attempt to fend off the sailboat. A short time later, the sailboat’s anchor caught bottom just feet from the vessel striking the headboat. A marine tow company arrived on scene, contacted the owner and moved the sailboat back to the bay. Officers issued citations to the sailboat owner for dragging anchor and no navigation lights.
- While on the offshore patrol vessel Gulf Ranger 35 nautical miles south of Marco Island, Officer Specialists Knutson and Yurewitch and Officer Goff observed a commercial vessel actively fishing. They conducted a license and fisheries inspection and found the owners did not have a federal king mackerel or gulf reef permit on board and were in possession of commercial quantities of king mackerel and yellowtail snapper. They also did not have the required turtle excluder device or the careful release protocols handbook. The violations were documented and sent to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
- Officer Stearns, Jackson and Investigator Yanez responded to assist the Collier County Sheriff’s Office regarding an individual who was shot while hunting. After meeting with the CCSO detectives and speaking to both witnesses, it was determined the group of three were hunting on the property belonging to the victim. The shooter believed he heard a wild hog in the bushes and turned toward the brush and fired his shotgun. The victim exited the wooded area and was attended to immediately. EMS was contacted and rushed the victim to a nearby hospital for treatment.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Collier County
- Officer Specialist Knutson attended the Orange Blossom Community Day, an outreach event in Naples. Officer Knutson showcased the various wildlife species that live in Collier County. Officer Knutson also spoke about the FWC’s offshore patrol vessel mission and our partnership in federal waters. Overall, the event was a success and had over 300 attendees.
RESCUES
Collier County
- Lieutenant Mahoney and Officers Stearns, Pruett, and Osorio responded to assist the City of Marco Island Police Department at Tigertail Beach regarding a missing person. The subject and her mother were conducting beach clean-up and became separated. Three hours passed and the subject had not returned to a designated location causing the mother to report her daughter missing. Once all units were on scene, a short-term search resulted in the subject being located while exiting a mangrove island. The subject was reunited with her mother and evaluated by the City of Marco Island Fire/EMS for treatment.
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